The Colfax chronicle., 1900-06-02
Chronicle Bible Glass.


Synopsis OF Lesson 28.
Esther, Song of Solomon, Proverbs,
and Ecclesiastes.
The book of Esther has no appela-
ton OF the Deity. 1t was probably
written by her uncle, Mordecai. It
presents a graphic picture of the Per-
sian court, though in spirit it is jew
ish, and anegorically furnishes beau
tiful symbol of salvation by grace.
The laws of the Meads and Persians
could not be changed. Haman OBJ
tanned decree from the king for the
humiliation of the Jews. Queen Es-
ther became mediator and plead for
her people. The king could not re-
verse the decree, but he could and did
make another, which gave, as it
were, the Jews a new life from the
dead, ,-even so, ''in Adam all die, in
Christ all are made alive"
The song of Solomon, commonly
called Canticles, 10 a very remarkable
composition. The wise man seems to
have spiritualized his own living ex-
perisnce, and the mutual relationship
of himself and the people, so as to
teach the mutual love and relation
ship of Christ and the church. Never
theless, wonderful as it may appear,
neither God nor Christ is mentioned
in this mysterious love song, and SO,
Canticles, like Esther, has this peculi-
arity, which cannot be affirmed of
any other book of the Bible.
Proverbs, called by the Hebrews
Missile, means parallels, maxims, COM
parsons, or enigmas, when expressed
in a laconic, poetic, figurative style.
Solomon, Prov. 1: 6, intimates that
the study of proverbs was very i'm
portant, il not the chief study Of his
day. In this collection Of maxims, we
find rules of conduct for allconditions
of life-for kings, courtiers, masters,
servants, fathers, mothers, children,
and many that deal with the common
affairs Of life. Solomon epake 1000
proverbs, and his songs were 1905,
1st Kings, 4: 80. The book of Pro-
verbs might appropriately be called
Spiritual Arsenal for the Bloodless
War, for here one may find an answer
to many, if not all Of Satan'sworldly
questions. Do not soliloquize, but
study the wisest mans sayings, 1st
Kings 8: 12. Notice his prayer, I'd
Chron. 6: 12-42, and Gods answer,
I'd Chron. Z: 1922, and learn how to
dedicate your body, His temple, and
Gods answer OF acceptance. Not on
" from his proverbs, but from Solo,
mons whole life, We may learn very
important lessons.
Now We come to the mysterious
Book Of Ecclesiastes, written by Solo
mon about 1000 years before Christ,
and evidently not long before his
DEATH The boy king was anxious
for a partnership with God, but the
wise, and very wealthy Solomon seem.
ed to think he could do very well with.
out the partnership. Ecclesiastee
may be condsidered an epitome OF his
life time experience. Wisdom, riches
carnality. and worldly pleasure, failed
to bring him happiness, and he pro.
nounced them all vanity and vexa.
ton Of spirit" He substantially
says these things will not do, for in.
stead of making one happy they bur
den, vex and annoy, az the experience
of my long and greatly favored life
has proven, and no one need try the
experiment. Ny son, they are all
very good for our use and service
i - Asl 4 a n :
proper subordinatiou, but We must
love and obey God il we would be
happy, even during this life. Let us
hear the conclusion Of the whole mat
ter: Fear God and keep His com.
mandments; for this 10 the whole duty
OF man, Eccl. IL: Is. Thsstrait and
narrow way b on the air lincdrom I'd
Chron. l: 10, to Eccl. IL: Is. All
whogo straight from alpha to omegs
1 s~s1I e. n II -