The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-11-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
LESSON VI, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, NOV. 5.


Text, Ps. cxlv, 2O-Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
Copyright, 1906, BY American Press Associaton.]
While events are transpirinS and
the consummadon Of any matter is be-
ing awaited there may be more or less
anxiety as to the outcome, but with
successful and glorious consumma-
present seeming discouragements and
trials and bear meekly and even JOY
fully many things which would other
wise ovecwhelm us.
Abraham, having seen the God Of
glory, was sustained while he waited
and, not considering himself, was fully
persuaded that what God had promised
He would perform (Acts vii, 2, 3; Rom.
iv, 1920. Joseph was doubtless sus-
tanned in his trials by the glorious des-
tiny which had been set before him ID
his God given dreams Moses saw that
which enabled him to turn his back
upon his attractive prospects in Egypt
and choose afiiction with the people Of
God rather than the pleasures Of sin
for a season (Heb. Xi, 25-2O. The
glory Of the kingdom was so real to
Paul that he counted all present suffer
ings as not worth mentioning (Rom.
viii, 1S). The story of Job and his
Affections would he very sad one
were it not for the abundant prosper
ity in the. last no years of his life
COB Xiii, 10-1D, so that, looking at the
finished story, the Spirit says through
James that the Lord was pitiful and Of
tender mercy Jas. ', 1D.
If AIordecai and Esther could have
known beforehand, that their trials
would result in Mordecai's promotion
to be next to the king, great among
the Jews. seeking the wealth Of his
people and speaking peace to all his
seed, that the people who did the
kings business would help the Jews
and that his people would be filed
with gladness and feasting Chapters y,
8; ix, (margin), II, is, 19, go, 1t
would have lifted them far above the
clouds and darkness Of things as they
appeared at the time. All these things
were written for our benefit that we,
through patience and comfort Of the
Scriptures, might have hope and rejoice
in hope of the glory Of God Rom. xv
8; ,2).
Haman, the Jews enemy and op-
pressor Gii, 10) because Of bis hatred
Of Mordecai, had caused to be pro
claimed throughout the whole kingdom
that or certain day all Jews, young
and old, women and children, should
be slain. Afordecai caused a copy Of
tie decree to be sent to Queen Esther
with the request that she should go to
the king and make intercession for her
people that they might not be slain.
Esther sent word to her cousin, Htor-
decai, that it was as much as her life
was worth to go into the presence OF
the king unbidden, to which Mordecal
replied that unless deliveraDce came
she would perish with the rest and that
probably she was just where she was
for this very emergency. She then
asked that all the Jews il Shushan
should join her and her maids in
three days fast, after which she would
go to the king, ready to die If need be
for her people Our lesson tells Us
that she Obtained favor in the sight
of the king and that he offered to grant
her whatever she might ask even to
the half Of his kingdom.
What a contrast between her and
that other woman in Mark Vi, %, q,
to whom similar offer was made,
the one seeking life and the other
death, the one suggesting Christ the
Saviour and the other the devil, the
destroyer.
The rest Of the book tells Of the dra-
matte overthrow Of the Jews enemy,
who was hanged upon the very gallows
he had caused to be erected for Nor
decai after he had been compelled to
do to Alordecai the honor be longed
for for himself. The kings sleepless
nights, the records which were read
before him, the discovery that Morde-
cal had not been rewarded for saving
the kings life, the presence Of Haman
in the court at the right moment and
all the events following are among the
most thrilling ever written, and all in
dicate God working on behalf Of those
who rely upon Him.
Although no name Of God is found
in the English text Of the book, it is
full Of God from beginning to end. It
is also most suggestive Of the great de-
hverance for all sinners wrought out
by Him who not only was ready to
die for US, but actually did die, the just
for the unjust, that we might be saved.
Because He laid down His life for US
we ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren q John iii, 16), and specially
in this matter Of spreading the procia-
nation through all the world that there
is a great deliverance for all who will
accept Him duke xiv, 40. This book
tells Of proclamation being made
through the known world twice within
twelve months. How quickly similar
zeal would in a short time give the
gospel to every creature n earth!
The third day of chapter ', /, cannot
but recall the third day records Of
Abraham and Isaac, Of Jonah, of the
marriage Of John ii, the saying Of Hos.
vi, ,, but notably the resurrection Of
Him who has redeemed us and the
power of whose resurrection we should
covet to know Phil. iii, 10y. The
"What wilt thou?" Of the king re-
minds us Of the same saying Of our
Lord to many needy one, and also
Of HIS gracious promise in John xiv,
13, il, and elsewhere, which, if we
really believed and appropriated,