The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-11-02
Esther Pleading
for Her People
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. S, 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
LESSON TExT.-Es,h.r .:Is-s:a Mem

LESSON TExT.-Esther t:Ia-s.a Mem
| Dry Verses 13 a.
GOLDEN TEXT. The Lord preseryetn
all them that love Him. ."-psalm l4520.
TlME.-Forty-three years after the CON-
pietion of the temple In B. G.. 5l6, and le
years before Ezra camc TO Jerusalem. The
1ates OF interest IN connection with the
lesson are: Reign OF Ahasucrus (Xerxes)
" G. 4S5-f65 The great feast Il. c. 4S3.
esther made queen X. e. 47g Esther saves
her nation B G. 473
PLACE. -Shushan, the winter palace of
ne Persian empire, about 200 miles south
~ cast from Babylon.
comment ana Suggestive Thought.
TRODUCTORY.-The Book of
Esther.-The author is unknown. but
must have been some one Giving in
the heart OF Persia. man who was
intimately acquainted with the seem
cry no describes. PROF. Adeney.
The date Of writing is also unknown.
Prof. Sayce places It at B. c. 425.
He says that the minuteness Of de.
TAIL shows that the author lived be.
fore the overthrow OF the Persian
power, b. G. 331. Some place the date
still later. The Great Feast at
Shushan. The Ahasuerus OF Esther
has been identified almost beyond
doubt with Xerxes, the famous son
and successor of Darius Hystaspes of
our last lesson. He reigned over near.
ly all Asia, and in his first years. 4S5,
'Si. he conquered Egypt. But Greece
was still unconquered Xerxes. there
fore, determined ito lay a bridge over
IInlIngn -
army into Greece to punish the
Athenians" for their defeat of his IA.
ther Darius at Marathon. For this
purpose Xerxes. according to Herodo-
tus, held great assembly of the
noblest Perslans. TO arrange for the ex-
pedition against Greece. II Is prob.
able that this was the feast described
in the first chapter Of Esther as TAX
ing place in Susa. II was at this
feast that Ahasuerrs. in his drunken
excitement, insultingly commanded
| his queen Vashti to come into this
reckless assembly of men to show
Off her royal beauty. thus outraging
the most sacred rules of oriental eti.
quctte. She refused to obey. and, as
\ consequence. the king deposed her
from being queen.
V. II. "WhosoeVer shall
come unto the king into the inner
court. who is not called, there is one
Rather. there is one law for him"
Whoever he he, there Is one and the
same law regarding him-he must
suffer death. Except such to whom
the king shall hold out the golden
scepter:" There was. therefore, a pos.
slbility OF Esther's reaching the ears
Of the king. but with the greatest I'M.
certainty as TO how such capricious
king would act, especially as his love
for her had cooled. The mission
Mordecai committed to Esther was
one of great danger and difficulty.
V. 13. Then Mordecai command.
ed to answer Esther" He gives four
reasons why Esther should undertake
the mission. CD She could not escape
the massacre. even II sire should re-
fuse to undergo this danger. (2) She
was providentially endowed with
beauty and raised TO her position as
queen for this very purpose. II this
was true, God would make her sue.
cessfui. II is a blessed thing to find
out what one is sent into this world
for. (3) All her relatives would be
destroyed. Every motive OF patriotism
and religion urged her on. 90 Then
a great privilege was presented to her.
such an opportunity as seldom falls
to the lot OF anyone. The work Is
certain TO be accomplished In some
way, but the Joy and blessing OF doing
II is offered to Esther.
Is. Then Esther babe them re-
turn answer" She accepted
the dangerous mission. but she went
about her work In the wisest and most
skillful way. G) Religious prepare.
ton. 16. Neither cat nor drink
three days" Fasting implies prayer.
earnestness, confession OF sin. q be-
lief In God. an intense desire to be
ntted to obtain the right spirit This
was on the same principle as Christ's
promise to His disciples WREN two or
three agreed together touching any.
thing they shall ask Matt 1870.
(2) She used every means within her
power
Ch. s. v. I. Esther put on her royal
apparel" She was = sensible. practical
woman. and used her beauty and
charm of person sad Of dress to &C.
complish her object.
v. Q. The king beid out :.
the golden scepter:" The sign that
he received her. aAd that the most
dangerous part % her nissisa was
over. But the most dificult was yet
to come. (3) She was very wise In
her method OF asking her favor. by q
feast, by delays that keyed up the
kings curiosity to the highest pitch.
and gave her and Mordecai time to
make the wisest plans for overcoming
the Interchangeable law OF the Msdes
and Persians 90 She was aided by
the strange providence of the kings
sieepless night. and the consequent be-
havior OF Haman.
Application.
Great crises, great trials. great dan.
gers, have mission in the building
up OF every nation. They awaken
from spiritual lethargy; they cult.
sate a spirit OF prayer. they lead TO
trust In God. they arouse courage.
Heroism in everyday life is the ex.
preston and cultivation OF the heroic
spirit in our ordinary daily life We
cannot all be heroes in great things,
but the field Of heroism ia everywhere,
In every home. In every town, There