Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-11-04

INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FoR NOVEMBER ;
snbIeess Esther PIesatnE F.r Hsr People.
Esth. fv-. 10 % ". 3-Coide@ Text.
Pas cxiv.. G0-MeuNsry Verses. n. Ia
documentary on the Days Lesson.

!
Mordccai learned OF this terrible de-
cree ana sent word 20 Queen Esther
and asked her TO intercede with the
king FOR the preservation OF Der race.
10. "Hatach." An officer appointed 60
wait on the queen. II. Aldo
know" etc. IL was a universal rule.
known by all. The object OF this law
was % maintain both the dignity ana
safety OF the king. Golden sceptre."
Persian monarchs are always repre-
seuted as holding long taperiug staw
called" She therefore had just cause
20 fear that the kings affections were i
ahcnated from her "and THAI neither
her person OF her petition would be ac- /
ccptable 60 him." Oriental mOnarchs /
were tickle and despoUc. In attcmpt- /
ing 90 save her people the queen must \
risk everything. The ardor for the /
king had Tor the time cooled toward t
Esther. and she feared she had lost I
her influence With the monarch. and +
IN SO how could she hope Co inHuc1cc +
him for the salvation OF the despiscd
Jews. We must not be surprised that
Esther shrlrS from oDeying the sum
mons OF M0rlrc0i. she proved her be-
roism 10y deciding TO so en- unto the
King. knowing as she did the danger
10 which she was exposed Let ms
learn 1D that 20 Is right 90 carefully
estimate difficulties - that we should
never DE discouro ged because there
are difficulties. l8 that those who 40
I nc the cali OF duty. I'm the face OF difd-
cultics. may expect divine support
13 Think not" etc. IL seems that
\ Esther had not been known as q jew.
I but the fact would be- brought 60 light
/ and in the general slaughter she would
l perish with hex people. IA Then w %
7 relief ana deltvcr1ucc arise" Or. Va
I AIordeCai had strong faith that God
/ would not allow the Jewish nation God
I DE destroyed. "But thou" etc. You
VIII not escape destruction. but Won
VIII lose an opportunity OF saving your
people. "Wh0 kn0weth." God may
/ have put you in your present posi-. on
shat YOU might De- the means of saving
your people in this hour OF darkness.
II is a great blessing % have some
work assigned as by God. and Co soc
Gods hand in our lives. accomplish
that work This makes as strong. and
renders lie glorious since 90 is plan
OF tho almighty and all-wlse God. Sew
eral T0tves influenced Esther in this
hazardous undertaking. I. She was
I'm danger. N0-dccars words -lat
dclyerance would come f-om some
/ other source and that She would lose
Che opportunity ~ saving her people.
3 The suggestion thaf cod br1
brought her to nor n-.soD+ ros,tf.,n fl,at
she might DO "a .1elfvr-e- fn fhfs +orrii,f,
hour 4. The assurance she had chat
cod womb rfvo her sucoose
IT. The three days fast Tvs 1870.
|1c -rast vo for Ne Tn Nv hereir
FASTING .mnlios brn,iffoffo- ren.-,f.
ance. cor,ec-atiou to Co5 fofth H,
God. n~aver to Cod II was +he ov-
preston. outwarllv. ~ tho intons, do
siros of tho heart ONLY COD corIf
give success to her efforts. ..Three
DAYS lie has been sunnosoa trrr
Esther could uot have meant an aDeo-
lrte fast-complcte abstinence from
lotL food ana drink-for So lonr "a
period as thre. DAVIS. but .ha Tim. ,n.
tended. from thc evening Of tna frs- rs
the morning of tho thirl day need ro-
have much exceeded th-rty-six hours
~Mv maideus~ They were probably
either Jews or nr0Sclvfas r0 rhar re-
lG'ou. ANA thus would he in Svmuatnv
with her. "If / perish" I viii uui
forth every possible effort 10 save ms
people even though I perish m the at
Tempt. The great danger % wh.cI
- Esther WAS exposed win lo seen NOR.
clearly when we consider the dcSuor,
nature of Nerxes When hc was ou
: his way to Greece hc halted at Gel
, atnae. q city 0f phrvgla. where he wa.
entertained by pythlas with lncredibl,
maEuihceuee. pythiaS even offered Q,
contribute some millions OF dollars 90
Be- ward tlc expenses OF the war. Blu
, when Pvthics oc.cel as favor tlat
4 OF his five sons jon the kings army. IN.
ID eldest micht be Loft with him in hi
~ old age, tho brutal monarch went irt,
q rgCo anal caused tho SON IN IA slain