Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-03

of pride. All his honors did not make
! him happy as long as Mordecai refused
| him reverence. His wife advised that
he hang Mordecai so that he could en-
| JOY this latest honor, the banquet next
day. The advice was taken and the
| gahows made.
That night God made the king rest
less. The court diary was brought ana
read to him to NAlle away the dreari-
ness of the early morning hours. He
heard the record of Mordecars signal
service to MIN and learned that 1t had
never been rewarded. God made Haman
appear just at that time with his re-
| quest to be allowed to hang Mordecai.
But before he could make t. his pride
had caught him In a trap; and he found
himself, instead of hanging Mordecai,
leading him about the city dressed in
the kings clothes and riding on the
kings own horse.
In shame and modification Haman
goes home to tell his wife of his misfor-
tune only to be hurried to the banquet
in Esthers apartments. At its close Es-
Their begs for his life and that Of her
people. She no longer hides her racial
descent: she Identifies herself with the
captive and condemned race, and pleads
for their life She shows xerxes the
real character of his favorite-and wins
the game.
| Hannah is hanged on his own gallows.
Mordecai is elevated to Haman's place.
The Jews make a stand for their lives,
and are successful against their enc
mics. God makes the people afraid of and
weak before them. Esther had her OPP
portunity and seized II.
This whole story is placed in the Bible
probably primarily to show the origin OF
/ he of a1lf alc fn b0u
how God works out His eternal purpose
/ through human instrumantality. Fifty
years had elapsed since the captivity had
officially ended. but only a few Jews haa
4 been loyal enough to Him to go back to
their land. God had not forgotten them,
however; He still loved them with the
same unchanging love as of old. See how
He made use of the passions of men to
effect His purpose-of ,ust, of jealousy,
of hatred, allowing one TO be put down
and another to be elevated that all things
might work together for good to them
/ that love Him, woh were the called ac-
cording to His purpose. He did not sane
4 ton the disgraceful deposing of Vashti
I nor the bitter hatred of Hannah; but ne
made them work together for good tC
those who were called according to His
purpose.
1 Note, also, that Gods purpose is sure OF
accomplishment, If not by you, then by
some other. Do we not know that we
stand today in wonderful place OF
prominence, and privilege, both individu
ally and as a people? Do we not know
4 that this is not for our own selves alone
/ that we have been granted these bless
! ings? Why have you all OF this, If not
that God would use you as His human
| instrument to work out some great pur-
pose? God offers you and me today the
chance of limitless opportunity for serv-
ice and future glory. It will be seized
by some one. Shall it be you?
Gods service demands two things
Identification with those to be served,
and an utter forgetfulness of self. Es-
Their had to identify herself with her peo-
| pie, and had to leave self out of consid-
Grafton before she could serve God IN
that opportunity. Nothing short of that
is demanded of you. 1t is great de-
mand. but it has a greater reward.