The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-11-02
sunday SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Fourth Quarter. For
Nov. 5, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


As ,ve have but one lesson in this
wonderful portion of the Bible. we
must try to get some idea Of the whole
book. 1t is the story Of God watching
over and providentially caring for His
people. and. though He is not men
toned by name. He is seen working all
through. The book ends most beauti-
fully and suggestively with these
words: "Aordecai the Jew was next
unto King Ahasuerus and great among
the Jews and accepted of the multi
tude of his brethren, seeking the
wealth of his people and speaking
peare to ali his seed" '%, j; We can
not but think of the Kingdom OF which
this book is historical and prophetic
picture. illustrating the grace Of God.
Amos vi. 10. and Dent. XXI, II. Is.
may possibly throw some light on the
absence of any name Cf God in the
book. and yet the name of Jehovah is
really there four times in the form OF
an acroStic in the initial or final letters
of four words III chapters i, 20; v, 4.
10; vii, I. See DR.. Bullingel ) booklet.
This any one with Hebrew Bible can
easily verify 1t is said that DR.. Gins
burg has discovered three ancient MSS.
in which these acrostic letters are
written in larger characters and in
more prominent form. The absence Of
The name in any ordinary form sug-
gests the lines: "Oh, blest is he to
whom is given the instinct that can
tell that God is on the field when He
is most invisible" (Faber). "Most hid
den, vet most manifest" (Augustinel.
Some one has said that it is the story
Of the people of God delivered from
death by q mediator Of the highest
rank, who undertakes the greatest dan
ger and is mysterioIsly one Of them.
The time of the story is supposed to be
between Ez. vi and vii. The princi-
| pal truth seems to be that there is a
| God in history working out His good
pleasure through human lives and or
| binary means. AS one has said, "All
history is His story" God and the
| devil are seen in conflict from Cen i'll
to Rev. XXX. Here it is Hannah as the
devils man and Mordecai and Esther
on the Lords side
Thus far in the story, up to our les
son today, we see the greatness OF an
earthly king and the magniticence OF
| So q
| noble woman, put away, but remem
bered; the choice of another who re-
CURED nothing but what was appoint
ed for her ii, 10: ii, l. 15,: the faithful
and unwavering interest of her guard
ian, Mordecai: the promotion OF Ha
man and his plot to kill all the Jews
This brings us to the intereession OF
Esther in the lesson of today. in which
she took the place of death to save the
lives Of her people (iv. III. Our medi
ator actually died in our stead to de
liver US from the curse of the law tGal
iii, 10; iv. 4, 81. The words in iv, IA
'sNVhO knoweth whether thou art come
to the kingdom for such a time rs
| thisw make us think of the words o.
the Lord Jesus, "For this cause came
unto this hour" "For this cause CAM
I into the world (John xii. q; xviii
81. If we are redeemed by the pre-
cious blood of Christ we may be Ger
tain that all our life is planned for u:
according to Eph. ii, 10, and concernin,
every occasion or opportunity we ma.
lee sure that it has been prepared TO
us: that in it, by dying to self. we ma,
make manifest the life of Jesus Il
Cor ". 10, II; Sam. X, y.
If we are unwilling He will choos
some willing vassal to accomplish hi
purpose, and the loss will be ours.
, Esther sent word to Mordecai tina
he and all the Jews in Shushan SHOULD
Join her and her maidens in tire
days fast and then she would go int
tie presence of the king on behalf o
her people, even if it should meal
death to her iv, BID. On the thir'
day she went to the king and obtaine
favor in his sight and the assuranc
, that he would do for her whatever Sh
asked, even to the half Of his kingdom
Our Mediator who is now in the pres
ence of God for us, has given us a
that is His and made us Joint heir
with Himself He takes every trul
:, penitent sinner into full nartnershi
with Himself, plotting out all that wa
against us and putting all His RICH
!, eousness to our account. because Fl
died for our sins and rose again th
third day. If any are perplexed by th
three days and nights Of the body q
Jesus Christ in the tomb and cannt
work it in between Friday and the frs
:. day Of the week let them find the Ike
to the real meaning Of the time in thi
: story They were to fast three day:
night and day, and yet on the thir
: day mot the fourth) she went to til
: king (iv. 16; v, ~.
!, The rest of the Esther story is thri!
. ing as we read of Haman's gailoN
for Mordecai, his supposition that /
was the man whom the king would d
;. light to honor. the kings sleeples
: night. the record found in the book {
the Chronicles concerning Mordeca
Humans being compelled to do
!, Mordecaf what he had longed to hay
done to himself, then his being hange
on the gallows he had prepared fc
, Mordecai.
How grand the statements Of cha
ters viii. 16: tx, 3, margin. 1.-THE Jew
had light. gladness and Joy and ho1
or. Those who did the business tn.
belonged to the king helped the Jews