The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-11-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 5, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Est. ". 10 to ', Z
Memory Verses, ", 13. 1+GeIdsR
Text, Pa. exIv. 2o.-commentary Pro.
pared by Rev. o. M. stearns.
As we have but one lesson in this
wonderful portion of the Bible. We
must try to get some idea of the whole
book. IL Ii 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 beauu-
fully and suggestively with these
words: "Mordecai 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
peace to all his seed *. 81. We can.
not but think of the kingdom Of which
this book Is a historical and prophetic
picture, illustrating the grace Of God
Amos vi, 10. and Deut. XXI. II, 10.
may possibly throw some light on the
absence Of any name Of 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 in chapters l, 20; v, 4.
10; VII, Z. See DR.. Bullinger's 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. yet most manifest" (Augustine'
Some one has said that 1t Is the story
Of the people Of God delivered from
death by a mediator Of the highest
rank. who undertakes the greatest dan,
ger and is mysteriously 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 Gen. Iii
to Rev. Xxx. Here 1t 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 magnificence of
his kingdom: his Ill treatment Of a
noble woman. put away. but remem'
bered: the choice of another who re-
quired nothing but what was appoint
ed for her q. 10: II. I, 49,: 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 intercession of
Esther In the lesson Of today, In which
she took the place Of death to save the
lives Of her people dv. III. Our medi
ator actually died in our stead to de.
liver US from the curse Of the law tGal
iii, 10: Nv. A. b.. The words In Nv. ID.
who knoweth whether thou art come
to the kingdom for such a time as
this?" make us think Of the words Of
the Lord Jesus. "For this cause came
unto this hour" For this cause came
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 US
according to Eph. II. 10. and concerning
every occasion or opportunity we may
be sure that it has been prepared for
us; that in Il. by dying to self. we may
make manifest the life Of Jesus I'll
Cor. Nv. 10. II: Sam. K. y.
If we are unwilling He will choose
some willing vassal to accomplish his
purpose. and the loss will be ours.
Esther sent word to Mordecai that
he and all the Jews In Shushan should
Join her and her maidens In three
days fast and then she would 60 into
the presence Of the king on behalf Of
her people, even II It should mean
death to her dv. 15-10. On the third
day she went to the king and obtained
favor in his sight and the assurance
that he would do for her whatever she
asked, even to the half Of his kingdom
Our Mediator. who is now In the pres
ence Of God for us. has given us all
that Is His and made us joint heirs
with Himself. He takes every truly
penitent sinner into full partnership
with Himself. blotting out all that was
against us and putting all His right
eousness to our account. because He
died for our sins and rose again the
third day. If any are perplexed by the
three days and nights Of the body Of
Jesus Christ In the tomb and cannot
work 1t in between Friday and the first
day Of the week let them find the key
to the real meaning Of the time In this
story. They were to fast three days,
night and day. and yet on the third
day mot the fourth, she went to the
king Nv, 10; ", u.
The rest Of the Esther story Is thrill
ing as we read Of Humans gallows
A.