Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-08-10
LESSON FOR AUGUST 10
ESTHER SAVES HER PEoPLE

LESSON TEXT-Esther 2;l-s:a2
GOLDEN TExT-The righteous cry,
and the Lord heareth, and dslivereth
them out Of all their trouble.--Psa1m N:lL
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt. 9:2O-
q; Rom. 6:S-lo: n:l, z
PRIMARY ToPIc-A Brave Young
Queen.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Esthsr. the Brave
Queen.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Heroine Worthy OF Imitation.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Rendering sacrihcial Service.
I. Haran's Wicked Plot Against the
Jews (3:1-4:3).
/. The occasion of (ch. 81. Nor
decai refused to bow down to Haman
whom the king had elevated to the
place of prime minister and COM
manded that reverence should be
shown him by all the princes and
servants. In order to get rid Of Nor
decai Haman formulated scheme
and secured the kings endorsement to
destroy all the Jews.
2. Fasting and mourning among the
Jews alb. In their distress they
sought the Lord. They did that which
all those who believe In God had a
right to do (Jas. 5:13l.
u. Haman cheekmated (4:4-7 :1O).
!. Plot made known to Esther (vv.
4-8). Mordecai appeared before the
kings gate clothed in sackcloth. This
condition was reported to Esther by
her maids and chamberlains. Upon
his refusal to put away mourning
Esther sent Hatach, her special at
tendant, to find out the cause Of 1t.
2. Message to Esther ". 81. This
was In the form Of charge that she
60 unto the king and make request
for her people.
8. Esther's hesitancy (vv. 9-12l.
This was on the ground Of certain
law which made 1t capital Offense
for anyone to come into the kings
presence unbidden unless the king
should extend clemenCy. by holding
out the golden scepter. The fact that
Esther had not been called to come
In for thirty days would seem that the
queen was in disfavOr.
4. Mordecai presses her obligation
wv. IA, 15). Q) Her own life was
involved ". 13). She might Aeet
death IL she went to the king unbidden
but most certainly she would meet
death If she made no effort to aver
the danger. Being In the kings house
would not save her, for the decree haC
been made against the race Of which
she was part. Her silence on this
occasion would mean death. (2) Sht
was not Gods last resort ". 14). Ht
argues that deliverance would come
from another source. Gods work goes
ON and His purposes are fulfilled re
gardless of the decisions Of men. e.
Reminds her that she had probabl!
been raised up for this very worl
(Y. 14). Every one has been born AM
prepared for some definite work
Gods providence brings US into tn
particular circumstances where WI
can most definitely do His will.
5. Esther meets the call Of dut!
(4:15-5 :3). ~ Preparation by fast
ing ". 16). She instructed Mordeca
to gather together all the Jews In Shus
han and fast for her for three day
and nights. She with her maids dit
the same. (2) Went into the pres
ence of the king (5:1-3). Having mad
the decision to do her duty regardless
of consequences, after due preparation
by fasting and prayer, she presente,
herself in royal apparel in the pres
ence of the king. She decided that tn
best thing she could do was to lay he
life OH the altar III I perish,
perish" ought to be our watchwor
when face to face with duty. (3l King
promise to Esther ". 81. BE assure
her that her desire would be granite
even to the half of his kingdom.
9. Haman hanged (5:4:7:109.
Esther was shrewd as well as courage
GUS. She invited the king and hi
prime minister to banquet. At thi
banquet she proposed another for tn
following day, at which time sh
| promised to make known 10 the kin
4 her request. Haman went hom
! jubilant, but that night something o.
Cured which turned the tide. TIL
king discovered that no reward ha
been granted Mordecai for havin
saved his life. Haman 10 compelled I
exalt Mordecai, and at the secon
feast the queen revealed his wicke
H treachery and he Is ordered hange
On the gallows which he had prepare
for Mordecai.
| III. The Jews Delivered (ehs. 8, O.
Haman was dead, but the deere
against the Jews still stood. Esthe
plead that 1t be reversed. While
could not be reversed, through ht
influence another decree was sent OF
which in a large measure .counte
acted the first. The Jews eSerywhei
were granted tina privilege to defeH
themselves and destroy their enemIe
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