Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-08-10
LESSON FOR AUGUST 10
ESTHER SAVES HER PEOPLE

ESt TEN SAsES TEN Ut
LESSON TExT-Esther 3:1-s:s2.
GOLDEN TEXT-The righteous cry,
and the Lord heareth, and delivereth
them out of all their trouble.-Psalm S4;lI.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt. 2o2o-
Is; Rom $3.50; I21, 2.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Brave Young
Queen
JUNIOR ToPIc-Esther, the Brave
Queen.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Heroine Worthy of Imitation.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Rendering sacrificial Service.
/. Humans Wicked Plot Against the
Jews (3:1-4:3).
1. The occasion Of (ch. 81. Nor
decai refused to bow down to Hannah
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 Hannah formulated scheme
and secured the kings endorsement to
destroy all the Jews.
2. Fasting and mourning among the
Jews abb. In their distress they
sought the Lord. They did that which
all those who believe in God had a
right to do Mas. 5:13).
| Il, Haman checkmated a ~: lol.
/. Plot made known 70 Esther Nv.
| 49,. Mordecal 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 It.
| 2. Message to Esther ". 81. TINS
was in the form Of charge that she
go unto the king and make request
for her people.
3. Esther's hesitancy (vv. 0-12l.
| 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 II disfAvor.
4. Mordscai presses her Obligation
wv. II. 1D). ~ Her own life vas
involved ". Id. She might meet
death IL she went to the king unbtddsn.
but most certainly she would meet
death II she made no effort to avert
the danger. Being in the kings house
would not save her. for the decree had
been made against the race Of which
she was I part. Her silence on this
occasion would mean death. ~ She
was not Gods last resort ". 14). He
argues that deliverance would come
from another source Gods work goes
on and His purposes are fulfilled re-
CARELESS Of the decisions OF men. (3)
Reminds her that she had probably
been raised up for this very work
Y. 14). Every one ha5 been born and
prepared for some definite work.
Gods providence brings us into the
particular circumstances where we
can most definitely do His will.
5. Esther meets the call Of duty
| (4:15-5 :3). "a Preparation by fast
ing ". 16). She instructed Mordecai
to gather together all the Jews in Shus-
i han and fast for her for three. days
and nights. She with her maids did
the same (2) Went into the pres
ence of the king GLIB. Having made
! the decision to do her duty regardless
Of consequences, after due preparation
| by fasting and prayer, she presented
herself in royal apparel in the pres
! ence of the king She decided that the
/ best thing she could do was to lay her
| life on the altar IF / perish, l
! perish" ought to be our watchword
when face to face with duty. (3) Kings
| promise to Esther ". 81. He assured
her that her desire would be granted
even to the half Of his kingdom.
! 6. Hannah hanged Is Il 4 :10))
| Esther was shrewd as we'll as courage
Gus. She invited the king and his
/ prime minister to banquet. At this
banquet she proposed another for the
!, following day, at which time she
/ promised to make known to the king
! her request. Hannah went home
| jubilant, but that night something oc-
Cured which turned the tide. The
king discovered that no reward had
/ been granted Mordecai for having
saved his life. Hannah is compelled to
exalt Mordecai, and at the second
feast the queen revealed his wicked
treachery and he is ordered hanged
on the gallows which he had prepared
| for Mordecai.
III. The Jews Delivered (chs. s, 81.
Halnan was dead, but the decree
against the Jews still stood. Esther
! plead that 1t be reversed. While 1t
could not be reversed, through her
influence another decree was sent out
which In large measure counter.
| acted the first The laws euarxwhoro