Middletown transcript., 1922-08-12
LESSON FOR AUGUST 13
ESTHER SAVES HER PEOPLE

LESSON TEXT-Esther 3:1-9:s2.
GOLDEN TEXT-The righteous cry.
and the Lord heareth. and delivereth
them out of all their troube.-Psalm a:i7.
REFERENCE MATERIAI.-Matt.. .0:20-
u: ROM 5:6-lO: R:l. 2.
PRIMARY TOPlC-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 Sacrficial Service
!. Haman's Wicked Plot Against the
Jews (3:l-4:3)
]. The occasion of (ch. -. Nor
decai refused to bow down 10 Human
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 II scheme
and secured the kings endorsement to
destroy all the Jews.
,. Fasting and mourning among the
Jews a :l-3). IN their distress they
sought the Lord. They did that which
all those who believe in God had II
right to do (Ias. 5:l3)
u. Haman Checkmated G. ~ :l0).
l. Plot made known to Esther wv.
f-S). Mordecai appeared before the
kings gate clothed in Snckcloth. This
condition was reported 10 Esther by
her maids and chunberlains. Upon
his refusal tn put away mourning
Esther sent llatach. her special at
tenAnnt. To find ult the cause of it
Mortlecai told him of lamHu's plot
und the sum of uuney guaranteed tu
The kings treasury and accompanied
, this report with Il crpy of the decree
2. Message to Esther ". -. This
was III the form Of Il charge that she
20 unto the king and lnil,,r request
for her people.
3 ESthcr'S heSitaury (vv. tl2l.
| This WAS on the ground nf "A certain
law which made it II capital niirnsr
! for anyone tu come into lhe kings
| presence un,iddcn unless the EinG
should extend clemcmcy by holding
out the go!dea scepter The fact that
| Esther had not been called to come
In for thirty days would seem that the
queen was in diSfavur.
4. Mordecai presses her obligation
wv. II, lO. D Her own life was
involved ". l3). She might meet
death If she Went to the king unbidden,
but most certainly she would meet
death if she made no effort to avert
the danger. .icing in the lin. house
would not save her for the decree had
been made AGAINST the race of which
she was II part Her silence ON this
occasion would mean death. t1) She
w,ls not Gods last resort ". lD. He
argues that deliyelance would come
ffpm another source. God; work goes
on ana Ills purposes are fulfilled re-
GurdleSs OF the decisions of men, 60
Reminds her that she had probably
been raised up for this very wolk
". 1D. Every one has been born and
prepared for some definite work.
Gods providence brings US into the
particular circumstances where We
citn most definitely do His will.
D. Esther meets the call of duty
a 4:15-5 80. G) Preparation hy fus:-
Ing ". 16). She instructed Mordecai
to gather together all the Jews in $huS-
han and fast for her fer lilrre days
and nights. She with her maids did
the same (2) Went into the pres
ence ui the King (J:l-0. Having iaade
the decision TO 10 her duty regardless
of consequences, after due preparation
by fasting and prayer, Size presented
herself in royal apparel in the pres
enCe of the king. Sine decided that the
best thing She could DO was to lay her
life ON the altar. IF | perish.
perish" ought to be our watchword
when face to face with duty. ca Mugs
promise To Esther (v. -. lie a>elred
her that hcY desire would be granted
even TO th--hulf Of his kingdom.
&. IIaman hanged t1;4:7:iGO.
Esther was shrewd us well rs courage.
ops. She invited tie king and his
nrine minister to Il Banquet. At thts
banquet she proposed another for the
following day, ut which time she
r-omiscd to make known to The King
llrr request. IlalHan went nome
jubilant, but that ni@ht sputrihn@ nr-
Cured which turned the tide. The
King discovered that uo reward mad
been granted 3lorlccai tar having
saved his life. Haman i; compelled tu
exult Mordecni. and al the Secoad
feast the queen revealed his wicked
treachcry ana he is ordered hanged
OH the gallows which he had prepared
for Mordecai.
vi. The Jews Delivered (chs. s, 81.
llaman was dead. but the decree
against the Jews still stood. Esther
plead that it be reversed While it
could not be reversed, through her
influence another decree was sent out
which in large measure counter.
acted the first. The Jews everywhere
We're granted the privilege to defend
themselves and destroy their cnemics