Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-06-14
LESSON FOR JUNE II
ESTHER, THE PATRIOT QUEEN

ESTHER, THE PATRIOT QUEEN
LESSON TExT-Esther 4:1s-s:s.
GOLDEN TExT-"who knoweth
whether thou art come to the kingdom
fer such = time as this ge-Esther 4:I4
PRIMARY ToPIC-Esther. the Brave
| Queen.
JUNIOR ToPIc-wha, Esther Did for
Her People.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
| IC-Esther's Heroism
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
/ "A study of Patriotism.
J. Esther Made Queen Chapters L,
y.
This drama took place in the Per-
sian court, where Ahasuerus (Xerxes)
sat upon his throne, surrounded by his
princes and servants Six months Of
festivity were drawing to q close, ar
ranged by the king In order to impress
upon the people Of his mighty empire
the fact of his greatness. The last
days Of this feast were marked with
drunken debauchery In drunken
frenzy the king commanded Vashti to
come before the people to display her
beauty. Vashti showed her indie
| pendence by refusing to obey. She
| was Instantly deposed. In providing a
| queen to take her place. the most beau
| tiful maidens in the empire were
| brought together from whom the king
| might make a selection. The choice
| fell upon Esther, maid of the Jewish
captivity. The king did not know that
she was Jewess, but God knew. and
| He put her there for a purpose.
II. Haman's Plot Against the Jews
| (Chapter 81.
| 1. The Occasion of wv. 1-6). For
some reason Hannah was given chief
place over the princes Though all
bowed before him. Mordecai. Esther's
cousin, stoutly refused to do So
2. Its Nature (vv. 7-15) Hannah
desired to lay hands upon Mordecai for
his INSTRUMENTATION. but hesitated. In
stead of such drastic action he laid q
plot to destroy all the Jews, and there
by take vengeance on Mordecai, who
he learned was Jew. He made the
king believe that the Jews were an IN
profitable people and induced him to
order their humiliation. promising to
bring into the royal treasury an enor-
nous sum Of money.
III. Haman's Plot FoIied (4:1-S:14).
1. Fasting Among the Jews alb.
When Mordecai and his people per
esived all that was done they put on
sackcloth and ashes and cried to God.
2. Mordecai's Charge to Esther a A.
14). He sent to Esther a copy of the
decree and charged her to go before
the king and make supplication for her
people. Esther pointed out the difficult
ties in the way Possible death await
ed her should her unlimited presence
not meet the approval Of the king.
8. Esther's Daring Adventure (4:16-
B:2). Mordecai pointed out to her that
her own life was endangered. She
might meet sdeath by venturing into
the kings presence. She would surely
meet death were Humans plot not
foiled. When thus brought face to
face with duty, the heroism which so
| frequently has characterized her race
moved her to undertake the hazardous
| task and prayerfully carry 1t out.
! After three days of fasting and prayer
| she put on her royal apparel and stood
| In the kings court. winning his APP
proval.
4. Esther Pleading for Her People
| (5:3-7 :6). Esther knew that an easy
way to the heart of the king was
through his stomach, so she invited
him and Hannah to a banquet. She
proposed a second banquet, at which
she planned to make her request
| known. During the interval some
strange things took place. gallows
was built upon which to hang Morde-
| cal, at the heartless suggestion of Ha-
mans wife. And the king, during
sleepless night, was moved to search
the court records, where he found that
Mordecai had not been rewarded for
saving his life. So, In order to ex-
press his appreciation for this act Of
heroism on the part of Mordecai, he
gave orders ohliging Hannah to do hon.
or to the one he was preparing to
| hang. At the second banquet Esther
pointed out Humans wicked plot to
Kill Tie jews anu dShcu VI Lie klu&
| that her people be saved. In his wrath
the king ordered Haman hanged on
the gallows which had been prepared
| for Mordecai
5. The Counter Decree Issued e :5-
| 1z). The original decree could not be
reversed, so a counter decree was Is
sued which enabled the Jews to de-
| fend themselves. This was dispatched
| to the furthest parts of the kingdom.
! At the appcaned time there was great
slaughter 49, he Jews were saved.
God granted relief and the Feast Of
Purim was instituted as memorial