The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-06-14

LESSON TENT-Esther <:13-5.3
GOLDEN TEXT-"who knoweth
whether thou art come to the kingdom
Tor such a time as this7' Esther 4-I4.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Esther. the Brave
queen.
JUNIOR ToPIC-what Esther Did for
Her People
INT ERIN EDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Esthers Heroism
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC !
A study of Patriotism.
p.
This drama took place in the Per-
tian court, where Ahasuerus (Nerxes)
Eat upon his throne, surrounded by his
princes and servants. Six months OF
festivity were drawing to 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 10
come before the people to display her
beauty .Vashti showed her indie
pendence by refusing to obey. She
queen to take her place. the most beau
tiful naidens in the empire were
brought together from whom the king
might make 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 purpose.
(Chapter ~.
l. The Occasion of wv. l6). For
some reason Haman was given chief
place over the princes. Though all
bowed before him Mordecai. Esther's
cousin. stoutly refused to do so.
.. Its Nature wv. 71O. Hannah
desired to lay hands upon Mordecai for
his INSTRUMENTATION. but hesitsted. In
stead of such drastic action he laid
plot TO destroy all the Jews, and there
by take vengeance on MordeGai, who
he learned was Il Jew. He made the
king believe that the Jews wel~e an I'M
profitable people and induced him to
order their fannihilation promising to
bring into the royal treasury an enor-
nous sum of money.
III. Humans Plot Fooled a Is: 14).
/. Fasting Among the Jews Alb.
When Mordecai and his people per
ceived all that was done they put on
sackcloth and ashes and cried to God.
2 Mordecai's Charge to Esther a r.
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.
g. Esthers Daring Adventure (4:16-
5:2). Mordecai pointed out to her that
her own life was endangered. She
might meet death by venturing into
the kings presence. She would surely
meet death were Hamans plot not
foiled When thus brought face 10
face with duty, the heroism which so
frequently has characterized herr race
moved her to undertake the hazardous
task and prayerfully carry it out.
After three days of fasting and prayer
she put on her royal apparel and stood
in the kings court. winning his ap-
proval.
1. Esther Pleading for Her People
q 81 :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. gaflows
was built upon which to hang Morde-
cal, at the heartless suggestion OF ila-
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 obliglng Hannah to do hon
or TO the one he was preparing 10
hang At the second banquet Esther
pointed out Humans wicked plot to
kill the Jews and asked of the king
that her people be saved In his wrath
the king ordered Hannah hanged on
the gall6Ws which had been prepared
for Mordecai.
5. The Counter Decree Issued $50
IA. 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 appointed time there was great
slaughter and the Jews were saved. !
God granted relief and the Feast Of
Purim was instituted as memorial
Of their deliverance.
Gods PloW.