The Holly chieftain., 1923-06-14
LESSON FOR JUNE II
ssrHEa. THE PATRIOT QUEEN


BOTHER, THE PATRIOT QUEEN
LESSON TExT-Esthsr 4:1s-s;s.
GOLDEN TExT-"who knoweth
whether thou art come to the Kingdom
for such . time as this r'-Esther 4:l4.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Esther, the Brave
Queen.
JUNIOR roPIc-wha. Esther Did for
Her People.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Esther's Hsroism.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A study of Patriotism.
!. Esther Made Queen (Chapters 1,
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 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 a 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
queen to take her place. the most beau
tiful maldens 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.
u. Haman's Plot Against the Jews
(Chapter 81.
1. The Occasion Of (vv. 1-8). 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
Q. Its Nature wv. 7-15). Haman
desired to lay hands upon Mordecai for
his insubordination, but hesitated. In
stead of such drastic action he laid a
plot to destroy all the Jews. and there
by take vengeance on Mordecai, who
he learned was a Jew. He made the
king believe that the Jews were an un-
profitable people and induced him to
order their annihilation. promising to
bring into the royal treasury an enor-
nous sum Of money.
III. Haman's Plot Folisd (4:1-S:14).
1. Fasting Among the Jews (4:1-3).
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 (4:4
14). He sent to Esther copy Of the
decree and charged her to 60 before
the king and make supplicatlon 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-
5:2). Mordecai pointed out to her that
her own life was endangered. She
might meet death by venturing into
meet death were Haman's 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 ap-
proval.
4. Esther Pleading for Her People
(5:8-7:6). Esther knew that an easy
way to the heart Of the king was
through his stomach, so she invited
him and Haman to a banquet. She
proposed 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 obliging Haman to do hon.
or to the one he was preparing to
hang At the second banquet Esther
pointed out Haman's wicked plot to
kill the Jews and asked Of the king
that her people be saved In his wrath
the king ordered Haman hanged on
the gallows which had been prepared
for Mordecai.
8. The Counter Decree Issued Is 10
14). 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 a memorial
Of their deliverance.
0od's PIow,