O l ) o u g l ) t s f o r
O e a c f y e r s
International Sunday School Lesson by J. H. Sammis.
ESTHER PLEADS FOR HER PEOPLE Lesson VI.—November 5. Esther 4:1—5:3.
Read the Book at One Sitting. I. THE BOOK. 1. Is historical. 2. Is God-inspired, it was in Jesus' Bible which He called "Scripture" (Jno. 10:35). 3. Its keynote is Providence. It omits GOD'S name, but shows His Hand. You do not read "GOD" in it, but you see Him in it, as you do in history and provi- dence. 4. Its characteristics. In plot, sit- uations, climaxes, character sketching, dra- matic movement, it is inimitable literature. As prophecy it affords "instruction in right- eousness," and exemplifies redemptive his- tory in. which to the end we see the Jew a hated, oppressed, persecuted exile, to be suddenly and wonderfully delivered and vin- dicated (Luke 24:28). Haitian is a conspic- uous type of antichrist. 5. its time.. Lies between Ezra 6th and 7th. 6. Its persons: Ahasuerus, or Xerxes (see Encyclopedia) king of Persia: Vashti his queen, deposed for (justifiable) insubordination; Esther, a Jew- ish exile, made queen in place of Vashti; Mordecai, a Jew, uncle and fosterfather of Esther, a minor official at the palace gate; Haman, the king's favorite and prime min- ister. 7. The place, "Shushan" or "Susa," a Persian capital; it has been identified and its palace, throne room, gate, garden, harem, all described. Its magnitude and luxury "were astonishing. II. THE HIDDEN HANDS. 1. The action of Esther, like that of Job, evidently has its motive in the unseen world. In Job the veil is lifted (Job 1:6—2:10), in Esther only the natural appears, but Esther follows Job in the order of our canon. 2. Two hands, the black hand of Satan, and the white hand of GOD, are here engaged in the irrepressible conflict (Gen. 3:15). Haman is the satanic, Esther the Messianic champion. Haman was (1) an Amalakite, a hereditary foe of Israel and JEHOVJAH (Ex. 17:15, 16). It is "JEKOVAH-N1SS1," "the LORD my banner whom we see not but feel contend- ing with Amalek in Esther. Amalek is typi- cally the flesh (Rom. 8:6, 7). Haman was (2) an Agagite, a descendant of Agag the king of Amalakites. Saul was ordered to slay but spared him (1 Sam. 15:1-3; 8, 9, 20, 32, 33.) Perhaps in the interval during which Agag's life was spared he begot Ha- inan's ancestor. At least we see how evil it was to spare one Agagite, one Amalakite, it nearly proved the anihilation of the Mes- sianic people. Obedience is better than sac- rifice, and fearful might have been the sac- rifice of Saul's disobedience (1 Sam. 15:22). Some say that Israel's GOD was cruel to doom Amalek to destruction; others that He did not, but that the historian was in error. Common sense can, see both justice * and,-merc:y in the provider)i. commandment of GOD tb Saul, to prevent the plot of Haman.
Ill: Haman's Accusation. 2. Mordecai Ignored Haman's grandeur; not from caprice; piety and patriotism forbade the semi-religious homage paid by Persians to their demigod nobles. Nor would he do obeisance to the Amalakite, who was und#r the special and perpetual ban of the Lord. Saul might spare Agag, not he. He had the same heroic mould that marked the ex- iles in Babylon (Dan. 1:8; 3:17, 18), and would risk place and life for principle. He was rewarded; and all will be who are not ashamed of the Messianic hope (Mat. 8:38). 2. Haman was the Old Testament "man of sin" (2 Thess. 2:3, 8), a self-worshipper, of insatiable greed, and pride, and ambition; all must bow down to him (Rev. 13:15). Mordecai's slighting him was no slight thing to him. The incarnation of that "murderer from the beginning" (Jno._ i8:44), not only Mordecai but the whole bad race of Jewry must perish. 3. Haman accuses the "breth- ren" (Rev. 12:10; Job 1:9-11; Zee. 3:1). Three things he charged against them: (1) Their laws were diverse from other people's; true (Deut. 14:2 ff.); (2) they broke the King's laws; false. There are no more law- abiding people than they; (3) they were not "for the king's profit"; false again. Those who have given refuge to the Jews have prospered; and great damage has come to realms that ejected them. "They shall pros- per that love thee" (Ps. 122:6). These charges have often been made against God's people (Est. 3:8; Ezra 4:13; Acts 16:20). 4. The king gave Israel to Haman. To mas- sacre a whole race is not unknown to his- tory. And many in Russia today would doubtless glory in such a Jewish holocaust. 5. Haman cast lots for a lucky day (3:7), and chose the 13th of Adar, nearly a year later. Repudiate signs, omens, lucky days, and numbers. To rely on them is as wicked as it is irrational. What is lucky for one is unlucky for another. Haman's "13" was fatal to him, and salvation to the Jews. There is only one lucky omen and- that is that you trust God; and one lucky day, that is when you serve Him. 6. The dread decree was despatched," to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews"; both sexes, all ages. 1V. ESTHER PLEADS FOR HER PEOPLE. 1. The Jews In consternation made every Oriental demonstration of - grief. In sack cloth and ashes they humbled themselves before their covenant God and plead for pro- tection. 2. Mordecai sent a copy of the
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