•decree to Esther, and charged her to inter- cede with the king. She reminded him that it "was almost certain death to go unbidden into the monarch's presence (could not some other means he found?). He replied, as- suring her that even the queen, being a •Jewess, was under the ban; that if she re- fused, salvation would come from some other quarter (for he evidently believed God's promise (Isa. 43:1-7; 54:17); and suggested that her own elevation to the crown was a providential provision for this very emer- gency, as it was. 2. Thus exhorted and en- couraged, begging the prayers of the Jews, she pledged those of herself and her ladies, a nd made her resolve: "So will I go unto the king, which is not according to the law, and If I perish, I perish!" (4:16, 17). Brave- ly, nobly, piously, said young and beautiful Esther the queen! 3. Having cast her care on the Lord, she used such means and wis- •dom as she had. She arrayed in her queenly robes, and presented herself in the entry to t h e throne room, a perilous position, for life or death. Let us thank God that "we have access by faith into this grace" though not according to the law, yet by grace (Rom. 5:2) The King extends His Scepter to us, and to our petition lends a listening ear. Ahasuerus welcomed the "beauteous queen." "What," he said, "is thy request?" Her present peril is p^st. 4. Reserving her peti- tion for a less public place, she asked her lord and Haman to her feast, and then to a second. She would get deeper into his af- fections and interest, and Haman should be present at her accusation. 5. The Aaggite went, home from the feast exulting. Noth- ing now stood between him and the goal of his desire but the king himself, yes, there was Mordecai, the one bitter drop in his cup of gladness. Good men in good fortune wish well and a share to others; wicked men are made by it more envious and selfish. When men's hearts are set in them to do evil they shall find plenty to egg them on. Ha- man's wife and friends proposed a gallows 75 feet high for Mordecai and said "Hang him thereon." Well pleased, he erected the scaffold forthwith, and hastened early for the royal consent to carry out his purpose. He gloated over his anticipated revenge. "If you'll not bow down to inc., ± il ntt you -up to your heart's content." If now you will read the 6th chapter you will un- ESTHER. The heart of this lesson is easily seen. "Devotion to Duty." Mordecai had been faithful to the king and had saved his life, 6:1, 2. Mordecai is faithful with Esther and lays with no uncertain emphasis the obligation upon her heart. Esther, when con- fronted with the facts, takes her place with the spirit so characteristic of the Jewish people, throws hérself into the breach and at •the risk of her own life pleads the cause of her race. She is a patriotic heroine and is well en- titled to have her name written upon the roll of honor along with those other patriots who have given their lives in defense of their country's honor. The stirring words of Mordecai are, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" verse 14. Who knows, but God has brought you into this place of prom- inence and power for the very purpose of
derstand what this means' "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision" (Psa. 2:4). 6. At her second banquet Esther made (1) Her plea, ''Let my life be given me at my peti- tion, and my people at my request. For we are sold, I and my people, to be de- stroyed, to be slain, and to perish, but," etc. "Who is he, and where is he?" cried the king; (2) Her denunciation: "The ad- versary and the enemy is this wicked Ha- man!" The king in rage went into the gar- den, perhaps, groping for his calmer judg- ment. On his return Haman, prostrate at the queen's couch, was pleading for his life. The monarch, more enraged, cried, "Will he force the queen before me In my house!" Then they covered Haman's face, and hung him on the gallows he intended for Mor- decai, and (Psa. 37:13). V. THE ACTS OF THE NEW PRIME MIN- ISTER. 1. The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. 2. His first official act was a reverse decree. The former could not be changed (Dan. 6:8), but a new one was issued and des- patched; by its authority the Jews defended themselves and slew their enemies, till none were left who lifted hand against them. "But on the spoil they laid not their hands." 3. Truly "God works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform?" To this day the Jews celebrate their deliverance in their an- nual Feast of Purim. - VI. SOME LESSONS IN ESTHER. (1) God reigns, Psa. 47:8. (2) He defeats wicked men, Job 5:12, 13. (3) He casts down the proud, and lifts up the lowly, Luke 1:52. (4) He hears prayer, Psa. 18:6. (5) He makes all turn to good for His own, Rom. 8:28. (6) Even a sleepless pillow is from Him, Est 6:1. (7) He uses a note in a diary for His purpose, Est. 6:2. (8) He gives wis- dom to counteract the "inevitable," Est. 7:5, 6. (9) It is impossible to destroy the Jews, Isa. 54:17; Rom. 11:26, 29; (10) or any who put their trust in the Lord, Rom. 8:35- 39; (11) there is no situation too hard for prayer and fasting to overcome, Dan. 2:17- 19; Acts 12:1-10. rescuing your people in the time of their imminent peril. Esther saw the danger which confronted her people, counted the cost and counted not her life as dear unto herself. The same spirit actuated Paul upon a higher level when he east his lot with the despised Nazarene and expressed his willingness to be accursed from Christ for Israel's sake, Rom. 9:3. Men quickly respond to the call of their country: how few believers respond to the call of Christ. There i j a solemn obligation resting upon every child of God to give the gospel to the people of the world. The Lord Himself has told us of the peril of the unsaved of the desperate need of the lost. He has called us to-risk our lives In t h e effort-to take the message to the multitude. There is a crisis in the life of every believer, a time when the voice of the Spirit is saying "Thou hast been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this." The call is loud
PITH AND PIVOT.—T.C.H.
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