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Saturday
The First
Lesson
Esther 4:1, 5-17
1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his
clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the
midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains,
whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment
to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city,
which was before the king's gate.
7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and
of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the
king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that
was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther,
and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should
go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make
request before him for her people.
9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto
Mordecai;
11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces,
do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto
the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one
law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king
shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have
not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself
that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the
Jews.
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then
shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from
another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed:
and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such
a time as this?
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan,
and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night
or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will
I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and
if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther
had commanded him.
1st Lesson Questions -
Esther gambled with her safety because of Mordecai. Am I willing to do that for anyone? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 28:16-31
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners
to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by
himself with a soldier that kept him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the
chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together,
he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed
nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was
I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because
there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal
unto Caesar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of.
20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you,
and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I
am bound with this chain.
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of
Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came
showed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning
this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to
him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of
the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till
evening.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed
not.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed,
after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost
by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear,
and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For
the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand
with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal
them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God
is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had
great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and
received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding
him.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Has my heart ever been "waxed gross," my " ears are dull of hearing" and my eyes closed? (V. 27) What opened them? RESOLVE.