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in behalf of their people。 Esther was to venture into his presence as an intercessor。 〃Who knoweth；〃 said Mordecai； 〃whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this？〃 Verse 14。
The crisis that Esther faced demanded quick； earnest action； but both she and Mordecai realized that unless God should work mightily in their behalf； their own efforts would be unavailing。 So Esther took time for communion with God； the source of her strength。 〃Go；〃 she directed Mordecai； 〃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。〃 Verse 16。
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The events that followed in rapid succession；the appearance of Esther before the king； the marked favor shown her； the banquets of the king and queen with Haman as the only guest； the troubled sleep of the king； the public honor shown Mordecai； and the humiliation and fall of Haman upon the discovery of his wicked plot；all these are parts of a familiar story。 God wrought marvelously for His penitent people； and a counter decree issued by the king； allowing them to fight for their lives； was rapidly communicated to every part of the realm by mounted couriers； who were 〃hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment。〃 〃And in every province； and in every city； whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came； the Jews had joy and gladness； a feast and a good day。 And many of the people of the land became Jews； for the fear of the Jews fell upon them。〃 Esther 8：14； 17。
On the day appointed for their destruction； 〃the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus； to lay hand on such as sought their hurt： and no man could withstand them； for the fear of them fell upon all people。〃 Angels that excel in strength had been commissioned by God to protect His people while they 〃stood for their lives。〃 Esther 9：2； 16。
Mordecai was given the position of honor formerly occupied by Haman。 He 〃was next unto King Ahasuerus； and great among the Jews； and accepted of the multitude of his brethren〃 （Esther 10：3）； and he sought to promote the welfare of Israel。 Thus did God bring His chosen people once more into favor at the Medo…Persian court；
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making possible the carrying out of His purpose to restore them to their own land。 But it was not until several years later； in the seventh year of Artaxerxes I； the successor of Xerxes the Great； that any considerable number returned to Jerusalem； under Ezra。
The trying experiences that came to God's people in the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone。 The revelator； looking down the ages to the close of time； has declared； 〃The dragon was wroth with the woman； and went to make war with the remnant of her seed； which keep the commandments of God； and have the testimony of Jesus Christ。〃 Revelation 12：17。 Some who today are living on the earth will see these words fulfilled。 The same spirit that in ages past led men to persecute the true church； will in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward those who maintain their loyalty to God。 Even now preparations are being made for this last great conflict。
The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews。 Today the enemies of the true church see in the little company keeping the Sabbath commandment； a Mordecai at the gate。 The reverence of God's people for His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling on His Sabbath。
Satan will arouse indignation against the minority who refuse to accept popular customs and traditions。 Men of position and reputation will join with the lawless and the vile to take counsel against the people of God。 Wealth； genius； education； will combine to cover them with contempt。
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Persecuting rulers； ministers； and church members will conspire against them。 With voice and pen； by boasts； threats； and ridicule； they will seek to overthrow their faith。 By false representations and angry appeals； men will stir up the passions of the people。 Not having a 〃Thus saith the Scriptures〃 to bring against the advocates of the Bible Sabbath； they will resort to oppressive enactments to supply the lack。 To secure popularity and patronage； legislators will yield to the demand for Sunday laws。 But those who fear God； cannot accept an institution that violates a precept of the Decalogue。 On this battlefield will be fought the last great conflict in the controversy between truth and error。 And we are not left in doubt as to the issue。 Today； as in the days of Esther and Mordecai； the Lord will vindicate His truth and His people。
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Chapter 50
Ezra； the Priest and Scribe
About seventy years after the return of the first company of exiles under Zerubbabel and Joshua； Artaxerxes Longimanus came to the throne of Medo…Persia。 The name of this king is connected with sacred history by a series of remarkable providences。 It was during his reign that Ezra and Nehemiah lived and labored。 He is the one who in 457 B。C。 issued the third and final decree for the restoration of Jerusalem。 His reign saw the return of a company of Jews under Ezra； the completion of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah and his associates； the reorganization of the temple services； and the great religious reformations instituted by Ezra and Nehemiah。 During his long rule he often showed favor to God's people； and in his trusted and well…beloved Jewish friends； Ezra and Nehemiah； he recognized men of God's appointment； raised up for a special work。
The experience of Ezra while living among the Jews who remained in Babylon was so unusual that it attracted the favorable notice of King Artaxerxes； with whom he
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talked freely regarding the power of the God of heaven； and the divine purpose in restoring the Jews to Jerusalem。
Born of the sons of Aaron； Ezra had been given a priestly training； and in addition to this he had acquired a familiarity with the writings of the magicians； the astrologers； and the wise men of the Medo…Persian realm。 But he was not satisfied with his spiritual condition。 He longed to be in full harmony with God； he longed for wisdom to carry out the divine will。 And so he 〃prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord； and to do it。〃 Ezra 7：10。 This led him to apply himself diligently to a study of the history of God's people； as recorded in the writings of prophets and kings。 He searched the historical and poetical books of the Bible to learn why the Lord had permitted Jerusalem to be destroyed and His people carried captive into a heathen land。
To the experiences of Israel from the time the promise was made to Abraham； Ezra gave special thought。 He studied the instruction given at Mount Sinai and through the long period of wilderness wandering。 As he learned more and still more concerning God's dealings with His children； and comprehended the sacredness of the law given at Sinai； Ezra's heart was stirred。 He experienced a new and thorough conversion and determined to master the records of sacred history； that he might use this knowledge to bring blessing and light to his people。
Ezra endeavored to gain a heart preparation for the work he believed was before him。 He sought God earnestly； that he might be a wise teacher in Israel。 As he learned to yield mind and will to divine control； there were brought
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into his life the principles of true sanctification； which； in later years； had a molding influence； not only upon the youth who sought his instruction； but upon all others associated with him。
God chose Ezra to be an instrument of good to Israel； that He might put honor upon the priesthood； the glory of which had been greatly eclipsed during the captivity。 Ezra developed into a man of extraordinary learning and became 〃a ready scribe in the law of Moses。〃 Verse 6。 These qualifications made him an eminent man in the Medo…Persian kingdom。
Ezra became a mouthpiece for God； educating those about him in the principles that govern heaven。 During the remaining years of his life； whether near the court of the king of Medo…Persia or at Jerusalem； his principal work was that of a teacher。 As he communicated to others the truths he learned； his capacity for labor increased。 He became a man of piety and zeal。 He was the Lord's witness to the world of power of Bible truth to ennoble the daily life。
The efforts of Ezra to revive an interest in the study of the Scriptures were given permanency by his painstaking； lifelong work of preserving and multiplying the Sacred Writings。 He gathered all the copies of the law that he could find and had these transcribed and distributed。 The pure word； thus multiplied and placed in the hands of many people； gave kno