Esther Crowned Queen

BY AN UNKNOWN ARTIST OF THE FLORENTINE SCHOOL,
FIFTEENTH CENTURY. THE ORIGINAL IS IN

THE LOUVRE GALLERY, PARIS.

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"He set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."-Esther, 2, 17.

Τ

HUS there was occasion for another sumptuous

royal feast. The king placed the royal crown upon

Esther, thus announcing her to be Vashti's successor. All his princes and servants were summoned to a great banquet, "even Esther's feast." Whether, like Vashti, she was bidden to appear in person before the banqueters, we are not told; but we may be sure that if so, Esther did as she was commanded.

So much pleased was Ahasuerus with his gentle queen, that he made a public "release" of taxes throughout the empire, and "gave gifts, according to the state of the king."

Thus closes what may be considered the first part of the fortunes of Esther, or Hadassah, the Jewish orphan. Only one element of perplexity or danger remained in her position. She had not revealed her relationship to her downtrodden race. Thus she was estranged from the society of her kinsfolk. Yet Mordecai her uncle, presumably through the friendship of the chamberlain Hegai, continued to keep watch over her. She continued to obey him.

PSALM L- THE GLORY OF ZION

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17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul; and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 50

1 The majesty of God in the church. 5 His command to gather his saints. 7 The pleasure of God is not in ceremonies, 14 but in sincerity of obedience. A Psalm o Asaph.

HE mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth, from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt-offerings, to have been continually before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy folds: 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. 18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.