The first two chapters of Esther gave the background of the story of Esther. Chapter three reveals the true conflict of this Bible story. Haman is established as the chief of the princes of the Persian Empire. Then Haman, in his hatred of Mordecai, lashes out at the entire Jewish race within the realm of the great Persian Empire. They are to be completely destroyed.

As in the previous chapter, we see here a plain telling of events without any explanation of good or evil. However, these first two chapters are setting up the circumstances for a powerful story. As in chapter one, this lesson shows us the ways of the world.

There can be no doubt that Moses is a picture of Jesus Christ. The following is a list of some of the ways in which Moses is a type or picture of Jesus Christ. Although this is not an exhaustive list, it does include 40 different ways in which Moses typifies Christ. This list, then, is designed for the benefit of Bible students to think about the ways in which Moses and Christ are alike.

The children of Israel were to keep themselves separated from the other nations but, by intermarrying with the different nations around them, they had compromised and taken on their abominations. The answer for them, though it might seem harsh, was to separate from their heathen marriages.

The message of Haggai, chapter two, is a message of coming glory (see Haggai 2:3, 7, 9; compare 1:8). The importance of the message is shown in the time in which it was given.

As God continues to confront Job with His greatness, Job makes his first feeble answer: “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee” (verse 4)? God then asks Job if he has the abilities and powers of God. God closes this chapter with a description of behemoth as the chief of the ways of God.

Two evil reigns follow the good reign of Hezekiah. We see the dangers of idolatry in these two reigns. We also see the influence a leader of the people has on those people. In both cases, the people follow their king.

Saul never submits to doing things God’s way. In this lesson, he disobeys Deuteronomy 18:9-12 and seeks the help of a witch. This lesson should act as a warning against witchcraft and related abominations.

As we advance from the lowest scale of being to the highest, we find that every rank calls that above it a mystery, and that beneath it a simplicity...

The pernicious tendency of these traditions is very strikingly illustrated, in one of our Lord’s discourses, by an example...