OUR AMAZING DELIVERER

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.

That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.

Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. But when the plot came to the king’s attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.

So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance—to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

Esther 9:18-32

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

See if you agree with this statement: We are people who are fixed on dates and times which mark matters of importance.

It’s true, isn’t it?

A person is born and we start to track their years by their birth date, celebrating every year as another year of life has past and a new one awaits. The same applies for anniversaries, marked by that ever special wedding day.

Other days we celebrate are marked by special events that are assigned holidays like New Year’s Eve and Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and, of course with special celebration for Christians, Easter and Christmas. We also mark days that cause us to pause and reflect on tragedies that might have happened or those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms…days like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, 9/11, Veteran’s Day and, for Christians, Good Friday.

Yes, we are a people who celebrate and embrace dates and times of special significance. And we should always strive to remember their origins.

As we have studied the Old Testament, we have already looked at many dates that are special and significant to the Jewish community…dates and events connected to their rich heritage…dates and events that deserve celebration. Of course, the sacred Sabbath (Shabbat) was always observed and recognized. Pre-exile, the major festivals were Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First Fruits, the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost…Shavuot), the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles or Ingathering…Succoth). As we finish reading from the 9th Chapter of Esther, we’re introduced to a new festival…the festival of Purim.

You’ll recall that when Haman was planning the execution of the Jews, he cast lots or purim to choose the date. We know now as we get set to close this important book detailing God’s deliverance of His people that Haman’s plan was foiled by the courageous work of Esther and Mordecai and the Jewish people were saved as a result.

In the aftermath of the Jewish victory, made certain because God was with them, we read where the “Jews in Susa…had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.” We’re told this is why “rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.”

Mordecai, elevated to Haman’s place of power within the king’s palace, “recorded these events and…sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” And thus the foundation of Purim was set…and is still celebrated today.

Indeed, “the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them.” They “took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.” Esther then sealed the establishment of the holiday, sending “letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom…to establish these days of Purim at their designated times.”

The celebration was set…a time of rejoicing established. But all would be impossible without God first watching over, protecting and delivering His people. We would be well suited to remember this when we celebrate any special day of our lives. In good times and bad, God is ever with us…our very present help in times of trouble…our amazing and blessed Provider when things are well. He ordains all days and is the only One worthy of our praise and worship and celebration. We should always live in remembrance of our God and His awesome, incredible, nature. He does all things so that we might remember Him, whether a special day of significance or not.

Friends, maybe we should look at every day as a holiday. For life itself is precious…each breath and heartbeat critical to our continued existence. If you think about it, none of us really deserve this life we’re granted because of our sinfulness. But by God’s grace and mercy and love, we have life and have it to the full. I have often thought of each breath as a breath of grace and every heartbeat as a beat of mercy. It helps keep me reminded of God’s blessings, ever granted to us until our time here is done. And even then, we have reason to celebrate because the gift God gave all of us in His Son Jesus Christ…a sacrifice offered because He so loved the world and wished that we would not perish but instead have eternal life (John 3:16).

Yes…God gave His only Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins so that whosoever believes in Him might live forever and enjoy a future celebration which will make all others pale in comparison…even Purim. It’s the ultimate deliverance by our amazing Deliverer…our God who has shown throughout history that He is the deliverance business.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, please don’t delay today and possibly lose your invitation to the greatest celebration of all time. Believe in Christ and gain your final deliverance today.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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