The festival of Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, the final month on the Jewish calendar. In the United States, on the Gregorian calendar, it falls in the months of either February or March. This year Purim begins at sunset on March 20th and continues until sundown on March 21st. Purim commemorates a time when the Jewish people were saved from death around the fourth century BCE. You can read about how the festival of Purim came about in the Book of Esther.
Although the story of Purim starts out somber, it ends in the celebration of the saving of the Jewish people from being slaughter throughout the “127 provinces from India to Cush.” When Esther became queen to King Xerxes, no one knew that she was a Jew. Her cousin Mordecai forbade her to tell her nationality (Esther 2:10). As the queen of Persia, Esther helps to save the Jewish people from being slaughtered by a jealous, envious man by the name of Haman.
Haman was an adviser to the Persian King Xerxes. He wanted all the Jews in all the provinces executed because Mordecai, a Jew, refused to kneel down to him and pay him respect. It wasn’t enough to just kill him for being disrespectful, so he looked for a way to destroy all of the Jews (Esther 3:5-6). The Book of Esther goes on the explain that Haman convinces King Xerxes that the Jews needed to be destroyed because their customs were different and the Jews do not obey the commands of the king (Esther 3:8-9). Mordecai convinces Esther to help save him and her family and all the Jews of the 127 provinces. Esther risked her own life by going to King Xerxes without being invited to his court. The King was so pleased with Esther that any request she made he granted. Esther tells the King about the plot Haman had to kill all the Jews (Esther 7:1-6). The King is so enraged that he had Haman impaled instead of the Jews.
The story does not end here, Esther requests even more from the King and has a edict written that all Jews are to not be harmed (Esther 8:5-8). This all leads to the triumph for the Jews. Mordecai and Esther are held in high regard for the saving of the Jewish people. Purim is establish in celebration of the these events and it has been celebrated annually ever since (Esther 9:20-32). During Purim, the Book of Esther, also called Megilla, is read aloud in the synagogue. Every time the name of Haman is read, it is blocked out with loud noise-makers. Part of the Purim celebration includes a gift of food to at least one friend, giving charity to the poor, and eating a festive meal. Some people may fast one or two days prior to the Purim celebration.
Christians should look to the celebration of Purim as an example of God’s plan of redemption for His people. Although the name of “God” is never once mentioned in the entire book of Esther, the “coincidences” in the book are none other than God working out His will of redemption for His people.
Esther, a Jew, is chosen out of hundreds of women to become queen of Persia.
Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, saves the kings life when he overhears of a conspiracy to kill the king. Mordecai is not rewarded at this time for his deed (Esther 2:19-23).
The night before Mordecai is to be impaled by Haman, King Xerxes can’t sleep. Coincidence? He asked to read the royal records and learned that Mordecai was never rewarded for saving his life.
The Book of Esther is full of God’s plan being set into action. The entire book reads as “chances” on why things happen and how they happen, and the underlying reason for these events is God’s people are triumphant over their enemies who seek to destroy them. As Christians, the festival of Purim is important as we can see the hidden treasures and plans that God has stored up for His people, which is a beautiful reminder that God never leaves us nor forsakes us! Today’s darkness and sinful world will never succeed in destroying our salvation. God is always there, guiding and working to save His people from the enemy who to is truly set to seek and destroy us.
HAPPY PURIM!
References:
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/default_cdo/aid/109190/jewish/Purim.htm
http://fellowshipchurchofwintersprings.org/why-christians-should-celebrate-purim/