Purim

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish
calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in
Persia were saved from extermination.
The story of Purim is told in the Biblical book of Esther. The heroes
of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in
Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his
daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia,
to become part of his harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his
other women and made Esther queen, but the king did not know that
Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her
nationality.
The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to
the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to
Haman, so Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. In a speech that
is all too familiar to Jews, Haman told the king, "There is a certain
people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the
provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every
other people's, and they do not observe the king's laws; therefore it
is not befitting the king to tolerate them." Esther 3:8. The king gave
the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, to do as he pleased to them.
Haman planned to exterminate all of the Jews.
Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish
people. This was a dangerous thing for Esther to do, because anyone who
came into the king's presence without being summoned could be put to
death, and she had not been summoned. Esther fasted for three days to
prepare herself, then went into the king. He welcomed her. Later, she
told him of Haman's plot against her people. The Jewish people were
saved, and Haman was hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for
Mordecai.
The book of Esther is unusual in that it is the only book of the Bible
that does not contain the name of G-d. In fact, it includes virtually
no reference to G-d. Mordecai makes a vague reference to the fact that
the Jews will be saved by someone else, if not by Esther, but that is
the closest the book comes to mentioning G-d. Thus, one important
message that can be gained from the story is that G-d often works in
ways that are not apparent, in ways that appear to be chance,
coincidence or ordinary good luck.
Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar, which is usually in March.
The 13th of Adar is the day that Haman chose for the extermination of
the Jews, and the day that the Jews battled their enemies for their
lives. On the day afterwards, the 14th, they celebrated their survival.
In cities that were walled in the time of Joshua, Purim is celebrated
on the 15th of the month, because the book of Esther says that in
Shushan (a walled city), deliverance from the massacre was not complete
until the next day. The 15th is referred to as Shushan Purim.

The word "Purim" means "lots" and refers to the lottery that Haman used
to choose the date for the massacre.
The Purim holiday is preceded by a minor fast, the Fast of Esther,
which commemorates Esther's three days of fasting in preparation for
her meeting with the king.
The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the
book of Esther. The book of Esther is commonly known as the Megillah,
which means scroll. Although there are five books of Jewish scripture
that are properly referred to as megillahs (Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes,
Song of Songs, and Lamentations), this is the one people usually mean
when the speak of The Megillah. It is customary to boo, hiss, stamp
feet and rattle gragers (noisemakers; see illustration) whenever the
name of Haman is mentioned in the service. The purpose of this custom
is to "blot out the name of Haman."
We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. According to the
Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the
difference between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai," though
opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is. A person certainly
should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or
get seriously ill. In addition, recovering alcoholics or others who
might suffer serious harm from alcohol are exempt from this obligation.
In addition, we are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and
to make gifts to charity. The sending of gifts of food and drink is
referred to as shalach manos (lit. sending out portions). Among
Ashkenazic Jews, a common treat at this time of year is hamentaschen
(lit. Haman's pockets). These triangular fruit-filled cookies are
supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat. My recipe is included
below.
It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform
plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests. I have heard that the
usual prohibitions against cross-dressing are lifted during this
holiday, but I am not certain about that. Americans sometimes refer to
Purim as the Jewish Mardi Gras.
Purim is not subject to the sabbath-like restrictions on work that some
other holidays are; however, some sources indicate that we should not
go about our ordinary business on Purim out of respect for the holiday.

So what do we learn?
5 things
P
U
R
I
M
1.
A.

=
=
=
=
=

Promises
Usefulness
remember
Invisible
Meaning
Promises
God told Abraham there is an eternal covenant with the Jews.
-no worries, even with Haman in control
-Holocauststate of Israel
-Russian Jews.look now

2. Usefulness
So What does this teach usBelieving in God doesnt get you a life
problem free,
A. Easter had problems..she could be killed
B. Mordichai had problemshe was being harrased by Haman
C. We have problems.we loose our jobs, we are sick
NT. Jesus says in Matthewthat there will be rains and floods coming
inot your life, if you build your house on sand, it will fall
If you build your house on the rock it stands
Eather survived, Mordicahi survived, we still survive as a people
A. You might ask yourself, what could I possible do for God. Im not
good enough, Im not smart enough. This teaches us that we can all be
used by God. B. Queen esther was a nobody in the court of Ashetherus,
but Gos put her in a situation to be USED C. I believe the Lord put
the Russian Jews in this same position. Who would have thought a few
years ago under Communism supression, that the Lord would use YOU guys
to send a message back to our people.
D. In Jeremiah he says Therefore behold, days are coming,"
declares the LORD, "when it will no longer be said, 'As the LORD
lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of
Egypt,'
Jer 16:15
but, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of
Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries
where He had banished them.' For I will restore them to their own
land which I gave to their fathers.
3.

Remember

A.
The text says that Mordichai makes Purim a holiday, so we will
never forget.
Est 9:26
Therefore they called these days Purim after the name
of Pur. And because of the instructions in this letter, both what
they had seen in this regard and what had happened to them,
Est 9:27
the Jews established and made a custom for themselves
and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves

with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two
days according to their regulation and according to their
appointed time annually.
Est 9:28
So these days were to be remembered and celebrated
throughout every generation, every family, every province and
every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among
the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.
Est 9:29
Then Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai
the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter
about Purim.
Est 9:30
He sent letters to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces
of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, {namely,} words of peace and truth,
Est 9:31
to establish these days of Purim at their appointed
times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established
for them, and just as they had established for themselves and for
their descendants with instructions for their times of fasting
and their lamentations.
Est 9:32
The command of Esther established these customs for
Purim, and it was written in the book.
B. God does this a lot, he wants us tpo remember these times, just
like:
The feasts of IsraelPassover,
As believer we remember this week as the Passion week
-Messiah is crowned
-Messiah dies
-Messiah is ressurected
C. For each generation may know what the next one did
4. Invisble
A. Its the only book in the Bible that doesnt contain the name of
God
B.
Rabbis say its because there is a hidden message. God is always
with us even though we might not see Him.He is invisible but not
without making Himself known..
C.
How does God make himself known.Romans says His invisible
attributes make known His invisible
5. Meaning
A. Then Mordecai told {them} to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that
you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews.
Est 4:14
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you
and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you
have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"
B.

We all have meaning for our livesGod has a purpose for us

Jews.
C.
We must not remain silent.we have the message of deliverance
for our people, and His name is messiah Yshua. We have been put in
this unique situation as believers today to tell our people "for such a
time as this"
C.

Lets Pray
Oh
In
He
In

Haman was a high and

Shu Shu Shushan long
ordered Mordechai to
Shu Shu Shushan long

mighty bluff,
ago.
take his derby off
ago.

So we sing, (3x) and raise a row.

For Haman he was swinging
While Mordechai was singing
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago.
But Mordechai sat and laughed in his face
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago.
So Haman swore he'd exterminate his race
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago. So we sing. . .
Oh Esther was a timid little maid
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago.
But Mordechai told her she neeedn't be afraid
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago. So we sing. . .
So she went to the king and she gave him a smile
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago.
The king he liked her manner and her style
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago. So we sing. . .
Ahasuerus was a jolly little king,
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago,
He ordered Haman to take a little swing,
In Shu Shu Shushan long ago. So we sing. . . .
The King's Song
I need a queen, a nice new queen,
To sit beside me on the throne;
And if she's very nice indeed,
I'll give her half the things I own.
I've looked at maids, so many maids
With black or red or golden hair,
But this one shouts, and this one pouts,
And so for none of these I care.
O you are nice, so very nice!
Sweet Esther will you be my bride?
So here's the throne, and half I own
And a hundred and twenty lands besides.

Purim Pieces

Purim
Principles

Scriptures

God used a beauty

pageant to raise up a
young girl who would
ultimately intervene to
save His people.

When we trust
God enough to
give up our lives
to Him we gain a
life worth living.

"The merciful man does

good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel
troubles his own flesh.
The wicked man does
deceptive work, But he
who sows righteousness
will have a sure reward."
(Proverbs 11:17,18)

Mordecai revealed a plot

against the king simply
because it was the right
thing to do. His good
deed eventually brought
him honor. Haman, who
desired honor and plotted
against Mordecai, was
humiliated when the king
used him to reward
Mordecai.

God weaves
together
seemingly
unrelated
incidents to
secure the wellbeing of His
people.

"But God has chosen the

foolish things of the
world to put to shame
the wise, and God has
chosen the weak things
of the world to put to
shame the things which
are mighty" (1
Corinthians 1:27)

Haman's pride ultimately

led to his own death and
humble Mordecai was
raised to prominence.

God often uses

events or people
that we may not
see as important
or dignified
enough to
accomplish His
purposes.

"For whoever desires to

save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his
life for My sake will find
it." (Matthew 16:25)

Haman actually died on

the gallows he had built
to execute Mordecai.

Evil intentions
have a way of
backfiring.

"And we know that all

things work together for
good to those who love
God, to those who are
the called according to
His purpose." (Romans
8:28)

Esther risked her own life

by appearing before the
king without a summons,
but it was the only way
she could attempt to save
the lives of others.

God does not look

favorably upon
pride and selfimportance, but is
gracious to those
who do not have
an inflated view of
themselves.

"And some of the

Pharisees called to Him
from the crowd,
'Teacher, rebuke Your
disciples.' But He
answered and said to
them, 'I tell you that if
these should keep
silent, the stones
would immediately cry
out.'" (Luke 19:39,40)

Mordecai told Esther that

if she would not take the
risk, God would still save
His people.

Doing the right

thing for its own
sake is a reward
in itself, but
ultimately God
rewards those
who do good,
while punishing
those who do evil.

"You will save the

humble people; But
Your eyes are on the
haughty, that You may
bring them down." (2
Samuel 22:28)

Throughout the book of

Esther we see that God
used all kinds of
circumstancesfrom
Queen Vashti's refusal to
honor the king's wishes,
to Esther winning a
beauty contest, to
Haman's plan to execute
Mordecaito protect His
people from their
enemies.

God gives us
opportunities to
be blessed by
participating in His
purposes, but He
does not need us.

"As righteousness
leads to life, so he who
pursues evil pursues it
to his own death."
(Proverbs 11:19)