What is Purim and Should I Care?

The Jewish holiday of Purim took place this past weekend and most of us missed it. I mean, if you’re not Jewish and you don’t know what Purim means anyway then why bother? I think that argument is a little ‘thin’ and worth rethinking. So, what is Purim and why should I care? Purim is the annual celebration of the story of Esther in the Old Testament.  Christians celebrate plenty of holidays that are NOT in the Bible, so why would we not celebrate the ones that ARE?  Yes, Purim is the story of Esther but not only Esther, it is the story of the preservation of the Jewish people in history and the story of all who trust in God, that He will preserve His people as they put their trust in Him. If God gave up on them then why should we believe He won’t give up on us?  He didn’t give up on them, and that’s important for us to remember so that we can be reassured that He won’t give up on us.  Here’s a quick overview of the story…

Purim means ‘lot’ and has to do with the ‘casting of lots’, or the ‘random choosing’ of something. In the book of Esther, we read of the Jewish people exiled in Persia (modern day Iran) and learn that the King is selecting a new wife and chooses Hadassah, a Jewess, to become his wife. Hadassah’s Babylonian name is Esther and the King does not know she is a Jew. Esther’s uncle realizes that God has given her this position ‘for such a time as this’ to bring salvation to the Jewish people who are being oppressed, especially by the king’s advisor, Haman, who serves as an ‘Antichrist’ figure in the story.  Esther takes her life into her own hands to try and save her people and God does a miracle on her behalf. Though a decree had been issued to destroy the Jewish people in the entire province but because of Esther’s trust in God and brave action the Jews are saved and God’s testimony of faithfulness by preserving the Jewish people is once again upheld for all the world to see. (Click here to read my posts on other Jewish Holidays)

History is His Story

As a Christian, we must remember that the Savior of the World, Jesus, is the Jewish Messiah. No Jewish Messiah could be born to Jewish parents, in a Jewish Israel if the Jewish people had been wiped out in the time of Esther.  Makes sense, right?  More than that, if God does not keep His promise to Abraham to bless and preserve his children (Israel and the Jewish people) how can you be sure that God will keep His promises to never leave or forsake you?  The story of Esther is uniquely Jewish and belongs to the history of the preservation of Israel and the Jewish people, but it is all of our story for those who hope in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Our God keeps His Word and is faithful to His Word and to us even when we are not faithful to Him!  I talk about this and give the fascinating background to the story of Purim in my message ‘Found Faithful’. (Click here to watch the Video)

We can see through history how Satan has desired to exterminate the Israelites, the Jewish people, in many different ways and many different times. Though the Holocaust comes to mind for most of us as the most recent effort of the enemy, it is certainly not the only time. There have been 52 attempted genocides again the Jewish people in history and the world is still adverse to them. (Turned on the news lately?)  Satan hates the Jewish people because God made a promise to use them to be a blessing to the world.  In the same way, Satan hates all who trust in the Lord through His Son Jesus because it is through this Jewish Messiah that the whole world is to be blessed and saved!

For those who know what the Bible says about the last days, we know that there are days coming where all believers will be under the threat of annihilation, much like the Jews have faced throughout history. As a Christian, you should celebrate Purim, the reminder that God is faithful to His Word, to His people, and to all who call on His Name because His plan and purpose is bigger than any of us can comprehend. What the enemy means for harm, God can use for good. My friend Ron Cantor made a 5 minute video about Purim several years ago that you can watch to get a fuller perspective on how Purim is celebrated today. (Click here to watch the Video) God is for you today and so am I! Chag Sameach Purim!

From The Bible

Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants. – Esther 9:26-28 ESV

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31 ESV

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV