|
|
||||
|
The Feast of
Purim: |
||||
 |
Every year on the 14th day of the Jewish calendar month of Adar, usually in March, Jewish people around the world celebrate Purim (pronounced pour-im). Traditions include the public reading or chanting of the entire book of Esther, or a Purim play or Purim Shpiel, which tells the Esther story. Though the story itself is dramatic, the plays are usually quite comical. | |||
| The story
of Esther takes place in Shushan, the ancient capital city of Persia,
which is modern day Iran. In light of current events this makes the
story all the more interesting. In the story King Ahasuerus, who ruled
Persia 486-465 BC, chose a young Jewish woman, Hadassah (Esther) to be
his queen, but the job would turn out to be more than she bargained for.
Anyway, Esther’s uncle Mordecai lands a job as a guard for the king,
where he providentially overhears and foils a plan to assassinate the
king. Meanwhile the king unwittingly puts a vicious anti-Semite named Haman into position as his Prime Minister. Haman has a ‘bad experience’ with Mordecai, and decides to rid the empire of all Jews! Mordecai tells Esther to intercede with the king on behalf of her people. Though hesitant at first, Esther eventually goes to the king, reveals her Jewishness, and exposes Haman’s plot. Haman is hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, the Jews are saved (again), and Purim is established to remember this victorious event. Hurray! Esther's Spiritual Challenge Though Mordecai clearly exhorted Esther to intercede with the king on behalf of her people, Esther wanted no part of any plan that would endanger her. It was more than risky to go uninvited into the king’s presence. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus mentions the Persian custom that anyone who approached the king uninvited would be put to death--unless pardoned by the king. Mordecai had one last challenge to the Queen. As a result of Mordecai’s exhortation, Esther repented, pleaded to the King on behalf of her people’s welfare and the Jewish people were then preserved from extinction once again. But what made such a change in Esther that she would risk it all to help her Jewish people? The truth of the Mordecai’s challenge encouraged Esther’s timid heart: Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 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? (Esther 4:13,14). False Security: Esther's Perception First, he challenged the false security of her perception: “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.” Esther couldn’t live in a fantasy world where her cowardice would provide a means of escape. The foolish find their sense of satisfaction, significance and even their feeling of security, in their vain imagination. This vanity of the mind assumes our disobedience to God will actually be our protection. People actually believe that their lies will protect, even promote them! But we cannot insulate ourselves from God. The vanity of our imagination is a result of self-oriented unbelief. Yes, there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of this “stinking thinking” is death. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so (Romans 8:6,7). Therefore we need to remove this vanity as a basis for security, and in trusting obedience, yield our minds to Messiah Yeshua: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah (2 Cor 10: 4,5). False Security: Esther's Passivity Mordecai then challenged the false security of Esther’s passivity: “If you remain silent at this time, deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish.” Many people think that not doing evil is equal to doing righteousness. In New Covenant story in Luke 16, the rich man did not actually do anything to hurt Lazarus. Still he found out too late that by not pro-actively helping the homeless Lazarus, he was still a guilty sinner. The sin of omission--not doing what we should do--is as wicked to God as the sin of commission--doing what is wrong. Esther must not be silent when her words could be the means of deliverance from destruction for the Jewish people. So also, believers today dare not think that they can keep silent about the gospel when they know that it is the only means of saving the Jewish people, and all people from judgment. Silence in this case would be a sin of omission. Scripture consistently encourages us to warn others of the judgment to come and the need to repent and believe. Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me (Ezekiel: 3:17-21). Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:32,33). Scripture clearly teaches believers to share the Good News with all people, yes, even to the Jew first! Even if in our disobedience we keep silent, God will be faithful to His word, “help will come from another place” and the Jewish people will live despite the Hamans, the Hitlers, the Bin Ladens, and even the present leader of Iran. Perhaps God would have raised up another country to destroy Persia, as He raised up the Medo-Persian Empire to destroy Israel’s previous oppressor, Babylon. Then Esther and her family would have died with the Persian royal household where she thought she was so secure! She could either identify with God, His promises and His people, or identify with His enemies. False Security: Esther's Position Finally, Mordecai challenged the false security of Esther’s position: “Who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther had married the most powerful man of his time. Sometimes people marry to fulfill their lives only to find that they are still just as insecure, lonely, empty, and unfulfilled as before. Neither marriage, nor career, nor wealth will fulfill a life. Like drugs, such things only dull the pain for a while. Even success can’t fulfill us, as NFL quarterback Tom Brady recently remarked on 60 Minutes: “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there is something greater out there for me? A lot of people would say, ‘... I reached my goal, my dream …’ Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean, this isn’t … what it’s all cracked up to be. I wish I knew the answer.” You see, only God can fulfill our hopes and desires. Our jobs, status in life, wealth, and connections are not our security. These are our God-given opportunities to share Messiah. Esther’s position as Queen was not her security, but her opportunity that was providentially given by God. Her problem was imagining there was a spiritual ‘middle ground’ --but there is no middle ground with God. Esther’s reply“I’ll go...into the king ” recognized that our only true security is in a saving relationship with God, and graciously He brings a disobedient woman to repentance in order to save His people! God knocks out the Props A boy and his father were walking by the shore and saw workmen knocking away the wooden props from a pier being built. “Dad why are they knocking down the props?” asked the son. The father answered, “So that the pier will rest more securely on the stone pilings.” Is God knocking away some of the “props” you’ve been trusting for your security? If so, it is only so you will depend upon a true foundation, the solid Rock of Messiah. God removes the false security of the flesh to replace it with the full security of faith. Trust in Messiah Yeshua for the satisfaction, significance and security He alone can eternally provide. Happy Purim! Y |
||||
|
|
||||
