This year Purim fell at a bit of an awkward time for celebrating, so Aaron and I were unsure how to really honor the feast. We ended up doing something completely simple, and simply tried to focus on the true meaning of the celebration. Esther is an incredible example of what it means to let God use you exactly where you are with the gifts and blessings He has bestowed upon you. What a special and important message for anyone to focus on. Few people hold positions of such power that they can make dramatic earth shattering decisions at the drop of a hat. However, we all play some role each and every day. If we allowed God to guide us in our roles and listened for the whisper of His direction and guidance, maybe God could use us as he used Esther. It might be that we get used for something so simple as to brighten someone's day or we could make a larger impact that we might never get to see. Whatever it is, wouldn't this world be a better place if we all focused in on how God was trying to use us on a daily basis, in our current roles, to bring about peace and goodness? What a great lesson to focus on during this Lenten season.
This song played yesterday after our mini celebration and I was very moved by how appropriate it was for the holiday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8
Original Post:
http://greatandholyadventure.blogspot.com/2013/02/celebrate-with-pastries.html
Celebration: Also known as the feast of Lots, it is the Celebration of a narrow escape from genocide described in the biblical Book of Esther.
Historical background: The Feast of Lots, also called the Feast of Esther, occurs in late winter and celebrates the liberation of the Jews of Persia from destruction at the hands of the proud and wicked Haman, Prime Minister under King Xerxes (Ahasueres).
The book of Esther begins with Esther being chosen to be the wife of Ahasueres because his first wife had refused his will. Haman plotted to exterminate the Jews because he had a deep hatred for Esther's cousin, Mordecai who had raised her. Mordecai refused to bow down to Hamen because he did not want to set human glory above the glory of God. As Prime Minister, Hamen sent out a letter to all of the provinces telling them the day in which they were to exterminate all of the Jews in that area because they were a people who opposed the king. Mordecai learned of his plans and spoke to Esther encouraging her to defend her people as her position of queen was a God given one. She called for a fast in order to make an appeal to the King on behalf of the Jewish people. She fasted for three days and then approached the king (unheard of for anyone to do during this time let alone a woman) to ask that the decree that Haman sent out be reversed. The king was very upset by the decree because it would mean that Esther would be killed as she confessed to being Jewish herself. He had Hamen hung and approved a letter to be sent out to the Jews in all of the provinces making them aware of the plot against them. Through faith in God, they defended themselves when the day came and they were delivered from their oppressors. The day of victory was so named Purim because Hamen had cast lots (pur) to determine the day on which he was going to exterminate the Jews.
God demonstrates that He is the master over the outcome of chance throughout the entire narrative. Purim is a happy, fun-filled holiday that rejoices over the irresistible grace of the God of Israel and his providential care.
Biblical basis:
The entire scroll of Esther recounts all of the events surrounding Purim (Esther 1-10:3). Use this link to go to the entire reading...
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+1%3A1-10%3A3&version=ESV
I have added the verses below that deal strictly with the celebration of Purim.
Esther 9:20-32
20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 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.
29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirmingthis second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.
Ways to Celebrate:
-Craft ideas for kids and youth:
**Make or decorate obnoxious noisemakers to play during the reading of Esther when the name "Hamen" is mentioned...can be as simple as paper plates!
-Fun family ideas:
**Read the story of Esther aloud cheering when the name "Mordecai" is mentioned and booing and playing loud noisemakers when the name "Hamen" is mentioned.
**Make your own Hamentashen!! They are delicious triangular pastries that represent the hat that the evil Hamen wore.
**Have a festive family meal together with a celebratory sweet challah made with raisins or cranberries.
-Religious traditions:
**Use the following guide to say prayers together before the family meal
Mother: lights the candles and says:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe,
who has given us light in darkness and victory over our enemies.
Father: Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, by whom we were created and to whom we owe all glory and praise. As we commemorate thy saving power on this feast of Purim, may we always look to thee to be our strength, our protection and our deliverance.
Child: May we be as obedient as Hadassah (Esther) and revere God with awe.
Child: May we be as faithful as Mordecai who refused to bend his knee to any but God alone.
Child: May we seek justice and never allow the hatred of Haman to flourish.
Child: May we celebrate with your people, O Lord, these days of Purim in which sorrow was turned to joy and mourning into feasting.
Father: Mordecai said to Esther, "Who knows but that it was for a time like this that you obtained the royal dignity." (Esther 4:14) We pray, O Lord, that each of us may be used in the position in which thou hast placed us, that we may bring thy justice, freedom and truth to others.We ask this in the name of Yeshua, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee and Ruach haKodesh, one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Blessings to be said before reading the story of Esther:
Did Jesus celebrate Purim?:
It is written in John chapter 5 that Jesus was in Jerusalem for an unnamed feast, but scholars have questioned which feast this was. Some have rejected the idea that this was Purim because it was considered a "minor" feast and not one of the three pilgrimage festivals. However, we know that Yeshua celebrated Chanukah (John 10:22) which is also another "minor" feast. According to Lambert Dolphin's research on this question, chronologically the only feast that John could be referring to is Purim, since it is said to have fallen on Shabbat (John 5:9), but the only feast that occurred on Shabbat between the years of 25-35 CE was in fact Purim (in the year 28 CE). But why was it referred to an unnamed feast? Perhaps the spirit of God intentionally left out the name of the feast because the name of the Lord was likewise deliberately left out of the Book of Esther.
How we celebrated:
Aaron and I kept it very simple this year which I liked. We made homemade hamentashen (which were deeeeeeelicious), and then sat on the porch eating our cookies, drinking tea, and reading from the book of Esther. We also read a children's book that my mom gave me telling about the celebration of Purim. I then packaged up some of our cookies to take to coworkers. It really was a wonderful way to celebrate and gave me the opportunity to reflect on the holiday. God used Esther in such a profound way. How is He using me daily in my various roles? Am I letting Him? We all have a role to play and I think understanding and reflecting on the fact that God can and will use us exactly as we are, is a powerful message.
-Religious traditions:
**Use the following guide to say prayers together before the family meal
Mother: lights the candles and says:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe,
who has given us light in darkness and victory over our enemies.
Father: Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, by whom we were created and to whom we owe all glory and praise. As we commemorate thy saving power on this feast of Purim, may we always look to thee to be our strength, our protection and our deliverance.
Child: May we be as obedient as Hadassah (Esther) and revere God with awe.
Child: May we be as faithful as Mordecai who refused to bend his knee to any but God alone.
Child: May we seek justice and never allow the hatred of Haman to flourish.
Child: May we celebrate with your people, O Lord, these days of Purim in which sorrow was turned to joy and mourning into feasting.
Father: Mordecai said to Esther, "Who knows but that it was for a time like this that you obtained the royal dignity." (Esther 4:14) We pray, O Lord, that each of us may be used in the position in which thou hast placed us, that we may bring thy justice, freedom and truth to others.We ask this in the name of Yeshua, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee and Ruach haKodesh, one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Blessings to be said before reading the story of Esther:
It is written in John chapter 5 that Jesus was in Jerusalem for an unnamed feast, but scholars have questioned which feast this was. Some have rejected the idea that this was Purim because it was considered a "minor" feast and not one of the three pilgrimage festivals. However, we know that Yeshua celebrated Chanukah (John 10:22) which is also another "minor" feast. According to Lambert Dolphin's research on this question, chronologically the only feast that John could be referring to is Purim, since it is said to have fallen on Shabbat (John 5:9), but the only feast that occurred on Shabbat between the years of 25-35 CE was in fact Purim (in the year 28 CE). But why was it referred to an unnamed feast? Perhaps the spirit of God intentionally left out the name of the feast because the name of the Lord was likewise deliberately left out of the Book of Esther.
How we celebrated:
Aaron and I kept it very simple this year which I liked. We made homemade hamentashen (which were deeeeeeelicious), and then sat on the porch eating our cookies, drinking tea, and reading from the book of Esther. We also read a children's book that my mom gave me telling about the celebration of Purim. I then packaged up some of our cookies to take to coworkers. It really was a wonderful way to celebrate and gave me the opportunity to reflect on the holiday. God used Esther in such a profound way. How is He using me daily in my various roles? Am I letting Him? We all have a role to play and I think understanding and reflecting on the fact that God can and will use us exactly as we are, is a powerful message.
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