Celebrating Purim

Photo Credit

The Book of Esther is one of my favorite books in the Bible (although I can't really think of any part of the Bible that I don't love). Some are just easier to read and understand than others.  I've known about Purim for many years and didn't give it too much thought until we were in Israel about twenty years ago during the celebration of Purim. The partying they do with Purim lasts all night long and there is lots of noise and craziness. After all, the Book of Esther says they are always to remember Purim with celebration and rejoicing! Yes, they kept me awake all night and although DH was able to sleep through the festivities, I toyed with the idea of moving my mattress into the bathroom or the hall - their partying plus DH snoring made sleep impossible.

Anyway!!! Saturday morning's service was a celebration of Purim and I absolutely loved it! The pastor explained all things Purim … traditions, food, and read the tale which is told in the Book of Esther. It is known as the Megillah, which ends with Haman's hanging and the Jewish people being saved. All the children of the congregation are given noisemakers called graggers which they are to use every time Haman's name is mentioned! All of us were instructed to loudly BOO when his name is mentioned, sigh with a sweet ahhhh at the mention of Esther, and cheer loudly for Mordecai! What fun and the pastor made it quite the lively event. He was tricky sometimes as we anticipated what he was going to say! 

Here is a good link on how they celebrate and what is involved in the traditions.

There is so much interesting about the story, but a few things stood out to me. 

• Knowing that even though God is never mentioned in the book, we rest assured that He was working during that crisis and that He is ALWAYS working in our lives, even when He seems to be silent.
• In Mordecai's famous charge to Esther, he said "if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Mordecai was absolutely certain that his people would be delivered, whether it be through Esther's intercession or some other source. God had made promises to Abraham and through His prophets that His people would never cease to be. 

"It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day

and the moon and stars to light the night,

and who stirs the sea into roaring waves.

His name is the LORD of Heaven's Armies,

and this is what he says:

'I am as likely to reject my people Israel

as I am to abolish the laws of nature!'"

Jeremiah 31:35-36

And a very interesting tidbit for sure is this one that has to do with strange parallels between Purim and ten of the Nazi war criminals who were hung at Nuremberg. In the story of Esther, when Haman was hung on the gallows, his ten sons were also executed! Julius Streicher, the Nazi editor of the anti-Semitic Der Stürmer newspaper, proclaimed before he was hung, “Purim Fest 1946.” You can read about it here.