Purim, which begins on Saturday March 23, is a Jewish vacation, not a public vacation. And but it must be remembered by others — particularly this 12 months — and particularly by Christians.
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Purim, additionally known as the Pageant of Heaps, remembers a riveting story present in The Hebrew Scroll of Esther, or what Christians name the Book of Esther. It’s in regards to the close to genocide of the Jews in sixth century BC Persia (present day Iran) when that empire spanned all the way in which from Egypt to India.
The story begins with King Ahasuerus’s seek for a brand new queen. One of many ladies he kidnapped to his harem was a Jewish woman named Hadassah, or Esther, who was being raised by her cousin Mordechai. Though Esther at first hid her identification as a Jew, she was the one chosen by the king to be his new queen. Whereas attempting to get management of his empire, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman to grow to be his prime minister and eradicate all dissent within the court docket. Haman was an evil man, an Agagite, a descendent of the Amalekites, sworn enemies of the Jews.
As Haman rose to energy he demanded a god-like loyalty of a state faith. However one man, Mordechai, wouldn’t bow down in his presence. Haman was livid and determined to take his hatred of the Jews to a brand new stage. He ready a gallows to execute Mordechai, and he requested the king to situation a decree “to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all of the Jews within the empire, younger and outdated, ladies and youngsters, in at some point.” Haman even forged tons to find out one of the best time for this genocide.
By a rare flip of occasions, Haman’s plot was found by Mordechai who persuaded Esther to convey the matter earlier than the king. Exhibiting extraordinary braveness and shrewd political knowledge, Esther did simply that. When he realized of the plot, the king was livid and ordered that Haman be hanged on the gallows ready for Mordechai! He additionally reversed his decree and allowed the Jews to defend their lives from those that have been their avowed enemies. When the Jews learn the king’s revised decree “there was gladness and pleasure…a feast and a vacation” — which we now know as Purim — to be “remembered and kept throughout every generation.”
However the large query is “why?” Why retell it? And why mustn’t solely Jews, however Christians retell it?
To start with, it’s in our Bibles and there for a function. It’s the solely ebook within the Bible that doesn’t point out God’s identify! However this silence reminds us that God is providentially at work in hidden methods. He labored via Esther and Mordechai to avoid wasting Israel. In fact, for Christians, Esther is a part of a a lot bigger story that runs from Abraham to Jesus Christ. If Haman succeeded and the Jews have been destroyed, God’s saving work via Abraham and his seed can be blocked.
Add to that the truth that this ebook speaks to antisemitism in our time. It reminds us that we’re dealing not simply with a recent occasions, however with “the world’s oldest hatred.” The college chants of “from the river to the ocean,” the crowds chanting “fuel the Jews,” the bodily assaults, the bomb threats, and sure the United Nations employees that joined Hamas on the day of assault all remind us that Haman and his crowd are alive and nicely. The occasions of October 7 weren’t only a one-time deal, however a part of an outdated sample. The occasions of Esther are repeated. We should always alert our mates and households to this horrific reality.
This story additionally lifts up the necessity for Esthers and Mordechais at the moment. They exhibited shrewd political knowledge. They didn’t sit again as quietists, however risked all the things for the sake of proper and fact. Mordechai mentioned to Esther, “who is aware of however that you just have been born for such a time as this.”
Right here the Bible provides a vivid account of the Jews defending themselves from those that hoped to slaughter them. In a scenario not in contrast to the one which Israel finds itself in at the moment, we see that generally preemptive motion is critical. The tip of the ebook recounts how the Jews of Esther’s day took decisive motion and gained mastery over their enemies. Had they not, those self same folks would have continued to plot in opposition to them.
What ought to we do with this 12 months’s feast of Purim? The day is commonly celebrated with traditions equivalent to festive meals, performs, pranks, reward giving, and road events. My rabbi good friend tells me that too typically Jews trivialize this vacation.
My recommendation to Jews and Christians this 12 months is to learn and re-read the ebook of Esther. Keep in mind what occurred. Memorialize it in order that we don’t neglect. And be awake to what’s nonetheless occurring. Take it with deep seriousness. Have fun the miracle of Esther and her folks and don’t be silent.
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Dr. Donald Sweeting (@DSweeting) serves as chancellor of Colorado Christian College.
