Purim 2021

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Purim (a.k.a. Festival Of Lots) is a Jewish holiday commemorating events in
the Old Testament book of Esther sometime between 486 and 465 BC.

Although the holiday is biblical; it isn't God-given like all those listed in the
covenant that Moses' people agreed upon with God per the books of Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, viz: Purim is man-made. (Esther 9:27)

The primary focal point of the story is the political tension between two
Persian empire officials: one named Haman and the other Mordecai.

Haman outranked Mordecai, but due to a rather unpleasant incident that
took place involving Mordecai's ancestors and Haman's, Mordecai refused to
acknowledge Haman as his superior and render him the proper respect, even
though the King had required it so.

Haman's emotional reaction to Mordecai's insubordination escalated to the
point where he devised a scheme wherein not only Mordecai be executed,
but also everyone in the realm deemed Mordecai's people, i.e. all the Jews.

There's a dark side to this story that is seldom, if ever, afforded daylight,
to wit: that frightful near-death genocide was instigated by the pride of just
one stubborn Jew situated in a key position.

The name of God never appears in even one single verse anywhere in the
entire book of Esther; and I am of the opinion it's because Jehovah had
nothing to do with any of it-- and wanted nothing to do with it --the whole
incident was a painful embarrassment perpetrated by folks known the world
over as God's chosen people.

The Jews survived that calamity, but 75,000 law-abiding Persians didn't. I
now sometimes wonder whether the Holocaust wasn't a sort of payback for
all those needless Persian deaths at the hands of the Jews so many years
ago because God remembers things like that.

• Ex 34:6-7 . . He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished: visiting the
iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and
fourth generations.
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• Rom 13:7 . . Give everyone what you owe him: if respect, then respect; if
honor, then honor.

• 1Pet 2:17c . . fear God; honor the king.

Webster's defines kings as 1) monarchs, 2) paramount chiefs and/or 3) one
that holds a preeminent position; e.g. monarchs, sovereigns, presidents,
prime ministers, czars, chairmen, etc.

During the 2020 US presidential campaign, there was a media wave of hatred,
hysteria, sabotage, propaganda, and disrespect for Mr. Donald Trump the
intensity of which was unlike anything I've ever seen in my 77 years on this
planet; and popular social media platforms were behaving as KGB assets.

It wasn't only commoners in on it; the speaker of the House of Representatives,
no less, tore the President's state of the union address in full view of the public--
on national broadcasting!

Christians don't have to particularly like the folks in government, but we do
have to respect their authority, and give their positions appropriate courtesy.
So please, don't ever follow Mordecai's example; he wasn't back then, and he
isn't now, a suitable role model for Christ's followers.

• Prov 24:21 . . My son, fear The Lord and the king; have nothing to do with
those who hate them.
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[Ziggy]

So..
I'm thinking about Moses. And his step father is Pharaoh of Egypt.
When Israel first came to Egypt the leadership was good. The Pharaoh had compassion, gave them food and land.
But another Pharaoh in time took over and became oppressive to the people.
The people murmered and they cried and God sent them Moses, who was both a Hebrew and an Egyptian.
Hebrew by birth, Egyptian by adoption.

So in this case scenerio...
We don't particularly like the folks in government. But if and when a Moses comes should we choose to stay and honor the king?
Or follow Moses to the promised land?

Should the Hebrews have stayed with Pharaoh even though he enslaved them in an oppresive kingdom?
Why didn't they revolt?
They were more in number, that is why Pharaoh feared them in the first place.
That they would join ranks with Egypts enemies and overcome his kingdom.
So he brought them under bondage to control them into submission.

If this Pharaoh was like the first Pharaoh then they never would have been enslaved and they wouldn't need to be freed from slavery.
So, I guess my question is, when the government that once respected you and those that held rank cared about it's people become
oppresive and overbearing, is it not the right of the people to revolt and walk away from that government?
Do we need a Moses?

If God makes a door for his people to walk through, should we go or should we stay?

Est 3:1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
Est 3:2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

I hear this in the same way that Nebuchadnezzar wanted the people to bow down and worship the golden image that he had made.
And Daniel refused.
Haman was made an idol.

Exo 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,
Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

You won't ever see me bowing down and reverencing Nancy Pelosi.
Respect to whom respect is due... respect is a two way street.

But I believe the book of Esther has many wheels turning within it.
So I won't argue your obsevation, just showing another side of the coin.

In both these cases with Mordecai and with Moses, the people were not in their own land. They were captured and enslaved.
What happens when it's your own land that is holding you captive?
That's when Jesus came. The Roman's had invaded Jerusalem, their own land.
The enemy needed to be chased out. But their faith was weak.
If my Kingdom were of this world (age) , then my people would fight...

Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

I guess the question is.. will we fight for Truth.
Will we fight and not allow this world (age) to destroy the Light?
Are we the servants of the Lord or the servants of men?

Time will tell. And I pray Faith prevails.
Hugs

 

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FAQ: Why do you suppose God's name isn't active in the book of Esther?

A: There's been some speculation as to why God is absent.

1» Esther isn't scripture, rather; it's a tale. (Possible, but not likely)

2» The events in Esther are believed situated during the reconstruction era
depicted in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The seventy years of captivity
were over and the Jews had official permission to return to their ancient
homeland. But instead of returning, many Jews strewn about the realm
didn't.

It's understandable that a number of Jews wouldn't want to go. Many of
them were not expatriated, viz: they had never lived in Israel having been
born and raised elsewhere during the seven decades of captivity. To them,
Israel wasn't a homeland, rather, it was a foreign country. And as for
Mordecai; he no doubt was very satisfied with his cushy federal job and
would not be readily willing to give it up.

Well, it's believed that God returned to Israel -- along with the prophets
Haggai and Zechariah --to assist His people in rebuilding the Temple and
Jerusalem's walls. God was demonstrably very active in that theater; but not
so with the Jews who elected to stay where they were. Apparently the old
axiom; "Walk with God, and He will walk with you." was just as true then as
it is now.
_

 

[Ziggy]

I was just reading the first chapter wondering how that would go over in today's feminist society.. LOL

Est 1:16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
Est 1:17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
Est 1:18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
Est 1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
Est 1:20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
Est 1:21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
Est 1:22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

There also seems to be a trend that if a single person should defy the king, then everyone gets penalized.
Or accused that because one person does something that automatically everyone will do the same.

I also believe Mordecai believed that God would intervene even if he didn't invoke his name, his beleif and faith are stated here:

Est 4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
Est 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

The Jews were looking for relief and deliverance according to Mordecai. And I believe he believed providence is what Esther's role portrayed.
I think God has his hand in EVERYTHING.. and just because we don't SEE it, or HEAR it, we believe He is silent on the matter.

What an interesting book though.
If one does wrong then all are guilty..
hmm.. where have I heard that before?

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Only in this case it isn't one person breaking one law and being guilty of all,
it's one breaking one law and all become guilty...

OH wait, Where have I heard that before?

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

I'm sure there are many lessons to learn in the book of Esther.
Thank You
Hugs

 

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There's an additional dark side to this story; to go along with post No.1

Esther persuaded the king to hang Haman's male children after they were
already dead: ten boys in all. In other words; she had the king hang their
corpse. (Est 9:12-14)

Mordecai's beautiful cousin, it turns out, was a very cruel woman at heart;
yet she is admired the world over as a sweet, brave little angel.
_

 

[Ziggy]

.
There's an additional dark side to this story; to go along with post No.1

Esther persuaded the king to hang Haman's male children after they were
already dead: ten boys in all. (Est 9:12-14)

Mordecai's beautiful cousin, it turns out, was a very cruel woman at heart;
yet she is admired the world over as a sweet, brave little angel.
_

cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.. hmm

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Was this a case of do unto others as they would do unto you? In other words.. Karma?

Est 9:24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
Est 9:25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.


Est 5:12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
Est 5:13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
Est 5:14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

So what shall we say about Zeresh Haman's wife and all of his friends? Surely they were not innocent at heart.

:)

 

[Webers_Home]

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• Rom 13:7 . . Give everyone what you owe him: if respect, then respect; if
honor, then honor.

• 1Pet 2:17c . . fear God; honor the king.

Webster's defines kings as 1) monarchs, 2) paramount chiefs and/or 3) one
that holds a preeminent position; e.g. monarchs, sovereigns, presidents,
prime ministers, czars, chairmen, etc.

During the 2020 US presidential campaign, there was a print, cyber, and
broadcast blitz of disrespect for Mr. Donald Trump the intensity of which was
unlike anything I've ever seen in my 77 years on this planet; and along with
that were social media bosses moderating their platforms like KGB assets
working to influence America's political thinking.

It wasn't only commoners in on it; the speaker of the House of
Representatives, no less, tore the President's state of the union address in
full view of the public-- on national broadcasting!

Christians don't have to particularly like the folks in government, but we do
have to give their positions appropriate courtesy. So please, if Christ is your
master; don't ever copy Mordecai's example; he wasn't back then, and he
isn't now, a suitable role model for civic-minded Christians to follow.

• Prov 24:21 . . My son, fear The Lord and the king; have nothing to do with
those who hate them.

• Rom 13:1-5 . . Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who
rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and
those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

• Rom 13:7 . . Give everyone what you owe him: if respect, then respect; if
honor, then honor.
_