SEASONS - WHAT IS PURIM AND WHY SHOULD A NON-JEWISH CHRISTIAN CELEBRATE PURIM TODAY?

The true understanding of Purim starts with the study of The Book of Esther.

Previously I wrote about the love story of Esther and the King.  It was re-published not many days ago in this blog, with the hope of refreshing some people's memory about the story of Esther before the date of Purim.   The story tells how the celebration of Purim came about.  It would be a good thing to re-read this story for yourself before Purim if you have not already done so.  If you chose to do this you can find my version of the love story at this link: 

dancinginseason.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-winter-love-story-written-by-gail.html.

Long story short though; and to make things even easier and convenient (but not nearly as much fun) a short, brief, to-the-point summary of the whole tale follows:

Esther had hidden her Jewish identity and the King had fallen in love with her and taken her to be his Queen.  Esther’s uncle Mordechai had overheard some people plotting against the King and gave this information to Esther in order to save the King’s life.  It was recorded in the records of the King but the King had forgotten to reward him.  The King appoints Haman to rule under him and Haman demands that everyone bow down to him.  Mordechai refuses to do this.  Haman prepares to persuade the King to hang Mordechai from the gallows and to use him as an excuse to kill all people who are Jewish.   Haman talks to the King and persuades the King that all Jewish people should be killed and they draw lots to set the date.  In the meantime the King discovers that he has overlooked rewarding Mordechai.  He asks Haman what he would do to reward a man who saved the life of the King and Haman, thinking it is him that will be rewarded, says he would parade him through the kingdom on the King’s horse wearing the King’s robe and wearing the King’s ring and announce loudly that he is a hero the King wishes to honor.  The King then asks Haman to do this for Mordechai and Haman is deeply humiliated.  His anger toward Mordechai is more than ever.  Haman continues with his plot to convince the King that all Jews are bad and must be eliminated knowing that the King doesn’t know that Mordechai is a Jew.   The proclamation is sent out under the King’s signature and Mordechai goes to Esther and asks her to reveal her true heritage and idenity to the King in order to save her people.  Esther prepares by prayer and fasting and goes before the King to make her petition.  This very act will be putting her life in great danger.  No one usually went before the King un-summoned.  Yet, the King listens to Esther and lets down his scepter for her to speak.  She states that she will reveal her petition to him and Haman at a private banquet in her quarters.  This happens three times, each time the King and Haman come together, dine with Esther, and then she tells them she will reveal her request at their next banquet.  At the third meal Esther reveals Haman’s plot against her people and begs the King for mercy.  She also reveals her own identity in the process.  The king is angry that someone would plot against innocent people like this, and asks who the evil person is.  That is when Esther reveals Haman’s true intentions to the King.  The King is very angry with Haman and has him hung on his own gallows which he had prepared for Mordechai.  The King puts Mordechai in charge of his kingdom directly under him, as Haman once had been.  The proclamation to kill the Jews cannot be reversed, but the King gives the Jewish people the right to defend themselves.  They prepare and win the battle for their people and all is well in the end.  The King issues a new proclamation that the day of their victory will be celebrated forever after.  That “forever after” part is why we celebrate Purim today.

If you look carefully at all the vivid details of the story you will grasp that the bloodline that produced Jesus Christ was saved from extinction on the first Purim.  This is the part you will not hear in a Jewish celebration, but this is the MAIN REASON a Christian has for celebrating Purim.  What better reason could there be?

 Had there not been that first Purim, no Jew or Christian would exist at all because we would not have had the birth of Christ, nor his life, death and resurrection that make our Christian faith possible.  Christians could not exist without the Jews, because Jesus was Jewish!  So you see – A Christian probably has more reason to celebrate Purim than a Jew.  The Jewish people are only celebrating the salvation of the heritage of their people.  The Christians are celebrating the salvation of the whole world that was made possible by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We can always look back to see that everything that happened to the Jewish nation of Israel and all of the Holy Days they celebrate today are just shadows and types of how we all have came to have salvation through Jesus Christ.    

So – if you are a Christian – study this well.  Then join in the celebration, because it is great fun and a wonderful thing to do!    In 2016 the holiday of Purim starts at sunset on March 23rd and ends at sunset on March 24^th. 

I’ll tell you another little secret that is hidden from many Christians today – God loves celebrations!  He gave us many dates that He wishes for us to celebrate because we are members of His royal family.   If you are missing out on it all you only rob yourself – come join in with the rest of your family!  ALL are invited to God’s table; you only have to accept the invitation.  Never let anyone tell you different!   Don’t miss the family holidays that our Father has taught us to keep.  He wants us to be a joyful family, a family that plays together and has fun together.  He wants us to always remember the things He has done for us and celebrate those things forever.  He wants to see us smile and love each other’s company.  He wants to see us have festive meals together and to set aside time just to be a family together.

If you have missed this one point, you have missed the secret to joy in the Christian life.  Don’t let the world rob you of your joyful heritage!

So, go ahead!  It is okay!  Celebrate Purim with a Messianic understanding.

The most important part of the whole celebration will be the telling of the story of Esther.  You can find many plays and parodies on the internet that will help you do this.  The scroll used to read the book of Esther is called the Megillah.  You can find beautiful copies of it in bookstores and on the internet.  Read the scroll and/or have a play.  Appoint one reader or several readers with different parts or give out scripts to your guest and let them read and act out a play.  It is all fun!  When the reading is done there are actions that must take place with the noisemakers you need to furnish:  When the name of Haman is stated people should boo loudly or shake grogers.   When the name of Mordechai is given, people should shout “YEA!”  When the name of Esther is given people should clap their hands. 

Start by preparing a festive meal for your family and anyone else you want to invite.  If you really want to have fun – ask them all to dress like one of the characters in the story, or simply ask them to wear any costume they choose.  The dressing up in costume is symbolic of the fact that Esther hid her identity from the king.  Wearing costumes makes this point.  

Make your room look like a royal banquet hall and put noise makers at each place on the table. 

 Suggested foods: 

Hamentaschens:  You may serve almost anything that you like in this feast, but most people make sure they include Hamantaschen cookies.  These are cookies filled with fruit marmalade or poppy seeds.  They were originally called “mundtaschen” which means “poppy seed pockets” and the word “hamantaschen” is Yiddish for “Haman’s pockets.”  These cookies are triangular in shape to represent the triangular-shaped hat worn by Haman.  Some people have also thought there are three points on the hat to represent the victory for the three founders of Judaism:  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  These cookies are traditional and delicious.  There are many recipes available in cookbooks and on the internet. 

Drinks:  Though it may at first seem an unusual custom for Christians to participate in; it is also customary to serve alcoholic beverages at Purim celebrations.  I chose to imitate Jesus at our house – Jesus drank wine, but Jesus never got drunk.  This is what I have taught my children all their lives, and moderation is the key to pulling off this part of the celebration.  One of the most interesting commandments related to a traditional Jewish Purim has to do with drinking.  According to Jewish law, adults of drinking age are supposed to get so drunk that they can’t tell the difference between Mordechai (the hero) and Haman (the villain).  This drinking tradition stems from the joyous nature of Purim.  It also symbolizes how ironically we sometimes live our lives mistaking good for bad and bad for good.  There are lessons to be found here and they are many – but when this commandment was given people only walked, there were no cars at the time.  Now in the age of driving it is too dangerous to keep this commandment and a true Christian would not participate in drunkenness.  So – most people chose to add moderation to this part of their celebration – only serving drinks to those who chose to drink wisely and not letting things get out of hand.  Of course it goes without saying that if you choose to participate fully in this custom you should drink responsibly by arranging for a safe ride home, or BE IN your home so you do not have to leave.  Don’t ruin a joyful celebration by becoming a drunk.  Remember Haman lost the victory.

Mishloach Manot:  These are pretty decorated baskets of easy-to-serve foods that are customarily sent to others on this day as part of the celebration.  Most of the baskets will contain nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, hamentaschen, fresh fruit and breads.

Be Charitable:  With one’s friends and relatives well-fed and happy, Purim stipulates that one must also take care of the poor. The holiday’s second obligation is giving to charity.  Since you, as a Christian, will not be in a synagogue that auctions off some of your Mishloach Manot and uses the money to care for the poor, it is suggested that you start a fund in your home that goes to charitable causes.  Have a decorated basket to be given away by lottery to everyone who buys a ticket at your party.  This brings up the fact that Haman chose the lot as a way to pick his date to destroy the people. The word “pur” translates to “lot.”   Many biblical dates were chosen by lottery.  Reverse that bad action of Haman by having a lottery to help the poor and draw “pur” to determine the winner.   The money that the participants donate for the lottery can be used as a donation to your pre-selected charity. It is also great fun to take these baskets personally to others in the community during this time.  Many people allow their children to do the delivering.  It teaches children the act of having a giving heart and that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

So there you have it.  Deeper layers of the meaning of Purim will come to you each year as you revisit the story.  You will come to cherish the story of Esther and you will see more and more of Christ in the story each time you celebrate Purim.  God is such a great storyteller!  What better way to learn the ways of The Kingdom of God than to listen to the stories of our Father?  Could anything be more fun to do?

Happy Purim!