Est 9:20-32 The Feast of Purim Inaugurated

[Study Posted December 12, 2020]

Est 9:20  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, 
Est 9:21  obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 
Est 9:22  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. 
Est 9:23  So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 
Est 9:24  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. 
Est 9:25  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. 
Est 9:26  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, 
Est 9:27  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, 
Est 9:28  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. 
Est 9:29  Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. 
Est 9:30  Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 
Est 9:31  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. 
Est 9:32  The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing. 

The first part of Esther chapter 9 talks about how the Jews stood for their lives and defeated their enemies.  As a result, they had rest, ended up feasting, had a day of gladness and sent food portions one to another. The decree to destroy the Jews, which Haman initiated, signifies the law of sin and death, and the King’s new decree to nullify the first decree represents the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death. Based on the law of sin and death, the Jews representing the elect were to be destroyed, killed and caused to perish on the thirteenth day of the month of the twelfth month called Adar. This is the Law of Moses which the Israelites operated under until the coming of Jesus, who brought the law of the spirit of life. We all operated under the Law of Moses until Christ came into our lives.  The last part of the Book of Esther Chapter 9 deals with how the Jews celebrated their liberation from their enemies. This celebration became the Feast of Purim.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Est 9:20  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, 
Est 9:21  obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 

As indicated in the last review, Mordecai here represents our Lord Jesus, and it is His words which have been sent all over the world enjoining us to keep what has been written. As we obey, it will result in our spiritual progression (represented by the fourteenth day). This spiritual progression is achieved through the process of spiritual completion through judgment. The judgment here is signified by grace through faith (representing the fifteenth day; Number 15 =3×5). The grace here is the chastening work of the Lord in our lives, and it is only through faith that we can endure this work. The letters obligated the Jews to keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar. This month Adar is the twelve month. The number 12 represents the number of Christ. What this means is that we can only keep or obey the Law of the spirit of Life when we are in Christ. What does it mean to be in Christ? The story we are dealing with gives us hints as to how to be in Christ.

It was only after defeating the enemies on the thirteenth day (the day of rebellion) that they were asked to keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days. What this means is that to be in Christ is when Christ starts coming into our lives with the breath of his mouth (his words) which destroys the enemy within that causes us to rebel against God. That is when we can keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar representing the feast of Christ.

Est 9:22  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. 

The word of God when applied to our lives bring about relief from our enemies within and without. This is when our mourning as a result of the trials we face is turned into dancing and our sackcloth into gladness, resulting in the days of feasting and gladness, days of sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor. As stated in the last review, the sending of gifts of food is about His elect sharing the words of the Lord with each other resulting in the building up of the body through love. That is what Paul was alluding to when he said that the body of the elect is fitted and compacted together by what every joint supplies. The sending of the gifts of food to one another and the gifts to the poor are all the same. The poor here represents the elect who are poor in spirit.

Psa 30:11  You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
Psa 30:12  that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Est 9:23  So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 

The acceptance of what Mordecai had written signifies that as elect, we have to be doers of Lord Jesus’ words (represented by Mordecai).

Jas 1:22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Jas 1:23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
Jas 1:24  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Jas 1:25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

The result of obedience is what grants us the victory over the enemy’s (Haman’s) conspiracies as shown in the next verses.

Est 9:24  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. 
Est 9:25  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. 
Est 9:26  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, 

The use of the word “for” in verse 24 means that the prior verse 23 is the reason for Haman (the enemy within) to be defeated and destroyed. As indicated, verse 23 deals with our obedience to the words of our Lord Jesus. So our only way of defeating the enemy within, who is like a roaring lion looking for whom to devour, is to do what Jesus says. What we need to note in verse 25 is that a lot was cast to determine the day for the destruction of the Jews.  Casting lots was a method used by the Jews of the Old Testament and by the Christian disciples prior to Pentecost to determine the will of God. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” So what this means is that our times of rebellion and suffering are all part of the counsel of God, and it is this stage of our walk which hastens the death of the old man, represented by Haman. It is our own wickedness which will correct us, and if we are destined to be part of the blessed first resurrection, then surely the beast within and all his cohorts (signified by Haman and his ten sons) will be put to death.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

In verse 26, the term “Purim” was used to describe the feasting of the Jews in the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month of Adar. According to Strong’s definition, the term “Purim” means ‘lot’ in apparent reference to Haman casting lots to determine the destruction day of the Jews. What we need to know is that once a lot is cast to make a decision, no one can argue that the decision was the result of human intervention.

This means that we bring nothing to the table regarding our election, our walk with Christ and our ultimate glorification. All is of the Lord!!! So it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. We are all vessels of serious flaws and weaknesses. If we look at ourselves, we will never make it, but when we lift our eyes off the waves of the sea (fleshly desires) we will be able to walk on the sea just as Jesus did. Remember, Peter started walking on the sea, but when he began to look at the waves of the sea, he started sinking, but Jesus came to his aid. We may fall seven times, but let’s not doubt that we can walk on the sea of our flesh just like Jesus. Let’s keep crying to the Lord to save us of this boisterous wind of the sea and He surely will stretch forth his hands to deliver us!!

Mat 14:25  And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Mat 14:26  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Mat 14:27  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Est 9:27  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, 
Est 9:28  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. 

These two days that we as Jews are to observe represents the victory part of our walk where the enemy within is dying daily, and we become witnesses (meaning of the number 2) of Christ in our walk here on earth. In verse 28, it says these days of Purim should never fall into misuse and that the commemoration of these days will not cease. What this implies is that if we are part of God’s elect, then these days of Purim will surely be part of our walk in this life. Our victory is certain!!

Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Est 9:29  Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. 
Est 9:30  Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 

We can see that Esther and Mordecai here were in a position of rulership and had much authority. This foretells of the rulership of the elect when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

As we said earlier, the letters sent to the Jews denote the word of God which is being sent out to all of God’s elect all over the world.  The scriptures are primarily written for the elect (spiritual Jews) and is the gospel of peace and truth as stated in verse 30.  It is called the gospel of peace because it is when our eyes are opened and we come to know God and His son Jesus that we are able to rest in Him and have peace. When Jesus approached Jerusalem, getting closer to his death, he wept and told the inhabitants of Jerusalem that if only they know what pertains to their peace but it is hidden from their eyes. Thus, getting peace is knowing Christ through the opening of our eyes to see and ears to hear His words.

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Luk 19:41  And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42  Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Throughout scriptures the word of God is described as truth. This means that apart from the word of God, everything else is false including enticing words of man’s wisdom, commandments of men, traditions of men, etc. It is only when we know the truth that we can be set free. This means that the gospel we preach must be without false doctrine. The following therefore outlines the importance of knowing the truth:

1. Our relationship with Christ is like a marriage relationship, and this relationship is governed by truth which expresses itself in how much the spouses know each other. If you have false knowledge of a spouse, then you don’t know that spouse, and the probability that the relationship will fall on rocks is great. As the bride of Christ, we need to know the truth about our husband.
2. It is the truth that liberates. John 8:32 says that “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
3. False doctrines lead to departure from the faith.

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (False doctrines);
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

1. God uses the truth or false doctrine to separate the sheep from the Goat.

1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

1. It is the truth that has the power to change us to become obedient servants (John 15:3).

Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

1. It is the truth that binds us together as God wants us to have the same mind and speak the same thing. 1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Est 9:31  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. 
Est 9:32  The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing. 

The feast of Purim was an occasion to remember their fasts and lamentation under the law of sin and death. The Lord always wants us to know where we had come from to humble us as shown in Isaiah 51, where the Lord reminds us of the rock where we were hewn and the pit where we were digged.

Isa 51:1  Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

May the Lord help us the grace to be faithful as we continue our journey of knowing Him.