Customs of Purim | Give, Rejoice, and Trust
The customs of Purim are the result of a rescue story. What could have been remembered as a day of sorrow became a day of great rejoicing. God reversed the evil that was planned against the Jewish people and brought it back on their enemies’ heads.
The word Purim, which is the plural of the Hebrew word Pur, means “lots.” Esther 3:7 tells us,
- “In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.” (emphasis added)
Haman planned evil, but God intervened, proving the truth of Proverbs 16:33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
God’s plan was to turn a day intended for sorrow into a festival of joy.
The customs of Purim exist because sorrow was turned into joy!
How the Customs of Purim Started
Purim is celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of the Hebrew month of Adar, which corresponds with February or March on the Gregorian calendar.
The story of Purim centers around the events in the book of Esther.
- Esther, Mordecai’s cousin, was taken to the palace with dozens of other candidates for the position of queen due to her beauty.
- By the grace of God, she was chosen to take the place of Vashti.
- After a plot to kill her people was made known by Mordecai, she went before the king to petition for the life of her people—the Jews.
- She risked death because she trusted her God. Trust was all she had.
- She saved the Jewish people. But God wasn’t done.
God saw the tears and fasting of His people as He was preparing Esther for her call. He responded because of His covenant love. His promises to them could not be thwarted, even though the enemy had other plans.
As mentioned earlier, it was a day of sorrow turned to joy.
The merciful acts of God were made evident. The Lord…
- Softened the king’s heart to receive Esther and ultimately discovered how Mordecai prevented and exposed a conspiracy to kill him. Thus, the king honored him for this act.
- Defended the Jewish people when there was a plot to kill them.
- Gave them honor and glory after He defended them.
The Takeaway: Though God does not require the festival, the customs of Purim surround these remarkable and memorable events, helping us to honor the Lord and His heart to protect and preserve His people.
How to Celebrate Purim
The customs of Purim are distinctly joyful.
Esther 9:20 tells us that Mordecai “wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far.” Mordecai and Esther established the customs of Purim so that God’s deliverance would be remembered.
These customs of Purim still exist today…
- Feasting
- Remembering what God did on Purim; celebrating it with gladness and joy
- Sending presents to one another
- Giving gifts to the poor
- Celebrating for two days—because while the edict against the Jews had been for one day, the edict in their favor lasted for two days
- Remembering and celebrating the events of Purim were to be held on these two days every year, for all of their descendants without end
Some additional customs of Purim are…
- The reading of the book of Esther in remembrance—Whenever Haman’s name is mentioned, the listeners are supposed to “booo” loudly.
- The wearing of costumes—This tradition likely stems from Esther having masked her Jewish identity. It could unknowingly relate to Haman masking his evil in a cloak of princely garb (though this is less likely as Purim is focused on God and joy). Traditionally, this custom of dressing in costumes includes wearing robes, masks, and crowns. Therefore, the custom could reflect Mordecai’s advancement to becoming second to King Ahasuerus.
- The baking, giving, and eating of a three-cornered sweet-filled pastry known as Hamantaschen—The pastry is named after Haman because it is believed to be akin to his hat or ears. However, since it is filled with sweetness, it also fits the themes of joy and overcoming.
- Giving gifts to friends—These gifts include giving Hamantaschen and other sweet treats.
- The giving of gifts to the poor—This custom has changed slightly over the years, as it usually involves an arbitrary minimum of two gifts for the poor. Though this is not required, great generosity has become the customary response to God’s merciful grace revealed in the story of Purim.
Aside from those traditions mentioned within the book of Esther, not every family or individual engages in these newer traditions. However, they have become increasingly common.
Children love dressing up in costumes. And this custom of Purim has a beautiful biblical theme.
Reading the book of Esther is a great way to bring the Word into your home as you enter into a season of preparing for Passover (as Purim falls approximately one month before Passover).
Eating sweet Hamantaschen, a Jewish triangular filled-pocket pastry, with your family and friends is always welcome.
Giving gifts to those in need with a cheerful heart captures God’s attention. In our giving, joy and remembrance are brought to everyone.
The Takeaway: In these customs of Purim, the festival of joy is truly about remembering God’s mercy and deliverance.
Spiritual Blessings Released
We encourage you to look deeper into these customs of Purim. We know that you will find blessings and the spiritual significance of each.
- Giving
Purim reminds us to be glad and to give so that joy may increase. It is a lesson of God’s goodness and mercy and a reminder that we are to be more like Him. It is a call to share the kindness, goodness, generosity, and love that God has shown us in His Son.
The Word tells us that it is a blessing to give.
“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”—Acts 20:35
We are not meant to store up earthly treasures. We are to give as we have been given (see Matthew 10:5-8).
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matthew 6:19-21
- Rejoicing
We are not meant to be alone but to rejoice together in fellowship with one another.
We are the light to the world, but we cannot be that light if we hide ourselves from the world. We are meant to fellowship and grow in unity as One New Man in Yeshua (see Ephesians 2:14-16).
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”—1 Corinthians 1:9
“…if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”—1 John 1:7
It is a blessing to gather and rejoice in agreement so that we may be lifted up and encouraged in our call.
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”—Matthew 18:20
“…Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”—1 Corinthians 14:26
- Trusting
Purim reminds us to trust in the Lord, not in our circumstances. We can trust in knowing that “God is not a man that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19), that He keeps His covenants, and that He is always the same, never changing.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”—Hebrews 13:8
“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”—Deuteronomy 7:9
The blessings of trusting God and walking by His Spirit are listed as the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. However, trusting in the One who created you for a purpose is not limited to a list.
The blessings of trusting God mean you can present your needs before Him with a thankful heart, knowing He will always provide and answer you.
The blessing of this trusting relationship is found in Philippians 4:7… “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
In Conclusion…
Do you need more peace today? Then give, rejoice, and trust. Embrace the customs of Purim and see how they reveal the story of God’s deliverance. We serve a God who turns mourning into dancing. Receive that truth in your heart today, and may the joy of the Father be your strength.
- “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.”–Psalm 30:11-12