Why Is Purim Important for Believers?
Why is Purim, a Jewish holiday, important for all Believers?
There are so many reasons! As those grafted into God’s family through the Jewish Messiah, Jewish history matters to us. These stories are our spiritual heritage. They’re how we learn about the God of Israel, His character, and His faithful deliverance from a persistent, relentless enemy.
The themes of Purim continue to play out on the world stage today–the spirit of the same enemy seeks to destroy the Jewish people, and the same God rises to deliver them. The same God who rises to deliver you!
The story of Purim helps us see…
- God’s deliverance
- The fruit of courageous obedience
- God’s justice on wickedness
- The power of divine reversal
If you’ve ever asked, “Why is Purim important for Believers?” read on and discover how this story of courage, deliverance, and recovery has deep meaning for you today.
Why Is Purim Important?
To better understand why Purim is important for all Believers, we need to recap key aspects of Esther’s story.
- Her background
- Her character
Esther’s Background Set the Stage for Transformation
Esther—Hadassah—was born to Jewish parents living in the Persian kingdom. After her parents died, her cousin, Mordecai raised her and cared for her as his own daughter.
This is Esther’s background and history, which shaped her character and faith. But Esther’s life would not remain the same.
Esther would go from being an orphaned Jewish girl living in a foreign land to becoming the queen of one of the largest and most impressive kingdoms in history–Persia.
Esther’s background sets the stage for transformation, which is why Purim is important for Believers. We can identify how the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob transforms our lives as we are adopted into His family through Yeshua Messiah.
Esther’s Character Opened the Doors of God’s Favor
Ahasuerus—also known as Xerxes I—ruled over the kingdom of Persia in what is generally believed to be the 5th century BC.
Near the start of Ahasuerus’ rule, he had a queen named Vashti. Little is told of her in the book of Esther, but we are told that Vashti refused Ahasuerus’ summons to appear before him and his guests at a party.
Remember, in Persia at this time, the king had massive power. His seal on a document was binding, so much so, that no one had the power to change it. Whatever was written was essentially law—unchangeable, even by the king. No one could go before the king unsummoned without risking their life—the king being the only one who could spare them. If someone was summoned by the King, to refuse to come was to risk the penalty of death.
Vashti’s life could have been taken had the king chosen to do so. Yet, Ahasuerus spared her life. However, those around him convinced him to remove Vashti from the position of queen. This left a void that needed to be filled. Another woman would take her place.
Soon, beautiful women from all over the Persian kingdom were gathered to be considered for the position of queen.
Esther was among those brought to the palace, hiding her Jewish identity as Mordecai had instructed, and she changed her name from Hadassah to Esther. Yet, simply arriving at the palace and finding favor with the eunuch in charge would not be enough to become queen. God was guiding and directing her through it all, working all things out for good.
Every woman brought for consideration had to undergo preparations that would take a year to complete.
Once the preparation was complete, the women were brought to the king for consideration. God’s favor rested upon Esther. The wise counsel she received from Mordecai and her character opened the door. She was chosen by Ahasuerus as queen, taking her into a completely different lifestyle.
In this lifestyle, Esther had greater authority and comfort but also greater danger and expectation.
Purim for Believers | The Battles You Face
Here is where the book of Esther sets the stage for Purim.
The enemy
Haman, an evil prince of Persia who managed to find favor with Ahasuerus, lies to the king. Acting out of his own anger toward Mordecai, who refused to bow before him, Haman tells Ahasuerus that an entire people living in Persia refused to obey the king’s laws or ways.
Haman’s twisted words painted the Jewish people as dangerous to the kingdom of Persia. Haman tricked Ahasuerus into giving a decree to destroy the Jewish people. Tragically, Ahasuerus was unaware of two things…
- His queen’s heritage
- Mordecai’s heritage (Esther’s cousin who had also saved the king’s life shortly after Esther became king)
Haman’s deception created a “battle situation” for Esther physically and spiritually.
- For Esther to approach the king without an invite and tell him what she knew of Haman threatened her life.
- If Esther chose to stay silent, the lives of her people were threatened.
Mordecai, Esther’s wise counsel in the situation, told her what was at stake. He laid out the danger that all the Jewish people faced. Esther had to decide if she would risk her life for her people or disobey Mordecai and what God wanted to keep her identity hidden.
Fasting and Praying Through the Battles
Esther knew what she had to do. She knew God had set her into the position of queen “for such a time as this.” She fasted and prayed, asking all the Jews nearby to do battle with her in the same way.
For three days, they fasted and prayed. Then Esther dressed in her royal robes and went before the king unsummoned, at the risk of her life.
Can you identify with Esther? In dire situations–spiritual battles–Believers can fast and pray, put on the royal robes of Yeshua, and boldly approach the King, asking for what they need.
Esther and her people needed deliverance and mercy. God heard their prayers and was with Esther to bring about deliverance.
The king saw Esther, and she found favor with him. His golden scepter extended to her.
From there, Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet and to another banquet the following day—the time between allowing God to honor Mordecai through Ahasuerus and strengthening Esther’s case.
At the second banquet, Esther revealed to Ahasuerus the evil plot of Haman and her Jewish identity. Enraged, the king had Haman’s wicked plans for Mordecai, and the Jews shifted back upon Haman and Haman’s family. He was hung on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Yet, the edict against the Jews remained—for not even the king could revoke what his seal had enacted.
But God provided Esther favor. The king gave his seal to her and to Mordecai, allowing them to—with God’s wisdom—devise a way to protect the Jewish people. They issued a decree legally allowing all Jews to come together and defend themselves… and God granted the Jews favor in this, giving them victory and provision!
- Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. –Esther 9:1 (emphasis added)
Purim, Believers, and God
After the victory and with newfound favor, Esther and Mordecai chose to establish what is known as the holiday of Purim.
- “And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far…to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.” –Esther 9:20-22 (emphasis added)
Can you see the powerful symbolism in this story and what it represents?
Purim is important for Believers because:
- The story of Esther is part of God’s Word. Purim is not only about remembering Jewish history; it is about remembering and honoring God’s Word!
- Purim causes us to remember God’s love, mercy, and power. Even though God’s name is not directly mentioned in the book of Esther, His hand is seen in every page.
- Purim reminds us that God chose and created each of us “for such a time as this” and that the fruit of courageous obedience is abundant life.
- Purim asks us to give, following biblical principles in the Old and New Testaments.
- The holiday of Purim is about mourning turned to dancing–God’s divine reversal, preserving the life of His people, turning the schemes of the enemy back on his own head.
These are just a few of the reasons why Purim is important to Believers! There’s also the truth of Believers being grafted in with our Jewish brothers and sisters, the lessons of preparation and God’s timing, godly honor, and the way the God of Israel takes what is meant for evil and turns it for good.
“For Such a Time as This”
We are each chosen and created by God “for such a time as this.” God is purposeful in His decisions. He sees the entire picture and never makes mistakes.
We may not understand how our journey is to play out. We do not always know why we are who we are or why our circumstances have been what they have been, but nothing is without purpose.
Consider Esther. She was born Hadassah, a Jewish girl… and then was orphaned and raised by a relative. It was not the most auspicious start. It is unlikely anyone ever saw her and thought, ‘She will be queen.’ Even Esther likely did not see her future, but God did. He knew. He prepared her. He equipped her. He loved her.
Each of us has been equipped “for such a time as this.” And each of us has the ability—like Mordecai—to equip others, to raise up the next generation.
Let us, as Believers, be committed to raising up disciples who will wholly follow Jesus. Let’s pass on the story of Purim to others, including the next generation—our children and grandchildren!
We must remember that we were created “for such a time as this,” and so are they.