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Joy
of Purim
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Every
year at the first of Spring there is a huge party with costumes, drinking,
noisemakers, and a carnival-like atmosphere. Masks, music, and mayhem
join together, not for Mardi Gras, but for Purim. Purim is the celebration
of the story told in the book of Esther. In this story, good and evil
struggle as Yisrael faces extermination by the wicked man Haman. Haman
plots to kill all the Hebrews, but this evil plan is stopped by Esther
and her cousin Mordechai. Since that time, Hebrews everywhere have celebrated
this appointed time with joy and ruckus. There is much we can learn from
celebrating Purim and examining the Purim story and the joy it brings.
In English Bibles, the term “joy” is often translated from the Hebrew
word “simchat”. Simchat in Hebrew means “mirth, gladness, and pleasure
experienced by specific actions”. Simcha is felt as a person does something.
It is dependent upon exterior factors and is a fruit of the Spirit. Simchat
is the result of celebrating Purim and worshipping YHWH. (*YHWH is the
ancient Hebrew name of the Creator, revealed in Exodus, chapters 3 &
33. This term is used almost 7,000 times throughout the Bible, hidden
behind the capitalized terms "LORD" and "GOD.")
The Purim story reveals the downfall of the vicious anti-Semite Haman.
He was a descendent of Amalek, the traditional enemy of the Hebrews. As
Prime Minister of ancient Persia, around 2300 years ago, he sought to
murder all the Yisraelites in that land.
Events happen such that Haman himself plays a crucial role in the coronation
of Queen Esther, after the former Queen Vashti was banished. No one realizes
that Esther is a Hebrew. Haman, who has become a powerful man in the kingdom,
is upset that Mordechai does not bow down to him. He succeeds in getting
King Achashverosh to authorize a royal decree to annihilate an unspecified
nation he claims is an enemy of the King. Initially, he does not identify
the nation so that the King can later claim that he did not know that
the decree was against the Yisraelites.
Haman casts lots (“pur”) to determine the day this was to happen. Mordechai
and Esther lead the Hebrews in a return to YHWH, through prayer and fasting.
Esther invites the King and Haman to join her for dinner. In response
to the king's offer of "half my kingdom for your wishes," all
she asks is they come again tomorrow to another dinner "and I'll
tell you, then." (She will reveal to them the reason for her invitation).
The story reveals Haman working through the night to construct a gallows
upon which to hang Mordechai. At daybreak, he plans to appear before the
King to denounce Mordechai.
In desperation to get some sleep, the King asked his servants to read
from the Royal Chronicles. The Book opens to a long forgotten story of
how Mordechai discovered an assassination plot by two royal servants against
the King. At the exact moment the King is inquiring whether Mordechai
was rewarded for his loyalty, on the scene appears Haman.
Before getting a chance to make his request to hang Mordechai, Haman is
ordered by the King to parade Mordechai through the capital city in royal
garments. Immediately afterwards, a crestfallen Haman is whisked to the
second Royal dinner, hosted by Esther. At the dinner, she reveals to the
King that she is a Hebrew and that Haman, is an enemy of the King because
he seeks to destroy the Hebrew people.
The embarrassed and angry King storms out of the room. Haman pleads to
Esther for his life. He "somehow" loses his balance and falls
on the couch where Esther is reclining. The King comes back at just this
moment. He is very upset and explodes in anger.
The King orders Haman to be hanged on the gallows built for Mordechai.
The King elevates Mordechai to Haman's recently-vacated position. Mordechai
issues orders, with the King's permission, allowing the Hebrews to fight
against their enemies. On the thirteenth and fourteenth days of Adar,
the Yisraelites won tremendous victories and were saved from the threat
of total annihilation. Since that time, we celebrate Purim in accordance
with the book of Esther.
“On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of
the same month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and simcha (joy).
As the days in which the Hebrews rested from their enemies, and the month
which was turned from sorrow to simcha (joy), and from mourning into a
Yom-Tov (feast day): that they should make them days of feasting and simcha,
and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor,” Esther
9:17, 22
For obvious reasons, Purim is called “the feast of happiness”. It is a
time of gift giving, costume parties, and celebrating the victory YHWH
gives against oppression. When the story of Esther is read on Purim, it
is customary to interrupt the reading with celebration. When Haman's name
is read in the story, the congregation erupts in a deafening chorus of
noise-makers, clanging pots, cap-guns, clapping, booing, and sirens. The
congregation also applauds and celebrates when the hero, Mordechai is
mentioned.
One strange, yet, traditional way to celebrate Purim is to drink wine.
The Talmud says that “on Purim a person is obligated to become intoxicated
to the point where he can no longer tell the difference between ‘cursed
be Haman’ and ‘blessed be Mordechai.” Yes, on this one date, Judaism encourages
drunkenness. Or does it?
A careful reading of the Talmudic quote will reveal that the mitzvah is
not to drink wine. The commandment is to become intoxicated. Don’t be
mistaken. A person can be drunk without taking a drink! The joy of Purim
is not found in drinking alcohol, but in elevating the Spirit! “Do not
be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh,” Ephesians
5:18.
During the first Purim celebration, the scroll says the Hebrews had “simchat”.
It never says they drunk Manashevitz kosher wine. No wine was needed.
They were simply intoxicated with YHWH’s joy!! This is the real meaning
of simchat. “And Mordechai went out from the presence of the melech (king)
in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great keter (crown) of
gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan
rejoiced and was in simcha. The Hebrews had light, and gilah (rejoicing),
and simcha, and kavod (glory),” Esther 8:15,16.
To have the joy of YHWH is to blur the lines of reality as a drunkard.
True simchat is viewing the evil actions of Haman as equal to the righteous
actions of Mordechai. Simchat sees through the “good” and the “bad” events
in life to agree that YHWH is in control. “What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.
In
a sober state, we view Mordechai’s righteousness as more beneficial than
Hamaan’s wicked plans. A drunken person though, cannot tell the difference
between Mordechai and a monkey. As believers filled with the Ruach, we,
too, should have our vision blurred. The events of life should not lead
us to worry. Instead, we should agree that what may begin as evil will
turn out for the good. Sober-minded people only see facts, doctor’s charts,
and negative bank balances. Those drunk with joy know that all things
work together for the good of him that loves YHWH. This isn’t a blissful
existence, but an awareness that YHWH is in control. " And we know
that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:23.
Remember too, that Purim occurs during the month of Adar, the 12th month
in the Biblical calendar. The Sages have said that “our joy increases
in Adar.” In Hebrew, “adar” means “power, force, or strength”. This proves
once again the joy of YHWH is our adar strength! Just as YHWH rescued
Israel from impending danger, He protects and keeps Israel today.
Simchat is a gift from YHWH that is to be manifested. Its like a seed
planted inside the soul that must be watered and cared for until it grows.
We are told to serve YHWH with simcha in Tehillim / Psalm 100. The dangers
of not doing so are treacherous. The 27th and 28th chapters of Devarim
/ Deuteronomy describe the Torah and the blessings and curses presented
to the nation of Yisra’el. The curses for Torah disobedience were centered
on the fact that the nation did not serve YHWH in joy. “Because you did
not serve YHWH your Elohim with simcha, and with gladness of lev (heart),
for the abundance of all things; Therefore shall you serve your enemies
that YHWH shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness,
and in want of all things: and He shall put a yoke of iron upon your neck,
until He has destroyed you,” Devarim 28:47. Clearly, joy is no laughing
matter. It’s a subject that needs to be taken seriously. It’s a fruit
that should be enjoyed like a fresh apple plucked from a tree. But, watch
out for worms!
The worms of the adversary will try to corrupt the fruit of joy. Everyone
knows that one bad apple spoils the bunch. Let us guard against the enemy
stealing our joy. Y’shua said, “The thief comes to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have chayim, and that they might
have it more abundantly,” Yochannan / John 10:10. This verse describes
the three main ways the adversary tries to steal our simcha.
First, he wants to STEAL our joy. He does this by tricking us to live
life in the past. We cannot experience life in abundance, if we walk around
with regret. Too many believers are defeated because of yesterday’s sins.
The concerns, pains, and hurts of the past will stop simcha from flourishing.
The enemy also wants to KILL our future. He does this by whispering to
us about what might happen. Fear grips the weary heart and paralyzes the
saint not walking in the fruit of joy. The enemy knows he can defeat us,
if we are uptight and worrisome. However, YHWH says, “I know the plans
I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you,” Jeremiah 29:11
The enemy knows that if he can keep us uptight and fearful of tomorrow
or living in the regret of yesterday, then he can DESTROY our present.
If we are gripped by fear or pain, we cannot experience the abundant life
of Y’shua. However, the enemy shouldn’t defeat us because Moshiach defeated
him! “For this purpose the Son of YHWH was manifested, that He might destroy
the works of the adversary,” 1 John / Yochannan 3:8.
Y’shua came that we might have chayim – life and life to its fullest.
The connection is clear. Life comes through walking in the simcha of YHWH.
On Purim we are told that each person should become intoxicated until
the reality of good and bad is distorted. The traditional toast to any
Hebrew cup of wine is “l’chaim” – to life! This shows that one can experience
the simcha of YHWH when one is filled with the life of YHWH. L’chaim!
Let us be filled with the Ruach to life and to life abundant! Trust YHWH
no matter what happens. He came through for Mordechai and the Hebrews
and He will come through for us!
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