Part 9 - Esther 9:18-10:3 Party at the Ranch

We all have a tendency to forget things, even significant things.

Let’s party But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. (9:18)

The party in the city was the day after the party in the village. Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.(9:19)

A New Way to Establish a Holiday 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, obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies,

A New Way to Establish a Holiday 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. (9:20-22)

Prior to this time, the Jewish people observed either five or seven feasts: PassoverPassover Unleavened BreadUnleavened Bread First-fruits)First-fruits) Festival of WeeksFestival of Weeks

Prior to this time, the Jewish people observed either five or seven feasts: Feast of TrumpetsFeast of Trumpets Day of AtonementDay of Atonement Feast of TabernaclesFeast of Tabernacles

Prior to this time, the Jewish people observed either five or seven feasts: This feast was a spontaneous celebrationThis feast was a spontaneous celebration

A Jewish Mardi Gras / Halloween party (9:23-28) So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 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. So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 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.

A Jewish Mardi Gras / Halloween party (9:23-28) 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.

A Jewish Mardi Gras / Halloween party (9:23-28) 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 Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them,

A Jewish Mardi Gras / Halloween party (9:23-28) that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city,

A Jewish Mardi Gras / Halloween party (9:23-28) that without fail they would keep these two days 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. (9:23-28)

A Jewish Mardi Gras / Halloween party (9:23-28) The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the book of Esther.The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the book of Esther. The Jews are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry.The Jews are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. They are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity.They are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity.

Once is not enough (9:29-32) Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons,

Once is not enough (9:29-32) 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. The command of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing. (9:29- 32)

Julius StreicherJulius Streicher

Bottom Line: Remember

Some things never change King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? (10:1-2)

Some things are forever changed For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people. (10:3)

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 1: To make God famous we must put pride to death!Week 1: To make God famous we must put pride to death! Start a Vashti movement – practice the royal waveStart a Vashti movement – practice the royal wave

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 2: Nothing just happens…God is always at work transforming the inner nature of people!Week 2: Nothing just happens…God is always at work transforming the inner nature of people! Learn how to live in the 2nd chapter!Learn how to live in the 2nd chapter!

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 3: Contentment is the allusive dream of self made people!Week 3: Contentment is the allusive dream of self made people! Pay attention to what irritates you!Pay attention to what irritates you! Know the source of your victoryKnow the source of your victory

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 4: Somebody or something on this planet needs youWeek 4: Somebody or something on this planet needs you Send the clothes back!Send the clothes back! You can’t quit – God has you on an assignment!You can’t quit – God has you on an assignment!

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 5: Making God famous involves risking it all!!Week 5: Making God famous involves risking it all!! We risk offending people when we are truthful with them about their reality.We risk offending people when we are truthful with them about their reality.

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 6: God is at work – even in the mundane!Week 6: God is at work – even in the mundane! Do the hard work; let the Holy Spirit go deep!Do the hard work; let the Holy Spirit go deep!

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 7: when it seems like God is least present He is most at workWeek 7: when it seems like God is least present He is most at work Experience your own great reversalExperience your own great reversal

Remember what God has said to you personally Week 8: No matter what it looks like, God is in control – trust Him!Week 8: No matter what it looks like, God is in control – trust Him! No more cursingNo more cursing Confront any spirit of revenge in your own heartConfront any spirit of revenge in your own heart

Remember the big message of Esther: God is in control! Even when he seems silentEven when he seems silent The most surprising thing about the book of Esther is that God is not mentioned.The most surprising thing about the book of Esther is that God is not mentioned.

Remember the big message of Esther: God is in control! Even when His timing isn’t to our likingEven when His timing isn’t to our liking Even when evil seems to prevailEven when evil seems to prevail Even when politics go badEven when politics go bad Even when life does not go as plannedEven when life does not go as planned Do you think the above series of events reflected what Esther had planned for her life?Do you think the above series of events reflected what Esther had planned for her life?

Remember the big message of Esther: God is in control! Even when the situation seems desperateEven when the situation seems desperate