For Such a Time as This In the Jewish tradition, the festival of Purim is celebrated on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar which in our calendar this year falls on today, 12 March. Purim (pronounced not Pure-im but Pureem) is the most joyful and celebratory date on the Jewish calendar. Purim is celebrated with the giving of gifts, giving money to the poor, wearing fancy dress and costumes and noisemakers groggers or noise clappers. Here is a sample of what it is about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-2skuqszcu In case you are wondering, that video clip is meant to convey feeling and not theology. Purim is not on our Christian calendar, but it is big in Israeli tradition. Today, of course, much of Israel is very secular, and Purim has become more of a carnival and often has a mardi-gras type of feel about it with lots of drinking and all that goes with it. In fact, the drinking of alcohol - lots of it - is mandatory at Purim. Maybe it s a good thing Christians don t celebrate Purim? Nevertheless, the story of Purim is fascinating, and there is a lot we can learn about this tradition that goes back almost 2500 years. Purim is based on the book of Esther and the story of the deliverance of the Jews from an evil character named Haman. The hero in our story is a Jew named Mordecai, and Queen Esther is our heroine, and at Purim, the book of Esther is read. When Haman s name is read there are loud boos and clapper noise made, and when Mordecai s name is read there are shouts of yay and clapping. We are reading the end of the story but will become clear as we go along. Let's give it a try: Esther 8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, (BOO) the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai (YAY) came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman (BOO), and presented it to Mordecai (YAY). And Esther appointed him over Haman s (BOO) estate. Purim Established 9 18 The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. 19 That is why rural Jews those living in villages observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other. 20 Mordecai (YAY) recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai (YAY) had written to them.
The story of Esther goes back to about 480BC. The Jewish nation had been destroyed except for a handful who were taken into captivity by the Babylonians into what is now Iraq and Iran. This remnant of Jews were used as slaves, but over the course of time, the Persian Empire defeated the Babylonians under King Xerxes. The Persian Empire stretched all the way from Libya to Pakistan. During this period many Jews were allowed to return to Israel, and we can read about Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Many Jews, however, remained in Persia because it had essentially become home for them, they had been released from slavery, and many had grown into areas of influence within the Persian system but, as we have today, they maintained a strong sense of their Jewish identity. King Xerxes was the most powerful man in the world of that day. He also had a violent temper. He had a bridge built on a long narrow strait dividing, roughly Eastern Europe from Asia Minor. However, a violent storm destroyed the bridge, and so Xerxes had the engineers beheaded and sent troops to beat the sea with red hot irons. King Xerxes lived in excess in true royal fashion, and one day he held a banquet to which he expected his wife Queen Vashti to attend. For whatever reason, Queen Vashti refused to attend; she probably knew all too well of the excesses of such banquets. King Xerxes was furious and banished Vashti which meant Xerxes was without a wife. Now we need to remember there were a lot of women available for the king, so a wife for the king as not simply to satisfy his royal desires, but his wife was a position of great honour and prestige. The story goes on with a nationwide search for a new wife, and after a long and complicated process, a young Jewish woman by the name of Esther was chosen. It took 12 months of intensive beauty preparations before any of the prospective women could be presented before the king. Men, if you think your wife takes a long time to get ready you can be thankful for small mercies. We have already introduced the villain of our story and also the hero. The bad guy was Xerxes second in charge; Haman that we booed and the good guy was Mordechai we cheered. Mordechai was also related to Esther and was an uncle, or possibly cousin. Haman hated the Jews and cooked up a plan to exterminate all Jews even beyond the borders of Persia. Haman consulted with some sorcerers who threw lots and came up with a date for the genocide of all Jews. The Persian name for lots, or dice, is pur and is where the name Purim is derived. Meanwhile, Mordechai just happened to overhear a plot to assassinate King Xerxes, and he quickly sent a message to the king who quickly sorted that out without too much fuss. The Persians were meticulous about keeping records, and the account of Mordechai saving King Xerxes life was written down, but the matter was soon forgotten, and life went on. When word of the annihilation of the Jews reached Mordechai, he was understandably deeply disturbed and went to Esther, and in the Book of Esther we see Mordechai with these famous words to Queen Esther: Esther 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
Mordechai had a deep trust and faith in God to deliver his people, but he said to Esther that God had appointed her to this royal position for a purpose. The pressure was on. In those days one could only go into the presence of the king if invited, there were no exceptions, and Esther had not been summoned into Xerxes presence for over a month. Esther, acutely aware of this danger, entered the royal office unannounced but Xerxes was pleased to see her and asked her what she wanted. Esther answered that she wanted to hold a private banquet for Xerxes and Haman. So ladies here is a tip if you want something from your husband, involve food, it works a treat every time. The first banquet led to a second banquet but during the night Haman s hatred for Mordechai grew and ordered gallows to be built so that the next day he could impale Mordechai on it. Xerxes couldn t sleep that night and ordered that the records be brought and read to him. During the reading, the matter of the forgotten saving of his life by Mordechai was read, and so Xerxes began to think that he had never shown any gratitude or even thanks to Mordechai. The next day Xerxes asked Haman what could be done to a man the king honours. Haman thinking it was him Xerxes wanted to acknowledge said: Esther 6 6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, What should be done for the man the king delights to honour? Now Haman thought to himself, Who is there that the king would rather honour than me? 7 So he answered the king, For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honour, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour! Xerxes thought that was a fantastic idea but what a shock for Haman when he discovered it was Mordechai. Later on that day at the second banquet King Xerxes was in one of his impulsive moods asked Esther what she wanted even up to half his kingdom. Esther didn t want half his kingdom: Esther 7;3 Then Queen Esther answered, If I have found favour with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life this is my petition. And spare my people this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king. 5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, Who is he? Where is he the man who has dared to do such a thing? 6 Esther said, An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman! This fascinating story ends with the Jews being saved and Mordechai being honoured and raised up into leadership. In effect Mordechai replaced Haman. What can we learn from this ancient story of Purim?
Purim points to Jesus The Jews living in Persia were powerless to save themselves against the power of the armies of King Xerxes or Haman. The Jew couldn t set up a counter-revolutionary forces to defend themselves against Haman s xenophobia and genocide they required external intervention. In the same way, we are powerless to save ourselves and require external intervention. Jesus died on the cross so that we can be set free. Jesus once read from the scrolls of Isaiah, referring to himself, Luke 4:18, The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. A transition took place in Persia the Jews went from extreme distress to extreme joy and celebration which is all about Purim. Jesus said of himself that he would turn our sorrow into Joy. Jesus, talking to his disciples in John 16 explains that he was going to leave the disciples could understand this but their grief would soon be turned into celebration, joy and party Jesus loved parties. We this morning can be happy it s ok to celebrate (even if Argus cycle race is cancelled). God s promise is trustworthy. Mordechai knew and trusted the promises of God. When Mordechai spoke to Esther, he said that even if Esther failed, God s would deliver the Jews from another source - Esther 4:14. Being in pastoral ministry I am aware there are many families and individual facing dire circumstances, and I do not want to make light of the heartbreak and deep trials you face, but it is in these times we can to the faithful heart of God and His sure promises: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you - Psalms 50:15. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:19. On and on the promises go but these promises are so much more than positive thinking or even wishful thinking. The promises of God echo the very heart of God. God uses unexpected resources There are no coincidences in God s purposes. When a wife was selected for King Xerxes, an unknown Jewish girl, probably no more than a teenager, Esther had been chosen out of thousands of women. God uses the most unlikely people, circumstances and timing to fulfil His purposes. In the midst of our trials we need to look beyond the obvious for God to intervene.
It is interesting to note that the word God is not once used in the book of Esther, but we can see God at work delivering His people. In the same way it sometimes appears that God is distant and indifferent to our struggles, but nothing could be further from the truth. God is working in ways that are often unexpected, beyond the normal, unforeseen, and unpredicted. God places us strategically I repeat there are no coincidences in God s purposes. Mordechai just happened to overhear a plot to assonate the King. Esther just happened to be chosen out of thousands of other women to be queen. Mordechai recognised that God was at work pulling all these events to together and told Esther she was there for such a time as this. I don t believe you are here by chance and maybe you are here to at King of Kings on Argus Sunday for such a time as this. Perhaps you are living here in Fish Hoek for such a time as this. Maybe you are living at this time; 2017 for such a time as this.