Purim ~ The Story of Esther

Scene from "One Night with the King"

 We are getting ready here for Purim!!!  It is such a fun 'minor' holiday filled with SO much meaning for us as followers of Yeshua.  If you don't know the story, you can read it in the Bible, watch the movie "One Night with the King" and/or you can read 'Cliff's Notes' here. 

Esther Scroll (Megillah). Bezalel School, Jerusalem. 1927. Maker: Ze’ev Raban (1890-1970). Case: applied and cast silver. Scroll: watercolor and ink on parchment. B'nai B'rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, gift of Joseph B. and Olyn Horwitz.

Why is it important to know about this holiday?  

Everything in the Bible is there for a reason, the Book of Esther is part of history, history repeats itself.  The Tanakh is full of life we should take time to understand, without it the back of the Bible, the Renewed Covenant, gets messed up with the traditions of man. Yeshua (and Paul) are then misrepresented and misunderstood and doctrines are invented out of thin air based on interpretation.  The Renewed Covenant writings must be backed up by Scripture, the Tanakh.

   Esther is a story of salvation, redemption, kingship courage and honor.  It is as rich and vibrant for today as when it happened.  Everyone has a place in the story.  Mordecai is from the Tribe of Benjamin.  Haman is from the Amalekites who were tormenting the Israelites during the Exodus, attacking the weak who had fallen behind.  Later, when Saul, from the Tribe of Benjamin, is King of Israel he is told to destroy the Amalekites.  However, he keeps Agag the King alive and from this disobedience Haman the Agagite comes into play years later in Shushan.  It is a repetition of a theme, the defeat of the enemy of Israel, that will replay itself over and over until the end.

Please visit Servant of Messiah Ministries Blog - Esther is Prophetic for more on the significance of Purim.

Some of the fun things about this holiday are eating yummy foods and dressing up.  Here are some more fun and informative links to explore:

From Shiksa in the Kitchen: She has a lot of cool recipes and history, explore it, it's a fun Blog!
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese filled Hamantaschen and the Story of Purim
Making Perfect Hamantaschen
Purim Masks


 
How does Puwriym (Purim) Point to Messiah? Awesome had to add!
Purim - Hebrew4Christians
Looking for a quiz or questionaire?
Understand and Celebrate Purim

AND finally, just for fun!

 Enjoy learning about this great holiday and remember we have all been born for such a time as this in the end days, be strong, be strong and may we be strengthened!!!

~Blessings

Hear and Obey, Shema!

Hear O, Israel Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is one.

Blessed be His glorious name whose kingdom is forever and ever.

Yeshua the Messiah is Yahweh

Phillipians 2:  ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  ~NKJV (emphasis mine)

In the Aramaic English New Testament it says in verse 11:  

and that every tongue should confess that  
Master YHWH is Y'shua Mashiyach to the glory of Elohim his Father.   
 ~AENT (emphasis mine)

Can you see the difference?  Not only is it clear who the 'Lord' is, but the order is switched.   The Shema (hear and obey) from Deuteronomy 6:4 clearly tells us that YHWH (Lord) our Elohim (God) is ONE.

So what are we, Israel,* suppose to hear and obey?

Deuteronomy 6: ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God (Yahweh your Elohim) with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

⁶ “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.  ~NKJV

This is what we are to be doing, loving Yahweh, hiding his word in our hearts and teaching and speaking of Yahweh's instructions (his Word).

*The children of Israel are those who listen to His word, follow and do His will.  See Ezekiel 37, Romans 11, Exodus 12:38, Book of Ruth, just a few examples of those who are Israel.