Purim - A Story of Teshuvah and Victory

The story is found in the book of Esther, which will be read in Synagogues around the world during this time. There is something about that continuity which I find very comforting and engaging. 

In essence it is the short story of God's stubborn people throughout history – including Americans today (at least I hope We will also eventually wake up, repent and be saved from the coming disasters....) - it can be summed up by this sentence:

“We left God, we were almost annihilated, we repented, we were saved – let's party!”

It is a time to remember obedience, repentance and deliverance. It is a time of worship and celebration, a time of fasting (to beg God's kind indulgence and intervention – again) and feasting...a time of Joy in our God.

It is our time to also recount God's many deliverances for us through the years, and to look forward to the great deliverance which is coming, in Messiah's Final Deliverance of all who believe (for all who will repent of their rebellion and betrayal and return to the Living God, the One True God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel – and their Kinsman Redeemer – the Messiah Yeshua – but be warned that mere consent of His existence doesn't quite get the job done).

In our current time of unrest and social turmoil – in our current political confusion – may we turn our attention back to the source of safety, the Prince of Peace, and the King of Kings – and may we beseech Him for His help once again – but also may we take the time to celebrate His efforts on our behalf through Yeshua the kinsman redeemer, who lived, died, and overcame the grave on our behalf. As we celebrate Purim it is a precursor to Pass Over (in which the original believers celebrated the Resurrection also) – which is the story detailing God's deliverance for all mankind.

Sam Nadler, a popular “Messianic” teacher of our time has summed up God's appointed times, the Feasts of Israel, this way (from which the opening statement was modified):

“They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat!”

lol I would only make a couple of small adjustments, or add a couple of explanations to that, for clarity's sake:

“They tried to kill us (because we were stubborn and stupid enough to walk away from God's goodness), we won (because God is very merciful, forgiving and powerful) – let's eat (and remember His goodness to us once again)!”

Purim Sameach, Chavarim!