The Feast of Purim this year begins tomorrow evening, Wednesday, March 16 and it ends the next evening, Thursday, March 17. Purim is not one of the appointed feasts of the Lord, but it is a feast that will be celebrated throughout all eternity. The feasts of the Lord listed in Leviticus 23 and along with Purim and Hanukkah are historical events but they are also a shadow of things to come, Yeshua, our High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, being the substance of them all.
During the feasts the Lord promised to draw near to His people to accomplish a specific work in our lives. I believe this is what David was rejoicing over when he penned the following words: Psalm 133. A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.
David was on his way to Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles with such expectancy that his heart was bursting with joy, praise, and worship. Why? I believe David could already sense the Lord drawing near to command a blessing over His people. There was an impartation that would be released during Tabernacles that David said was so tangible that it was like the anointing oil running down Aaron's beard. Wow! This blessing can only be received in the corporate setting of the feasts of the Lord. When the Hebrew letters and pictograms for Esther are interpreted it says the following: “Behold! A door to the place where heaven and earth touch!” Or it could be said this way, "Behold, the place where God draws near to His people!"
Notes for the audio provided below and attached as a PDF for downloading to print.
The Feast of Purim
Now before we get into the Feast of Purim I feel I need to explain a little of what the feasts are and what they are not because if you are not familiar with them you are probably thinking to yourself right about now, has Samuel converted to Judaism? Nope.
So let me explain a little about the feasts and then we will get into the Feast of Purim. Most Christians who have heard about the feasts or who have read about the feasts in the Bible think of them as the feasts of the Jews. In fact, that’s what they are called by most people, but the truth is they are not called the feasts of the Jews anywhere in the Bible. The Bible teaches that the feasts are the Lord’s feasts. They are Yahweh’s appointed times every year when His people are called to a holy convocation, a sacred assembly.
Leviticus 23:2 NKJV "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.
The feasts were given to the Israelites to steward them. They were to teach their children about them by retelling the story of the feast and their children were to teach their children. The feasts were set at appointed times on the same day every year. God gave clear instruction that the feasts were to be taught throughout all generations.
The feasts were times when Yahweh promised to draw near to the people to accomplish a specific work in their lives…if they showed up.
Psalm 133:1-3 NKJV
1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing--Life forevermore.
These seven feasts are appointed times. In addition to these seven feasts, there are two feasts celebrated every year that are not appointed but are recorded in the Bible and the Apocrypha (extra-biblical text).
Though the feasts of the Lord are appointed times kept for thousands of years. They are also prophetic symbolism revealing Yeshua. All the feasts point to Yeshua and His accomplished works or the fruit of His works. The feasts are a foreshadowing of things to come, and Christ is the very substance of them. We know when Yeshua first came He fulfilled the first four feasts, which are called the spring feasts, on the very day they were to be celebrated.
The Feast of Purim (not an appointed time) – Esther 9:26-32
1. Passover – Jesus fulfilled as the Passover Lamb Himself
2. Unleavened Bread – Jesus fulfilled by being crucified and buried
3. Firstfruits – Jesus fulfilled by being resurrected on the third day the firstfruits of many brethren.
4. Pentecost – Fulfilled by the giving of the Word at Sinai in Exodus, and later the Spirit in Acts 2 (both on 7 Sevan)
5. Trumpets / Rosh Hashana – Yet to be fulfilled
6. Atonement - Yet to be fulfilled
7. Tabernacles - Yet to be fulfilled
Hanukkah (not an appointed time) – 1 Maccabees 4:59; John 10:22-23; Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication.
Since Yeshua fulfilled the first four feasts on the very day they were to be kept. We can expect He will return a second time and fulfill the last three feasts on the very day Yahweh appointed them to be kept. Yeshua’s second coming will be on the Feast of Trumpets. We just don’t know which one.
So there you have it, a short teaching on the feasts of the Lord mentioned in the Old Covenant. There are also references in the New Covenant to the feasts, but in the context of the believers keeping them.
God’s Festivals in the New Testament
1. Passover
Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:5
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 26:2, Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-16, Luke 2:41-42; Luke 22:1; Luke 22:7-20; John 2:13; John 2:23; John 6:4; John 13:1-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NKJK
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread
Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:6-8
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 2:41-42, Luke 22:1; Luke 22:7; Acts 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
3. Feast of First Fruits (Pentecost)
4. Feast of Pentecost
Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:15-22
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the Church in the New Testament:
Acts 2:1-21; Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8;
5. Feast of Trumpets*
Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:23-25
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 11:15
*Although the Feast of Trumpets is not mentioned by name in the New Testament, the theme of the day—the sounding of trumpets announcing Jesus Christ's return—is mentioned by several New Testament authors as noted in the references.
6. Day of Atonement
Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:26-32
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the Church in the New Testament:
Acts 27:9
7. Feast of Tabernacles
Commanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:33-43
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the Church in the New Testament:
There are two passages I want to share with you that are referring to feasts and seem to contradict each other but they actually do not. Because of this one of the passages is always misinterpreted by people who do not understand the context of the passage or they have not researched it out for themselves. This leads to bad doctrine and much confusion. So I want to clarify them so you are armed and dangerous when the devil tries to steal your blessing the Lord established for you on day four of recreation.
Colossians 2:15-17 NKJV
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Galatians 4:8-11 NKJV
8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how [is it that] you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
The Feast of Purim
Now that you have a basic understanding of the feasts, let’s look at the Feast of Purim.
Purim – fate, destiny, or lots
םוריפ
Purim – dice or lots, plural form for Pur. פור
Matt. 27:35 “And when they had crucified Him, they divided and distributed His garments (among them) by casting lots so that the prophet’s saying was fulfilled, ‘They parted My garments among them and over My apparel they cast lots.’”
Ps. 22:18 “They part my clothing among them and cast lots for my raiment.”
The underlying principle of Purim is found in the Abrahamic covenant. “And I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you.” (Gen. 12:3)
Anti-Semitism is not a new phenomenon. Israel’s enemies have plotted the annihilation of the sons of Jacob throughout the ages. The spirit of Haman is alive and active today.
The historical setting
The historical events recorded in the Book of Esther occurred between the time of Zerubbabel and Ezra – 538 BC and 458 BC. The first “Aliyah” (return of the Jews to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon) was under Zerubbabel in 538 BC, when King Cyrus ruled. See Isaiah 45. To review: Israel had sunk into immorality and idol worship and rejected God. They were conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and carried away captive to Babylon – a pagan land of idol worship and life without God. However, at the appointed time God raised up a remnant who would return to Israel (Jerusalem) where His plan of redemption could come forth. Zerubbabel means “those who have come out of Babel or Babylon.” The experiences recorded in the book of Esther happened to the Hebrews that did not return to the Land but stayed in Persia.
The current application
Though Esther is a historic book it is a shadow of things to come. It has profound prophetic application for our generation today. God’s people have been scattered throughout the earth. But He once again is calling them back to the land of Israel so that the final plans for the redemption of all mankind can be set into motion. God raised up a modern-day Cyrus (Harry Truman) and used him at the time that the modern state of Israel was re-born. Today, the call to “Aliyah” has gone forth to every nation. Only a handful of Jews have heeded the call. Certain of God’s plans and purposes hinges on the Jews being in His Land. The forces of darkness are at work to prevent that from happening.
Who are the characters that will take center stage as the great drama unfolds?
The main characters
The King – King Ahasuerus is a Persian monarch who rules over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. He reigns over the vast Medo-Persian empires. 127 is an indivisible number signifying he is the most powerful man on earth at the time of his reign. There was nothing that he did not control. Even Israel and all the Jews living in Jerusalem were under his rule – however, Israel was God’s ‘Goshen’ set aside for the purposes of God and His people.
Mordechai – son of Jair, tribe of Benjamin. He was a descendant of the first king of Israel (Saul) and Mephibosheth (the crippled son of Jonathan with whom David was in covenant. Remember, David, sought him out to bless him and bring him to his table after the defeat of Saul).
Mordechai is a Babylonian name. Hebrews translated it “servant of God” and “pure myrrh”. He was a master of languages. He had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives. He was a righteous man and had a prophet status - and he had raised his uncle’s daughter, for she had “neither father nor mother”. Her name was Esther/Hadassah.
Esther – Hadassah (Hebrew) – means myrtle tree – Star
Myrtle is a common indigenous shrub having dark green, scented leaves and starry like white flowers and berries which are eaten. It is used in the Feast of Tabernacles and is a symbol of victory. Myrtle was put into the tombs of the dead and into the crowns of the Bride.
Esther was a Jew but she was asked to keep her identity “secret” until the appointed time. She was in good company (Moses and Joseph both took on the identity of Egypt until the appointed time).
Hadassah written in Hebrew:
הדסה
hey samech dalet hey
hey – Behold! Breath of God! Brings divine revelation
dalet – Door, pathway
samech – Circle, support, trust, place where heaven and earth intersect
hey – At the end of a word means to behold what comes from the letters
“Behold! A door to the place where heaven and earth touch!”
Queen Vashti. The wife of the King. Her name means beautiful and she was “fair to behold” (although we never get to see her!) She was a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar.
Haman – Haman was an heir to Amalek, the nation that personified evil, insisted that God was absent in the world and everything happened by chance – exactly the opposite of Biblical faith. The Amalekites had an inborn hatred of the Hebrews. It was said that as long as Amalek walked the face of the earth no Jew was safe.
Deut. 25:17-18 "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way when you had come forth from Egypt, How he did not fear God, but when you were faint and weary he attacked you along the way and cut off all the stragglers at your rear. Therefore when The Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about in the land which The Lord your God gives you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens; you must not forget."
Some say Amalek was the grandson of Esau through a concubine of his (Gen 36:12) and some say he had an earlier ancestry.
Amalek is the singular form of ‘giant’. The Amalekites were known for their ruthlessness, trickery, and tyranny.
Ex. 17 When Moses was moving through the Wilderness of Sin, he encamped at Rephidim (this is the story where there was no water to drink and the Lord told Moses to strike the rock and water came forth), v 8 says, "Then came Amalek and fought with Israel at Rephidim. Aaron and Hur held up Moses's hands while Joshua mowed down and disabled Amalek.
vs. 14 says, "I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens...v16 - Because theirs is a hand against the throne of The Lord, the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
Every generation will face war with Amalek. Read I Sam. 15:1-35
