AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – February 25, 2021, Adar 13, 5781
PURIM or FEAST OF LOTS EVE
Greeting dear and precious saints of the only Living God who have been purchased with the Precious Blood of Jesus which is a price beyond calculation. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment and hit the “share” and “love” buttons to expand the reach of these teachings and to provide feedback. Today I will break for one day from our Bible Study of the Book of John and talk about the Feast of Lots or what may be better known as Purim which starts today at 6 p.m., the 14th of Adar. This is not one of the prescribed or appointed Feasts of the Lord found in Leviticus chapter twenty-three. It is a self-prescribed memorial by the Jewish people of God’s deliverance, His goodness to them. Of course, all of the deliverances of Israel and others recorded in the Holy Word are a testimony of the character, the abundant mercy, and forbearance of our God. Additionally, these accounts are a type and shadow, a prophetic picture, for each of us. Just as they were saved from destruction in that day so are, we saved from the devils planned destruction of us by the Lord Jesus. He did it for them He did it for us! The Book of Esther is the book of Purim, a supernatural rescue of the Jewish people yet again. Whether we know it or not, acknowledge it or not, every Christian has had a dramatic rescue from the plans of the evil Haman (devil).
This account of the goodness of God to His people, the Jews, takes place about 478 BC. The Medes and Persians were ruling much of the known world as shown by the map above. The map is courtesy of; www.freebibleimages.org. The Jewish people for the most part are not in the Promised Land but in captivity due to the sin of evil leaders which caused them to sin. The leaders can only be evil as the people allow by not being diligent (which is evil), being deceived and compromising the Word of God. Same story today, much of the Church is not partaking of our Promised Land for the same reasons. Review this following passage and see the time of Esther and see our time.
2 Chronicles 36:5-16 (ESV)
5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.
7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon.
8 … Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place….9 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD….11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
12 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.
13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar …14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise … And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem.
15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place.
16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
Bottom line, they all did wickedly in the sight of God until there was no remedy. Apparently, a time comes when God’s people will not even consider repentance. Sadly, brother and sister this is all around us in the Church today. Back to Purim. So, Mordechai and his niece Esther end up as captives by the Medes and Persians (yes, Iranians). This pattern of continual rebelling against God and going into captivity was a recurring theme for Israel. Do you suppose there is a lesson there for you and me? Let’s look at how Esther and Mordecai ended up in captivity.
Esther 2:5-7 (ESV)
5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away.
7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Esther and her uncle, Mordecai, both Jews, are taken captive from Jerusalem to the capital of this empire called Susa (Shushan) ruled by King Ahasuerus. Iran (Persia) was involved then in this plot to destroy the Jews and remains committed to the extermination of the Jews to this day. Next, we find a rebellion (feminist movement) by the Queen so she was banished and a new Queen was sought and the King decided on Esther. In the meantime, a wicked high-ranking official by the name of Haman is plotting to kill all of the Jews because he did not believe Mordecai respected him. Mordecai discovers this plot and brings the news to Esther asking her to intercede with the King which brings us to a commonly quoted passage. Saints of God, you and I are brought to the Kingdom of God today for such a time as this.
Esther 4:13-17 (KJV)
13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Bold added)
15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Through a series of maneuvers Esther brings the true intent and the reality of this plot to kill all the Jews to the attention of her husband, King Ahasuerus. King Ahasuerus is enraged and has Haman and his ten sons hanged on the gallows Haman intended for Mordecai. Mordecai was promoted and the order was given that the Jews were free to kill those that had previously sought to kill them. To make this more pertinent to us today remember that the devil wants to kill us all (John 10:10) but now in Christ Jesus we are free and given to reign and rule over all principalities, power, might, and dominion (Ephesians 1:19-23). Now back to Esther. Following the exposure and elimination of Haman a great feast was instituted which the Jews celebrate to this day, called Purim.
Esther 9:20-22 (KJV)
20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,
21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
Our God is faithful. Think of this in terms of America who has many wicked leaders put in place by a wicked people. Unfortunately, many deceived persons in the Church actually promote darkness and the attendant wickedness from the voting booth. However, a remnant of the Church is awake and declaring with Prophetic voice in the land and change is at the door. Many are awakening and realizing there is a demonic agenda to eradicate Christianity, Judea-Christian way of life from the public and social fabric of America. A critical mass of peoples, the Prophets have spoken, our King (Jesus) has heard and the wicked Haman is about to be hanged in America along with all his wicked sons. The wicked who have plotted against the Christian Church are being taken out of the picture. Stand and rule you kings! A time of celebration is at hand, prepare for the Feast of Pur by the Church whose God is bringing the plans of the wicked and the wicked one to naught. Final prophetic thought, this is not about Trump although he plays a role, it is about exposing wickedness in American and bringing it to naught and restoring a more solid foundation for our nation, a Covenant nation with God.
Lord willing, we will pick up our study of the wonderful Book of John next Monday.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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