Purim is a very two-toned holiday. Curiously joined to the joyful celebrations is the solemn act of fasting. One minute pious and contemplative, the next abandoned to laughter, sweets, and noise. Lots of noise.
As the holiday approaches, I usually try to plan for the celebration side of things. The baking, decorations, dressing up, kids’ crafts or cute printables. In my mind, the holiday is like a casual masquerade ball with story time and lots of cookies. But behind the hamentaschen and noise making, behind the glittery masks and happy fellowship, this year my heart was struck once again by the very profound aspects of the holiday.
A woman was willing to endanger her life to do God’s will, to risk her own in the hope of saving others.
An entire people group was nearly annihilated—legally, if that doesn’t add to the insult!—and had to fight to defend themselves in order to survive.
An ancient enemy found a foothold in a modern society and nearly won.
These are the things I want to dwell upon as Purim approaches every spring. Not just the party—although there is definitely occasion to celebrate!—but also the danger. There is danger that others in our world are facing right now which I am presently immune to, spoiled in my easy American comforts and securities. Both Hadassah and the Messiah were willing to subject themselves to danger in order to save others. I want to focus on preparing my heart to be ready for whatever moment God puts in front of me and asks me to show up for, selflessly. I want to be ready for the sacrifice.
I also want to be ready for the fight. This might be a little taboo in our society right now, specifically with the way the political climate is turning, but I think everyone can agree that there is a time to fight, even if it is debated precisely when that time is to be found. As many examples in biblical history can attest, God sometimes calls his people to rise up and fight, to take action for truth and goodness and the vulnerable, and even at times for their own survival. It was this type of situation the Jews in Persia found themselves in. Should they have thrown up their hands, surrendered their lives and let evil win? Should they have permitted the lineage of the Messiah to be cut off by the son of an ancient enemy? Thankfully, another law was passed that permitted the Jews to fight, to defend their lives and livelihood, to preserve an entire people group.
I cringe at the thought of surrendering to the enemy what God expects me to defend and fight for.
My prayer heading into Purim this year, then, is for the courage to both take up arms and lay them down, and the wisdom to know when each is required. I want to be ready for the fight as well as the self-sacrifice. We find both present in the story of Esther and in the life of our Messiah. Jesus/Yeshua flipped tables in the temple, he spoke up for the vulnerable and needy, and he opposed the enemy. Then he prayed in the garden, submitted to his Father, and carried his cross. The instrument of his own death, up to the hill where he would surrender his life for us. The verses below can help us meditate on both aspects of this calling as we strive to be like Him.
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’” Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)
“Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.” I Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” Matthew 5:38-42 (ESV)
“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Hebrews 12:4 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“He (the antichrist) shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” Daniel 11:32 (ESV)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)
“Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.’” Esther 4:13-16 (ESV)
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