Praying God's Word Wednesday #40: Purim - Lauren Sparks

Today marks the beginning of the Jewish celebration of Purim.  This holiday commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman.  The biblical book of Esther tells the entire story.

In my daily office (time with the Lord) I am currently studying the book of Esther.  I love this story.  I have read it before, but only recently came to know that people still celebrate it today.  And celebrate big!  Folks dress up in silly costumes, lavish money on the poor, send gifts of food to friends, eat a sumptuous meal and drink too much.  It is a time of gaity as Jewish people denounce plots to destroy their people and remember the resilience of their ancestors.

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14 NASB

Queen Esther’s cousin Haman was pleading with her to go before the king and inform him of the plot to kill the Jews while asking him to spare them (and herself – she was Jewish).  In his appeal he indicates that maybe she was made queen in order to save her people in this very moment.  None of my relatives have royal blood, but I still see parallels.  My prayer:

If you have never read the story of Esther for yourself, study it this week (it’s not long).  And while you’re there, look for ways the story points us to Jesus – even though it happened hundreds of years before His birth.  You will be blessed.

Replace the pronouns with the appropriate ones for the person (or yourself) that you are praying for.

Praying for you in this.  And don’t forget to share on social media or with a friend who could benefit.  It would mean so much to me.  And if you don’t want to miss a Praying God’s Word Wednesday, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.