20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.
Esther 9:20-28
When people celebrate, they often indulge themselves in all kinds of lust. They drink, and they party all night. The celebration here in Esther is not lustful but purposeful. Their feast was likely not only for them to enjoy but also as a treat for the poor. They sent gifts to others, not themselves, and they helped the poor. This kind of celebration is more enjoyable. Christians do not celebrate Purim, but we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.
Let’s celebrate this by helping those who are in need daily.
The purpose of the celebration of Purim was so that the Jews would not forget. That was why Mordecai recorded this story, sent letters to all the Jews, and made them promise they would keep these two days. I think he asked the Jews to remember this because it was the right thing to do.
We should not forget what others have done for us, especially when they have put themselves in great danger to help us. Let us always remember those who preached the Gospel to us, led us, and spoke to you the word of God. (Hebrews 13:7)
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