You Remember What You Take the Time to Celebrate

Esther 9:20-10:3  Click here for Bible Verses

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Esther 9:20-10:3.  Let’s go!

Esther 9:20-22 (NIV) 
²⁰  Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far,
²¹  to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar
²²  as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 

On 9:20-32:  It might sound incredibly trite and obvious to say, but I’ll say it anyway: when we don’t take a moment to remember, we forget.  That is, when we don’t take the time to recall and celebrate the great things God has done in our lives, we can just as easily forget that He did anything for us at all.  That is why here in these verses Mordecai and Esther use their influence to require every Jewish family in every province and city and in every generation to take the time to remember and celebrate how God turned the Jews’ sorrow into joy when He protected them from Haman’s genocide plan.  This two day festival would become known as the Jewish Feast of Purim.

That is also why Jesus told his disciples to observe communion and why we gather as a church family every week to worship: it’s to remember and celebrate what Jesus Christ has done for us.  For you remember what you take the time to celebrate.

Esther 10:3 (NIV) 
³  Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. 

On 10:1-3:  Here Mordecai is remembered as one of the great figures in Jewish history because he “worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews” (v3).  We have someone even greater who worked for our good and spoke up for our welfare.  His name is Jesus Christ.  Whereas Mordecai and Esther helped to save the Jews temporarily, Jesus saves us forever.  Whereas Mordecai and Esther helped secure the Jews’ lives on earth, Jesus secures our eternity in heaven.   Whereas Mordecai and Esther both risked their lives for their people, Jesus gave his life for us.  Since what Jesus did for us is even greater than what Mordecai and Esther did for the Jews, may we hold Jesus our Saviour in even higher esteem and give Him the highest praise we can give.

A Final Word on Esther
This ends our look at the book of Esther.  What was the most important lesson you learned from this book?  I encourage you to look back and thank God for all the lessons we learned together in the book of Esther.  Take the time to celebrate God’s goodness and wisdom in your life!

Heavenly Father, You are worth celebrating.  Your works are worth celebrating.  Every day may I take the time to remember and celebrate Your Son Jesus and His great works in my life.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!