What connections exist between Esther 9:21 and other biblical feasts or commemorations? Setting the Scene—Esther 9:21 “to establish among them a certain time annually, the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar” Shared Themes with Older Feasts • Deliverance by God – Passover (Exodus 12:1-13): rescue from Egypt – Purim (Esther 9:1-19): rescue from annihilation in Persia – Both memorialize salvation accomplished without human merit but by divine intervention. • Joyful Celebration – Deuteronomy 16:14 links joy to the pilgrimage festivals; Esther 9:22 mirrors this with “days of feasting and joy.” – Nehemiah 8:10 commands, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”; Purim turns mourning into gladness in the same spirit. • Sharing with Others – Deuteronomy 16:11,14 urges including the needy during feasts; Esther 9:22 prescribes “sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” – The social mandate in both underscores covenant community life. Calendar Connections • Two-Day Observance – Unique among feasts: Purim spans Adar 14-15. – Passover evening on 14 Nisan transitions into Unleavened Bread on 15 Nisan (Leviticus 23:5-6). Both sets begin on the 14th and extend into the 15th of a month, highlighting rest after deliverance. • Final Month vs. First Month – Purim closes the sacred year (Adar); Passover opens it (Nisan). Redemption thus bookmarks Israel’s calendar—from Exodus to Persia’s court. Legal Status and Precedent • Post-Torah Institution – Like the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah, John 10:22), Purim was ordained after Moses yet recognized as authoritative Scripture. – Demonstrates God’s ongoing right to add commemorations that uphold His deliverances. • “Throughout Every Generation” – Esther 9:28 echoes language used for Passover (Exodus 12:14) and the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29,31), placing Purim alongside Torah-given holy days in permanence. Echoes in Later Worship • Psalms of Triumph – Psalm 124: “If the LORD had not been on our side…” fits both the Exodus and Esther narratives, becoming liturgical expression for divine rescue. • Anticipation of Ultimate Deliverance – Purim’s theme of reversal anticipates the cross, where “the handwriting of ordinances” was overturned (Colossians 2:14). – The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) parallels Passover and, by extension, every feast of deliverance, as believers “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” Practical Takeaways for Today • Remember God’s Faithfulness—set apart time to rehearse His past rescues. • Celebrate with Generosity—Purim’s sharing spirit models giving to the needy during our rejoicing. • Anticipate Final Victory—the pattern of deliverance culminating in joy assures us that every threat against God’s people will ultimately be reversed. |
    |