Lessons from Esther: Remember

20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, 21 To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 23  And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; 24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;  

25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, 27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year; 28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. Esther 9:20-28

Mordecai again writes letters to all the Jews in all 127 provinces. This time the letter is a communication of good news. He is recapping the story of the last year.

He begins by reminding them of Haman’s dastardly deed. Mordecai tells about the queen and her appeal to the king. He tells the whole account. His main purpose is to keep every detail in the forefront of their minds. He wants the 14^th and 15^th of Adar to be established as a special feast day. Not just for the current year but to celebrate yearly and to keep it as a memorial for generations to come. Mordecai wants the Jewish nation to never, ever forget what happened. The celebrating is for them to share their blessings by “sending portions” to each other and giving “gifts to the poor.” Along with the giving the story of Queen Esther is to be shared. Even though the name of God is not mentioned He wants them to realize why they were victorious.

The Jewish people still celebrate Purim. This year it is March 15-16. The main reason is to remember. Remember what God did for the nation.

How about you? Are there things that you need to remember?

Remember where God found you.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalm 40:2

Remember what Jesus did for you.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Remember God’s love for you.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

perfect in love. I John 4:10

We love him, because he first loved us. I John 4:19

A few “remembering” quotes:

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. ~ George Santayana

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. ~ Benjamin Franklin

We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history. ~ Sonia Johnson

Have a blessed day,
Donna