By: Brother / Rabbi Dani'el Rendelman
www.findemet.com
ravemet@comcast.net
Every year at the first of Spring there is a huge party with costumes, drinking, noisemakers, and a carnival-like atmosphere. Masks, music, and mayhem join together, not for Mardi Gras, but for Purim. Purim is the celebration of the story told in the book of Esther. In this story, good and evil struggle as Yisrael faces extermination by the wicked man Haman. Haman plots to kill all the Hebrews, but this evil plan is stopped by Esther and her cousin Mordechai. Since that time, Hebrews everywhere have celebrated this appointed time with joy and ruckus. There is much we can learn from celebrating Purim and examining the Purim story and the joy it brings.
In English Bibles, the term "joy" is often translated from the Hebrew word "simchat". Simchat in Hebrew means "mirth, gladness, and pleasure experienced by specific actions". Simcha is felt as a person does something. It is dependent upon exterior factors and is a fruit of the Spirit. Simchat is the result of celebrating Purim and worshipping YHWH. (*YHWH is the ancient Hebrew name of the Creator, revealed in Exodus, chapters 3 & 33. This term is used almost 7,000 times throughout the Bible, hidden behind the capitalized terms "LORD" and "GOD.")
The Purim story reveals the downfall of the vicious anti-Semite Haman. He was a descendent of Amalek, the traditional enemy of the Hebrews. As Prime Minister of ancient Persia, around 2300 years ago, he sought to murder all the Yisraelites in that land.
Events happen such that Haman himself plays a crucial role in the coronation of Queen Esther, after the former Queen Vashti was banished. No one realizes that Esther is a Hebrew. Haman, who has become a powerful man in the kingdom, is upset that Mordechai does not bow down to him. He succeeds in getting King Achashverosh to authorize a royal decree to annihilate an unspecified nation he claims is an enemy of the King. Initially, he does not identify the nation so that the King can later claim that he did not know that the decree was against the Yisraelites.
Haman casts lots ("pur") to determine the day this was to happen. Mordechai and Esther lead the Hebrews in a return to YHWH, through prayer and fasting. Esther invites the King and Haman to join her for dinner. In response to the king's offer of "half my kingdom for your wishes," all she asks is they come again tomorrow to another dinner "and I'll tell you, then." (She will reveal to them the reason for her invitation). The story reveals Haman working through the night to construct a gallows upon which to hang Mordechai. At daybreak, he plans to appear before the King to denounce Mordechai.
In desperation to get some sleep, the King asked his servants to read from the Royal Chronicles. The Book opens to a long forgotten story of how Mordechai discovered an assassination plot by two royal servants against the King. At the exact moment the King is inquiring whether Mordechai was rewarded for his loyalty, on the scene appears Haman.
Before getting a chance to make his request to hang Mordechai, Haman is ordered by the King to parade Mordechai through the capital city in royal garments. Immediately afterwards, a crestfallen Haman is whisked to the second Royal dinner, hosted by Esther. At the dinner, she reveals to the King that she is a Hebrew and that Haman, is an enemy of the King because he seeks to destroy the Hebrew people.
The embarrassed and angry King storms out of the room. Haman pleads to Esther for his life. He "somehow" loses his balance and falls on the couch where Esther is reclining. The King comes back at just this moment. He is very upset and explodes in anger.
The King orders Haman to be hanged on the gallows built for Mordechai. The King elevates Mordechai to Haman's recently-vacated position. Mordechai issues orders, with the King's permission, allowing the Hebrews to fight against their enemies. On the thirteenth and fourteenth days of Adar, the Yisraelites won tremendous victories and were saved from the threat of total annihilation. Since that time, we celebrate Purim in accordance with the book of Esther.
"On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and simcha (joy). As the days in which the Hebrews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned from sorrow to simcha (joy), and from mourning into a Yom-Tov (feast day): that they should make them days of feasting and simcha, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor," Esther 9:17, 22
For obvious reasons, Purim is called "the feast of happiness". It is a time of gift giving, costume parties, and celebrating the victory YHWH gives against oppression. When the story of Esther is read on Purim, it is customary to interrupt the reading with celebration. When Haman's name is read in the story, the congregation erupts in a deafening chorus of noise-makers, clanging pots, cap-guns, clapping, booing, and sirens. The congregation also applauds and celebrates when the hero, Mordechai is mentioned.
One strange, yet, traditional way to celebrate Purim is to drink wine. The Talmud says that "on Purim a person is obligated to become intoxicated to the point where he can no longer tell the difference between 'cursed be Haman' and 'blessed be Mordechai." Yes, on this one date, Judaism encourages drunkenness. Or does it?
A careful reading of the Talmudic quote will reveal that the mitzvah is not to drink wine. The commandment is to become intoxicated. Don't be mistaken. A person can be drunk without taking a drink! The joy of Purim is not found in drinking alcohol, but in elevating the Spirit! "Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh," Ephesians 5:18.
During the first Purim celebration, the scroll says the Hebrews had "simchat". It never says they drunk Manashevitz kosher wine. No wine was needed. They were simply intoxicated with YHWH's joy!! This is the real meaning of simchat. "And Mordechai went out from the presence of the melech (king) in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great keter (crown) of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was in simcha. The Hebrews had light, and gilah (rejoicing), and simcha, and kavod (glory)," Esther 8:15,16.
To have the joy of YHWH is to blur the lines of reality as a drunkard. True simchat is viewing the evil actions of Haman as equal to the righteous actions of Mordechai. Simchatsees through the "good" and the "bad" events in life to agree that YHWH is in control. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31.
In a sober state, we view Mordechai's righteousness as more beneficial than Hamaan's wicked plans. A drunken person though, cannot tell the difference between Mordechai and a monkey. As believers filled with the Ruach, we, too, should have our vision blurred. The events of life should not lead us to worry. Instead, we should agree that what may begin as evil will turn out for the good. Sober-minded people only see facts, doctor's charts, and negative bank balances. Those drunk with joy know that all things work together for the good of him that loves YHWH. This isn't a blissful existence, but an awareness that YHWH is in control. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,"Romans 8:23.
Remember too, that Purim occurs during the month of Adar, the 12th month in the Biblical calendar. The Sages have said that "our joy increases in Adar." In Hebrew, "adar" means "power, force, or strength". This proves once again the joy of YHWH is our adar strength! Just as YHWH rescued Israel from impending danger, He protects and keeps Israel today.
Simchat is a gift from YHWH that is to be manifested. Its like a seed planted inside the soul that must be watered and cared for until it grows. We are told to serve YHWH with simcha in Tehillim / Psalm 100. The dangers of not doing so are treacherous. The 27th and 28th chapters of Devarim / Deuteronomy describe the Torah and the blessings and curses presented to the nation of Yisra'el. The curses for Torah disobedience were centered on the fact that the nation did not serve YHWH in joy. "Because you did not serve YHWH your Elohim with simcha, and with gladness of lev (heart), for the abundance of all things; Therefore shall you serve your enemies that YHWH shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and He shall put a yoke of iron upon your neck, until He has destroyed you," Devarim 28:47. Clearly, joy is no laughing matter. It's a subject that needs to be taken seriously. It's a fruit that should be enjoyed like a fresh apple plucked from a tree. But, watch out for worms!
The worms of the adversary will try to corrupt the fruit of joy. Everyone knows that one bad apple spoils the bunch. Let us guard against the enemy stealing our joy. Y'shua said, "The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have chayim, and that they might have it more abundantly," Yochannan / John 10:10. This verse describes the three main ways the adversary tries to steal our simcha.
First, he wants to STEAL our joy. He does this by tricking us to live life in the past. We cannot experience life in abundance, if we walk around with regret. Too many believers are defeated because of yesterday's sins. The concerns, pains, and hurts of the past will stop simcha from flourishing.
The enemy also wants to KILL our future. He does this by whispering to us about what might happen. Fear grips the weary heart and paralyzes the saint not walking in the fruit of joy. The enemy knows he can defeat us, if we are uptight and worrisome. However, YHWH says, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you," Jeremiah 29:11
The enemy knows that if he can keep us uptight and fearful of tomorrow or living in the regret of yesterday, then he can DESTROY our present. If we are gripped by fear or pain, we cannot experience the abundant life of Y'shua. However, the enemy shouldn't defeat us because Moshiach defeated him! "For this purpose the Son of YHWH was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the adversary," 1 John / Yochannan 3:8.
Y'shua came that we might have chayim - life and life to its fullest. The connection is clear. Life comes through walking in the simcha of YHWH. On Purim we are told that each person should become intoxicated until the reality of good and bad is distorted. The traditional toast to any Hebrew cup of wine is "l'chaim" - to life! This shows that one can experience the simcha of YHWH when one is filled with the life of YHWH. L'chaim! Let us be filled with the Ruach to life and to life abundant! Trust YHWH no matter what happens. He came through for Mordechai and the Hebrews and He will come through for us!
