Commentary:
The main lesson from this week’s reading is that GOD Himself wants to dwell in the midst of us! This is the parallel we draw from the role of the tabernacle and the High Priest…

…Secondly we learn from our portion out of the prophets that obedience is greater than sacrifice. The Feast of Purim will this year (2009) be celebrated on March 9 and 10. During Purim, Jews read the Book of Esther.

These days we have another Haman who wants to annihilate the Jewish people, and he even comes from the same nation – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, formerly Persia.

Today let us pray that the ‘pur,’ the lots, will fall and rather than a planned day of destruction we will see the long awaited day of redemption of Israel as a nation! So let us continue to intercede, like Esther and Mordechai, in prayer and fasting for the welfare and safety of the Jewish people. Purim is the most joyous holiday, a day of victory!

Israelis commemorate God’s deliverance at Purim

The festival of Purim is a commemoration of Jewish deliverance from the Persian Empire, which sought their annihilation.

Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar as commanded in scripture. Jews will attend synagogues around the country and read the book of Esther.

The story of the miraculous deliverance of the Jews, scattered throughout the 127 provinces of the fifth century B.C. Persian Empire, which stretched from India to Ethiopia, is recounted in the book of Esther. God miraculously used the queen, a Jew, to intervene on behalf of her people so that the decree of the king to kill all the Jews would not be carried out. Haman the Agagite, chancellor, convinced Persian King Ahasuerus, to approve a plan to murder all the Jews in the kingdom.

In the end, God miraculously delivers the Jews from annihilation; Haman is hanged on the gallows he prepared for Queen Esther’s cousin Mordechai, who replaces him as the king’s chancellor.

The name of God doesn’t appear in the Book of Esther, but it is a story of His sovereign grace, orchestrating every detail as tragic events unfold and in the end the Jewish people are able to defend themselves and are delivered from death.

During the reading, it is customary to yell and make noise when Haman’s name is mentioned and cheer when Esther’s name is read. Jews also eat Hamantaschen or Haman’s ears, a pastry filled with a fruit, nut or chocolate mix. Children dress in costumes.

Throughout the centuries, there have been numerous attempts to destroy the Jewish people and today is no different. Today’s “Haman,” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also of Persian descent, has openly declared his plans to wipe the State of Israel off the map.

Ahmadinejad funds Islamic terrorist groups such as Hizballah, Hamas and others, and supplies them with weapons and explosives to perpetrate suicide bombings and missile attacks against Israel. At times like this, the story of Esther remains a source of great encouragement, giving Jews a sense of God’s sovereignty, perfect timing and ultimate deliverance from those who seek their destruction.

As the Jewish world once again prepares to remember the exploits of a beautiful young Jewess, Hadassah or Esther as she is more commonly known, the same spirit that was at work through the wicked Haman, is still at work in 2008. As the Jewish people celebrate this Purim, the spirit that controlled Haman, is controlling most of the world’s leaders, and using them to bring about the weakening and then destruction of the 60 year old Jewish state.

Of course most western politicians would deny that they want to see the disappearance of Israel from the world stage, but left unchecked, their pro Palestinian, pro Islam policies would ultimately bring about Israel’s demise at the hands of the Satanically driven, hate filled Islamic fundamentalists. The once Christian western nations have not only rejected God and replaced Him with science, money, sex, new age philosophy and occultism, but it seems to have embraced Allah, who is in reality, none other than Satan or at least a very high level demon. At schools in both the UK & USA, it is prohibited to pray to YHVH, the Judeo / Christian God, but Muslims are allowed to pray to Allah.

Lets go back to the original Purim …. it is Persia, now known as Iran. Haman absolutely hates the Jews of Persia and wants to destroy them. He deceives the king into hanging Mordecai who is absolutely innocent. Our heroine, Esther, finds out about Hamans evil plans to kill not just Mordecai, but all of the Jews of Persia. Even though Esther has great favour with the King, she could lose her life if she goes into the King without being summoned. Esther was desparate to save her people, so with no concern for her own life, she went to the King to intercede for Mordecai and the Jewish people of Persia. The Lord was with her and the King spared Mordecai and the Jews, instead hanging Haman on the very gallows he had erected for Mordecai. And the Jewish people have recounted that event ever since.

Back to 2008 – modern Israel is 60 years old this May. Six and a half million Jews are living in just a small portion of the land that YHVH promised to Abraham as an everlasting homeland. Sadly our Arab cousins,the descendants of Ishamel have deceived by Satan / Allah to despise the very existence of Israel, anywhere in the Middle East. They hate the Jews with every fibre of their being; They are taught to hate us from the cradle. They train their children to become terorrists and suicide bombers. Just like Haman, they are committed to Israel’s destruction. And they dont try to hide the fact. Hamas & Hizbollah refuse to acknowledge the right of Israel to exist. Iran’s president, definately a modern day Haman, publicly proclaims the imminent destruction of Israel. They won’t rest until they achieve their goal – but like Haman and all of the others who tried to destroy the Jews, it is they who will be destroyed by the all powerful God of Israel.

Now lets add one more dynamic into the situation – OIL. The gasoline hungry western world is intoxicated by the fumes of Middle East oil. When someone is under the influence of intoxicating substances, they are more open to demonic possession

This must be the explanation for the behavior of George Bush & Condalesa Rice. They both claim to be Bible believing Christians, but both show no respect whatsoever for God’s decision as to what land Israel occupies. In fact both of them are flying directly into the face of the Almighty with their no-hope, wrong way anti-Semitic Road Map. Both of them are acting as if they are being controlled by the spirit of Haman.

Yes I am picking on them – they deserve to be picked on ! And yes there are many other politicians conspiring with them, but claiming to be Christians Bush, Rice & Blair should be supporting Israel, not conspiring against Israel and the God of Israel. Bush is sending Rice back to the Middle East next week to apply even more pressure on Israel to adhere to their demands, while the Palestinians carry on with their terrorism.

One Purim is enough – we dont need a 21st century repeat ! We don’t want you here Condi – stay home! You are not Kosher. Keep her in Washington George. Give up on your lame brain scheme to keep your oil soaked Islamic buddies pumping the black gold your way. Stand with Israel and the God of Israel will bless you. But be warned – you keep trying to give YHVH’s precious land away and you and your nation will pay a very high price.

As for the real Christians out there – be an true Esther and stand up for Israel – pray, intercede, speak up, do whatever you can to defend God’s land & God’s first born sons & daughters right to live in the land YHVH has given to them. Our future depends on it …… because Jerusalem, the undivided capital city of Israel is where Yeshua is coming back to, to establish the Kingdom and rule over the whole from the Temple.

Esther 4:14 – 15 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

The Lord bless you as you bless Israel by standing in defense of her right to exist on the land given to the Jewish people by the God of Israel . Lets pray that Israel will turn back to their God. Do not be silent, but share this with your fellow Christians, share it with your pastors, and with anyone you have a chance to speak to. Lets also pray for that breakthrough to the Muslims, and please remember to pray for our son Jordan, and all of his fellow soldiers in the IDF.

Please make your voice heard by signing the petition to save Jerusalem www.savejerusalem.org

Shabbat Shalom … David & Josie