These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor.
Esther 9:22b NET
Purim is a Jewish holiday commemorating a time when God delivered them from destruction during the rule of the Persian empire. The book of Esther describes the threat they faced as well as their deliverance. And at the end of the book, the festival of Purim was established as a remembrance of their deliverance.
This day was to be a holiday–a day for feasting, expressing joy, and giving gifts to one another. But it was also a time to remember the poor, those who did not have the resources to party and send gifts. And for whom happiness may have been in short supply. This provision would ensure that Purim could be a time of celebration for everyone.
Celebrating with Generosity
Christmas is coming in a couple of days. There is no mandate in the Scripture that we celebrate the birth of our Lord. His birth probably was not on December 25th. And the Christmas season has been largely converted into a secular season of excess, far removed from a Christian day of remembrance. You may even wonder if it is appropriate for Christians to celebrate Christmas.
But if the Jews were to remember this day of deliverance from their history, I see no reason why believers in the Lord Jesus cannot celebrate the coming of our Lord, who brought light into a world of darkness. It was a significant event in our history and well worth remembering.
However, as we celebrate, we should not forget the admonition to remember those who are less fortunate. Provide for the poor, enabling them to celebrate with joy as well. Generosity to those who have little should be a distinguishing mark of believers. But even more so as we celebrate the great gift God gave us on that first Christmas morning.
