JD: We're talking about Purim. I want to remind everybody this is not one of the seven feast found in Leviticus 23 but this is a different feast. Purim as recorded in the book of Esther is a very special holy day for the Jewish people. You know that book of Esther Steve is very very unique. Share from a Jewish background what's unique about Esther.
SH: The unique part of the book of Esther and one to me that actually makes it very powerful is the fact that God's name is not mentioned even once in the book nor is it ever mentioned that is the book in the New Testament. Yet I would submit to you that it is a very important book because it speaks of the providence of God.
The book of Esther is one that depicts what I call a one minute to midnight moment for the particular person. In this book we have Esther who is a cousin to Mordecai. Haman says there's a certain people to King Ahasuerus they are unique and we have to get rid of them because they are no good for you. What was Esther going to do? That was a one minute to midnight moment. Purim is really a celebration of the saving of God even though His name wasn't even mentioned. It's a marvelous story Jimmy.
If Purim didn't happen, in other word if Haman was successful you and I know very well the Lord Jesus would have never been born because Haman would have succeeded and wiped out all the Jews and the seeds that God promised back in Genesis 3 would not have been born. So this particular feast day or holiday for the Jewish people though God's name wasn't mentioned His name was at stake. You and I know there's victory.
JD: Steve Herzig telling us the details of the Jewish holy day of Purim and why Purim had to happen so that Jesus could come to this world.
We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
The history of Purim in the Old Testament book of Esther is key to why this Jewish holy day is a time of remembrance on how a Jewish lady who was married to a Gentile king for such a time as that some 2,500 years ago was able to save the Jewish people from total annihilation. Though Esther feared for her life she decided if I perish I perish. And that attitude saved the Jewish nation so that Jesus Christ could come to be the Messiah of the Jewish people and their King forever, which is God's plan that if found in Bible prophecy.
