Now that the battles were
over, the Jews were at rest, feasting, and full of gladness. Their
victory over their enemies was great, and it was time to celebrate.
In chapter nine and verse nineteen we see the beginning of what would
become an annual feast that was established because of their
triumphs. We read:
Therefore the Jews of
the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth
day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a
good day, and of sending portions one to another.
The
verse begins, “Therefore the Jews of the villages, that
dwelt in the unwalled towns,...” When
we read this portion of the verse the idea of “villages” and
“unwalled towns” may not have a full impact upon us without some
explanation. “Villages”
were in reference to people who lived as rural and hamlet-dwellers.
People who lived in “unwalled towns” were those who lived in open
regions, hamlets, unwalled villages, and stayed in open country. In
other words, they were not as safe as those who lived in fortified
cities that were surrounded with walls. People who lived in these
regions were much more subject to attack from enemies than those who
were somewhat safe inside protective walls.
The verse goes on to say,
“made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of
gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to
another.” The victory for the
Jews was so widespread that even the villages and unwalled towns were
able to establish the fourteenth of Adar as a day of gladness,
feasting, a good day and sending “portions”
to one another. In other words they celebrated and sent portions of
food to one another.
There
is a time for battle, and there is a time for celebration afterwards.
The battle was completed by the Jews over their enemies, and the time
for celebration and remembrance was upon them. The fourteenth day of
Adar would never be the same again because even those who were the
least safe among them were now secure. As we ponder this verse
perhaps we will be reminded of victories that have been won in our
lives. Have we celebrated because of them? Have we established annual
times of remembrance to commemorate and remind us of past victories
that have been enjoyed because the Lord Jesus intervened in our
lives? Maybe as we think back over our past triumphs we should take
the time to enjoy our victories and be reminded that God is with us
in our current battles, and He will be with us in the ones we face in
the future.
Next
time we will see Mordecai write a letter to the Jews, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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