The Jewish Celebration called Purim is March 6 – March 7, 2023. It’s important to know this celebration is a result of the King’s orders found in the book of Esther once Haman’s plot was uncovered and the Jewish people were saved. Because of Esther’s bravery, her people were saved and the Jewish were able to overtake their enemies.
Purim is celebrated during the Jewish month of Adar (which officially started the evening of February 21.
The following word is meant to coincide and bring clarity to the current season shifting. As always, please pray to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit as this word is only given in part and meant to bring understanding, comfort and exhortation.
THE PALACE GARDEN
The book of Esther opens with King Xerxes throwing a celebration for 180 days that was for his nobles and officials. However, at the end of that celebration, the king gave a banquet for all the people who were in the fortress for seven days that was held in the courtyard of the palace garden.
“When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden. The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king’s generosity. By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king has instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.”
Esther 1:5-8, New Living Translation
The more I have heard this word regarding the season of Purim, I have been focused on the king’s palace garden. During this celebration, the king was exalting his people and was celebrating among them with no limits.
Just as I heard during the start of 2023, I continue to learn that there are no limits during His banquet. This season with each well-spring of revival breaking out, is continued proof that the King has set the table and is asking His bride to come and dine.
His bride, you and I, are welcomed in. So, come and sit. Feast on Him as He delights in you. The imagery I continue to see is in line with the book of Esther and God’s original place of intimacy with His people – the garden.
It is no coincidence that during this season of Purim, God is calling His bride to the garden to come and dine. The wine – His Spirit – is being poured out in a limitless measure. Just as Jesus performed His first miracle of turning water to wine at the Wedding in Canaan, God is continuing to serve the best in our latter days. The new wine He is pouring out on His people during this season, is not like anything we have seen or experienced.
This wine is proof of God’s generosity and kindness towards His people. The best for last, I hear the Spirit say.
LET US RETURN
“Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden. Haman, however, stayed behind to plead for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew that the king intended to kill him. In despair he fell on the couch where Queen Esther was reclining, just as the king was returning from the palace garden.”
Esther 7:7-8, New Living Translation, emphasis mine
“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:1-3, New International Version, emphasis mine
The time to return to the Lord is now. Many have felt that His distance is permanent, but He is drawing closer as we draw closer to Him. There is something in the atmosphere during this time that is sparking the hearts of those who have been drawn away. It is the ushering of the Holy Spirit calling the distant back. Just as the king went into the palace garden upon hearing the news of Haman’s plot to kill the Jewish people, God is coming back for our adversaries. He is holy, righteous and just in His doing. What seemed torn and broken, he is healing and binding. He is reviving, restoring and appearing to His people in a greater measure than we thought possibly.
Make way for His glory. Make way for the King.
THE MARRIAGE CARRIAGE
“Who is this one ascending from the wilderness in the pillar of the glory cloud? He is fragrant with the anointing oils of myrrh and frankincense – more fragrant than all the spices of the merchant. Look! It is the king’s marriage carriage – the love seat surrounded by sixty champions, the mightiest of Israel’s host, are like pillars of protection. They stand ready with swords to defend the king and his fiancée from every terror of the night. The king made his mercy seat for himself out of the finest wood that will not decay. Pillars of smoke, like silver mist – a canopy of golden glory dwells above it. The place where they sit together is sprinkled with crimson. Love and mercy cover this carriage, blanketing his tabernacle throne. The king himself has made it for those who will become his bride. Rise up, Zion maidens, brides-to-be! Come and feast your eyes on this king as he passes in procession on his way to his wedding. This day is filled with overwhelming joy – the day of his great gladness. Song of Songs 3:6-11, The Passion Translation
For several days, while prepping my heart and mind to write this word, the phrase “the marriage carriage” has been repeated over and over. I believe over the coming weeks more around this phrase and passage will be released for me to write on. However, I want to tie in the foundation of it during the Purim celebrations.
The King is coming with His marriage carriage ready for His bride. Be a ready bride – stunning, desirable and longing for her King. The closer we get to the arrival of Jesus, the more this word surrounds our hearts. He is coming – maranatha!
THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS
For several days while praying on the fullness of this word, I have heard the word “plunder.” Plunder is often used as a reflection of the enemy and their takings. In Esther chapter 9, we see many times that the Jews did not take the plunder of the enemies they were killing. At the beginning of this chapter, we see the Jews taking the upper hand on their enemies and going from city to city killing those who were originally plotted by Haman to overtake them. However, because of Esther’s revelation and the king’s verdict, the Jews were able to take their enemies over and kill them. But, the Jews did not take their enemy’s plunder.
The longer I sat with the Holy Spirit on this portion, the more I understood that even though the Jews had the right to their enemies’ plunder, they knew their source was not found there. Sometimes the reward of the righteous looks different than the expectation of plunder.
Your reward in this season is not based on the enemy, but on the recompense of the Lord. Yahweh sees you, He knows you and He is rewarding you. You will not be dependent on the enemy for your returning portion. You will see the glory of the Lord manifest in your reward because of your faithfulness despite the plots of the enemy.
“The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. That is why rural Jews – those living in villages – observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.”
Esther 9:15-19, New International Version, emphasis mine
Friends, I pray this time of Purim opened your eyes to see the beauty of the feast now and coming in your life. It’s such an exciting time to be at work in the Kingdom of God.
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