Blessed Purim

Purim is the festival where the Jews celebrate their deliverance from the hands of Haman the Agagite. (Hence the Purim pastry “Hamantaschen” – Haman’s hat/ears). Today is the eve of Shabbat, and also a one-day Fast of Esther to commemorate the brave Jewish woman who risked her life to save her people. God had placed her in the position as Queen of all the Persian Empire for the salvation of His people.

Purim is the start of the early year Jewish High Holidays, including arguably the most well-known, Passover.

Today of all days, and this weekend of  all weekends, and Shabbat of all Shabbats, should be a great time of fasting as well as feasting, joy as well as mourning, supplication as well as thanksgiving. It is at this time the Songs of Ascent take on new and vivid meaning to me.

“In my distress, I cried to Ha Shem, and He heard me.” Psalm 120

“I will lift up mine eyes to the hill – from whence comes my help?” Psalm 121

“Pray for the peace of Yerushalayim” Ps 122

“Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens” Ps 123

“If it had not been Ha Shem who was on our side, when men rose up against up, then they would have swallowed us alive!” Ps 124

“Those who trust in Ha Shem are like Mt. Zion, which can never be moved, but abides forever” Ps 124

“When Ha Shem brought back the captivity of Zion” Ps 126

And so on. These Songs of Ascent are eternally significant and are reminders of the truth of Ha Shem that prevails, of His love for His people Israel (He really loves them so much!) and of His greatness.

My mother Esther has written all these Songs of Ascents into song  and placed them for free download here. I encourage you to pray for Israel even more as they gear up for these significant feasts and holidays. Pray with me that this Purim Ha Shem will show Himself strong and powerful on behalf of Israel. This Passover, remember that as Jeremiah the prophet said, one day Ha Shem will not be remembered primarily as the God who took them out of the land of Egypt, but who gathered them out of all the four corners to the earth to bring them back into their own land.

We can only imagine what Queen Esther and Mordechai prayed during the great turmoil they went through the days of the fast, the grief and the crying out to Ha Shem, the distress they were in, and then Ha Shem’s deliverance. These Songs of Ascent remind us of Ha Shem’s Salvation and His mercy.