Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another. v.19
Read chapter 9
Sounds a little bit like how we celebrate Christmas today with gladness, feasting and sending presents to one another. Although this celebration wasn't a birthday party like Christmas is of Jesus being born man, but was a celebration of rest from the enemies of the Jews. This was a spontaneous celebration, no one had to tell them what to do or how to celebrate, but then this celebration turns into a tradition and holiday to be celebrated every year for the generations of the Jews to come. For one day (two in the capitol) the Jews defended themselves and killed 75,800 people. This wasn't an ongoing battle till someone surrendered, it was the one day that was decreed to defend and fight back against anyone that would try to kill them. Battle isn't fun and glorious whether you're doing the killing or not, it's scary, traumatizing, anxious ridden. Surely after the day of battle they couldn't help but celebrate the Lord getting them through it, even though they knew they would. When we get past warlike situations in our own lives we see what God has done and ought to stop and celebrate. Hardships and celebrations go hand in hand. Their sorrow was turned into a holiday to remember and not forget their liberation. How do you celebrate when God has gotten you through hard situations? Why do you think giving of gifts occurs in this type of situation?
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