THE FAST OF ESTHER
...the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:8
Saturday 27th February...the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:8
This time last week we were shivering in the snow and this week we are sweltering in an unseasonable sharav. The temperature hit 28 degrees C in Tel Aviv on Friday, necessitating the stopping of the Tel Aviv marathon early, as several runners had to be treated for severe heat stroke. Others flocked to the beaches - and all this in February which is normally our coldest winter month. Although such 20 degrees swings in temperature are not unusual in spring, it is bizarre at this time of year. Today (Saturday) it is cooler but still very spring-like and I am enjoying the sunshine on my balcony as I write.
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| On a Tel Aviv beach Friday http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4631621,00.html |
In just two hours our Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu will make his controversial address to the US Congress on the matter of Iran's nuclear program. The Obama administration is reported to be 'furious' that Netanyahu was invited to address Congress by the Republican Speaker, John Boehner, without either party informing the White House. Netanyahu has been criticized both in the USA and at home for accepting this invitation, just two weeks ahead of our elections. However until then he is still our Prime Minister and world events do not stop even for our elections.
On the eve of his departure for the US, Netanya said this, "Israel and the United States agree that Iran shouldn't have nuclear weapons. But we disagree on the best way to prevent them from developing those weapons." http://news.yahoo.com/israel-pm-netanyahu-takes-off-historic-us-mission-132110917.html Netanyahu is of the opinion that the deal likely to be brokered with Iran at the end of this month is extremely dangerous for Israel, and his speech is intended to sway US opinion away from signing it. Without knowing the terms of the proposed deal, it is hard to know if he is right or not, or whether this affront to the Obama administration might not backfire to our detriment. Opinion here is divided, but we do all agree that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear arms and must be stopped. We also believe that Iran's word is not to be trusted, and that they have not stopped threatening to destroy Israel and the whole western world. How can you negotiate with a nation like that?
It is interesting to note that Netanyahu's speech will be given just a few hours before the beginning of Ta'anit Ester, the Fast of Esther, which commemorates the 3 day fast of Esther before she confronted the Emperor of Persia, Ahasuerus, in her attempt to save the people of Israel from destruction at his hands. The Ancient Empire of Persia was centered geographically and politically on the region we now know as Iran.
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| http://ancientweb.org/images/explore/Persia_Map_Empire.jpg |
We can read the whole story in the book of Esther, which is read in its entirety in all Jewish synagogues at this time of the Feast of Purim. King Ahasuerus decreed that every Jewish person should be killed because they refused to bow down to his image, which would have constituted idolatry, forbidden by their LORD.
In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. Esther 3:12-13When he heard of this, Esther's uncle Mordecai, came to her and said,
"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14
On that occasion Israel was saved by a courageous woman, Esther, who interceded on behalf of her people. Are you willing to be an 'Esther' today and pray to our God for the rescue of Israel from all the many enemies bent on our destruction?
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| Netanyahu prays at the Western Wall before his departure to the US. http://thedemocrate.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/112.jpg |
