Est 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

In Esther 3:7, we read the Persians casting Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day by day to determine the most auspicious day to kill the Jews. That day was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar (Esther 3:13). Adar was the twelfth month in the Hebrew calendar. Adar falls in February/March in our calendar. Instead, on the 13th day of Adar, the Jews had their revenge on their enemies. And, the next day, they hanged the ten sons of Haman and slew of their enemies 75 000 (v.13-16). The Jews outside the palace rested on “the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness” (v.17b). While the Jews in Shushan celebrated and rested on the 15th (v.18a) Mordecai declared the 14th and 15th day of the 12th month a holiday to be celebrated yearly. The Jews named it the days of Purim, after the name of Pur (v.26). Adar is the happiest, most joyous month of the Hebrew calendar because of the celebration of Purim. Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from their enemies. It is celebrated with joyous feasting, sending gifts of food and drinks, and giving charity to the poor (v.22). Purim reminds me of how the world celebrates Christmas – joyous feasting, holiday, sending gifts and giving to charity. Well, I’m not going to talk about Christmas; I’m going to talk about Thanksgiving.  Purim is giving thanks to God for delivering them from their enemies who were out to destroy them. It is a joyous event. It is remembering God’s goodness by doing good to others. The Bible has plenty to say about giving thanks. Giving thanks is about showing gratitude and who do we owe more than to God. The Psalmist says: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4). Why Do We Need To Give Thanks? 1. Because we remember His mercy: “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 107:1). Giving thanks is more than simply saying, Thank You; it is showing gratitude. We show gratitude to God by our worship and service (Luke 6:46). 2. God expects us to be thankful. Once, Jesus healed ten lepers. But only one returned to give thanks to Him. Jesus said: “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17). The apostle Paul wrote: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is the will of God that we be thankful. 3. God expects us to return His favour. “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High” (Psalm 50:14). Didn’t we promise to worship and serve God? (Matthew 4:4). We serve God by serving others. James says this is how we should be practising our religion: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). The Jews remembered the poor in the midst of their feasting; they would give to them. When we are enjoying our food, do we remember those who are hungry? When we are admiring our beautiful houses, do we remember the homeless? When we are having wonderful time with our children, do we remember the orphans? Purim is thanksgiving and the Jews did all those good works. Let us do likewise. God has blessed us; let us bless others.