Observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

Esther 9:17-10:3

Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 

These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.

Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

In commemoration of the nation's deliverance, the 14th and 15th Adar became annual feast days, preceded by a fast on the 13th. To this day the Jews celebrate Purim, reading the book of Esther aloud, and remembering many more recent miracles of deliverance. 

The final historical notes, attesting the good use Mordecai made of his power, seem to have been added later.

Why?

Not only observe the days of feasting and joy but also giving the present of good to one another and gifts to the poor. Celebration day is not only enjoying ourselves but help the needed people.

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這事以後，到下一代，是否還會記得?或是已經忘記那份得救的喜樂。宴客，可是窮人可能無法宴客，所以要幫助窮人，大家一起快樂。這才是真正的重要。所以莫底改寫信給全猶太人。教會是整體。

以斯帖又寫一封信，等於朝廷認證，成為國定紀念日。加了一項要禁食，即不能只是歡樂，要知道因為以斯帖帶領禁食，以感恩的心來享受宴席。先敬拜神，幫助窮人，一起享受宴席，相當於獻平安祭。感恩不要只是口頭感恩。如現在許多人過聖誕節，卻不知道耶穌。

守節出現多次，不可忘記。囑咐出現3次。生活平順，沒有危險，這就是神的恩典。豈要等到我們面臨死亡、黑暗中得救才算是，才記得。我們受洗那天就是脫離黑暗了。

被統治者當上宰相，很稀罕，為猶太人求好處。正如約瑟，但以理也一樣。無論客觀環境多麼差，身份如何低，神可以使人高升。他們都是因為敬畏神，因此散發出不一樣的生命，因此被破格利用。不是國家民族大義的高帽下委曲求全。他們的工作與耶穌彌賽亞有關。，有他們才有耶穌的出生。

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How?

Christmas day is a giving day to warm up the poor and needed people.