故事的完結──還是未完的故事？
以斯帖記九章19至32節
19所以住無城牆鄉村的猶大人，如今都以亞達月十四日為設筵歡樂的吉日，彼此餽送禮物。
20末底改記錄這事，寫信與亞哈隨魯王各省遠近所有的猶大人，
21囑咐他們每年守亞達月十四、十五兩日，
22以這月的兩日為猶大人脫離仇敵得平安、轉憂為喜、轉悲為樂的吉日。在這兩日設筵歡樂，彼此餽送禮物，賙濟窮人。
23於是，猶大人按著末底改所寫與他們的信，應承照初次所守的守為永例。
24是因猶大人的仇敵亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼，設謀殺害猶大人，掣普珥，就是掣籤，為要殺盡滅絕他們。
25這事報告於王，王便降旨使哈曼謀害猶大人的惡事，歸到他自己的頭上，並吩咐把他和他的眾子都掛在木架上。
26照著普珥的名字，猶大人就稱這兩日為普珥日。他們因這信上的話，又因所看見、所遇見的事，
27就應承自己與後裔，並歸附他們的人，每年按時必守這兩日，永遠不廢。
28各省各城、家家戶戶、世世代代記念遵守這兩日，使這普珥日在猶大人中不可廢掉，在他們後裔中也不可忘記。
29亞比孩的女兒王后以斯帖和猶大人末底改，以全權寫第二封信，堅囑猶大人守這普珥日。
30用和平誠實話寫信給亞哈隨魯王國中一百二十七省所有的猶大人，
31勸他們按時守這普珥日，禁食呼求，是照猶大人末底改和王后以斯帖所囑咐的，也照猶大人為自己與後裔所應承的。
32以斯帖命定守普珥日，這事也記錄在書上。
信息分享
末底改和以斯帖期望同胞不要忘掉神保護他們的恩典，正如我們在第九章看見，他們定了一個「普珥日」。「普珥」的希伯來文解作「掣籤」。昔日，哈曼和他的謀士利用掣籤的方法，來選定一個殲滅猶大人的吉日（見三7）。末底改和以斯帖敦促猶大同胞，永不忘記神的保護，拯救他們脫離哈曼所定的陰謀。
這個「普珥日」便成了猶大人的一個盛大的感恩紀念日，往後多年，他們一直守這節。基督在世的時候，曾經守過不少節期，卻從沒特別提及守這節。可能那時這節慶已被廢除。不過，基督卻為我們設立了另一個紀念日──就是我們稱為的「主餐」。祂設立主餐，是要我們記念祂為我們受死。也有人稱它為「聖餐」，其原意就是感恩。我們當存著感恩的心領受，記念主的死，「直等到主來」。
以斯帖記記述了一個不尋常的事例，神一直深愛和保護祂的百姓，描述神如何恩待祂的百姓，和我們如何信靠祂，從今直到永遠，這給我們強有力的激勵。彭柯麗（Corrie Ten Boom）說得好：「不要害怕將未知的將來，交在那位我們已認識的神的手中。」我們在人生路上，可能遇到苦難和試煉，然而，在神的家中，有一個榮耀的將來等待著每個神的兒女，永遠與基督同在。讓我們頌讚神的慈愛和憐憫。
THE END OF THE STORY - OR IS IT?
Esther 9:19-32
19 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.
20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,
21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,
22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,
24 because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them;
25 but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26 So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,
27 the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,
28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.
29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.
30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.
32 So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.
Message
As far as we know Esther continued as Queen until the sudden death by assassination of Xerxes in BC 465. And the Jews rejoiced in the goodness of God in protecting them in such a remarkable way.
Mordecai and Esther were anxious that these acts of God in protecting His people should never be forgotten. As you read the ninth chapter, you will have seen the institution of the Feast of Purim. The word comes from the Hebrew word “pur” meaning the casting of the lot. Haman and his friends did that when he was trying to decide when would be the best time to destroy all the Jews in one day (see 3:7). Mordecai and Esther urged the Jewish people never to forget the protection of God in delivering them from the plot Haman had engineered.
The Feast of Purim became a great memorial thanksgiving day and was celebrated for many years afterwards. Christ attended a number of feasts while He was on earth but this one is not specifically mentioned. It may have fallen into disuse by then. He did give us, however, a feast to remember - we call it “the Lord’s Table”. He gave it to us to remind us of His death for us. There are those who call it the “Eucharist” which actually means thanksgiving and that should be our attitude as we remember the Lord’s death “until He comes”.
The story of Esther is an unusual instance of God’s continuing love and protection of His own people. It should be a powerful encouragement to us as an illustration of how God cares for His people and how we can trust Him now and always. Corrie Ten Boom said it well, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Our pathway may include suffering and testing but there is a glorious end awaiting every child of God in our Father’s house, with Christ for all eternity. Let us praise God today for all His love and mercy.