故事的完结──还是未完的故事？
以斯帖记九章19至32节
19所以住无城墙乡村的犹大人，如今都以亚达月十四日为设筵欢乐的吉日，彼此餽送礼物。
20末底改记录这事，写信与亚哈随鲁王各省远近所有的犹大人，
21嘱咐他们每年守亚达月十四、十五两日，
22以这月的两日为犹大人脱离仇敌得平安、转忧为喜、转悲为乐的吉日。在这两日设筵欢乐，彼此餽送礼物，赒济穷人。
23于是，犹大人按着末底改所写与他们的信，应承照初次所守的守为永例。
24是因犹大人的仇敌亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼，设谋杀害犹大人，掣普珥，就是掣签，为要杀尽灭绝他们。
25这事报告于王，王便降旨使哈曼谋害犹大人的恶事，归到他自己的头上，并吩咐把他和他的众子都挂在木架上。
26照着普珥的名字，犹大人就称这两日为普珥日。他们因这信上的话，又因所看见、所遇见的事，
27就应承自己与后裔，并归附他们的人，每年按时必守这两日，永远不废。
28各省各城、家家户户、世世代代记念遵守这两日，使这普珥日在犹大人中不可废掉，在他们后裔中也不可忘记。
29亚比孩的女儿王后以斯帖和犹大人末底改，以全权写第二封信，坚嘱犹大人守这普珥日。
30用和平诚实话写信给亚哈随鲁王国中一百二十七省所有的犹大人，
31劝他们按时守这普珥日，禁食呼求，是照犹大人末底改和王后以斯帖所嘱咐的，也照犹大人为自己与后裔所应承的。
32以斯帖命定守普珥日，这事也记录在书上。
信息分享
末底改和以斯帖期望同胞不要忘掉神保护他们的恩典，正如我们在第九章看见，他们定了一个「普珥日」。「普珥」的希伯来文解作「掣签」。昔日，哈曼和他的谋士利用掣签的方法，来选定一个歼灭犹大人的吉日（见三7）。末底改和以斯帖敦促犹大同胞，永不忘记神的保护，拯救他们脱离哈曼所定的阴谋。
这个「普珥日」便成了犹大人的一个盛大的感恩纪念日，往后多年，他们一直守这节。基督在世的时候，曾经守过不少节期，却从没特别提及守这节。可能那时这节庆已被废除。不过，基督却为我们设立了另一个纪念日──就是我们称为的「主餐」。祂设立主餐，是要我们记念祂为我们受死。也有人称它为「圣餐」，其原意就是感恩。我们当存着感恩的心领受，记念主的死，「直等到主来」。
以斯帖记记述了一个不寻常的事例，神一直深爱和保护祂的百姓，描述神如何恩待祂的百姓，和我们如何信靠祂，从今直到永远，这给我们强有力的激励。彭柯丽（Corrie Ten Boom）说得好：「不要害怕将未知的将来，交在那位我们已认识的神的手中。」我们在人生路上，可能遇到苦难和试炼，然而，在神的家中，有一个荣耀的将来等待着每个神的儿女，永远与基督同在。让我们颂赞神的慈爱和怜悯。
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.