Esther 4:16, “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
The observing Jews will have a one-day fast in observance of the three-day fast that led to the saving of the entire Jewish nation. Originally the fast of Esther, Mordecai and the entire Jewish nation was observed on the 14-16th of Nissan, which is the Feast of Passover and into the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The tradition now is a one-day fast observed on the 13th of Adar, the day before the Festival of Purim which falls on the 14th of Adar. This year, since the 13th of Adar falls on Shabbat (Sabbath Day of Friday evening to Saturday evening), the fast is moved to the day before Shabbat.
Purim observances this year (2011) are:
- Adar B 11, Fast of Esther from sunup to sundown, Thursday March 17
- Adar B 14, Purim, Sunday March 20
- Adar B 15, Sushan Purim, Monday March 21
The fast is observed by all adults from daybreak to sundown. Pregnant of nursing woman or people in ill health are exempted from fasting. Many Jews follow the original three-day fast, and more may be fasting this year than usual with the treats by the enemies of Israel who have vowed to ‘wipe Israel off the map’.
Isaiah 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. (7) Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces. (8) For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within
you. (9) Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.”
The original word for peace in the verse is ‘shalom‘, which means wholeness, completeness, peace (from war)- nothing missing, nothing broken, whole-not divided.
Also, please pray for mercy on those who are working against God to divide Jerusalem. They are coming against the Most High God, Almighty God and they will lose, and lose big. Not only them, but the nations they are leading.
Genesis 12:2-3 still are God’s words over the nation of Israel, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
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