Introduction

At this time of year, as we celebrate the Feast of Purim, we are encouraged and inspired by the story of Esther and see in it the analogy to Yeshua and his Bride.

The Book of Esther, Hadassah her Hebrew name, reveals the hidden hand of God the Father, preparing Hadassah, an orphan girl – adopted – as we are, by God our Father to Himself. (Ephesians 1:5).

Hadassah, fearfully and wonderfully made in the womb by her Creator – her destiny written in God’s Scroll and her days fashioned by her God (Psalm 139: 15-16). As we are also!

We see the fruit of Hadassah’s life as a girl, tutored, moulded in the love of God, through her obedience, faithfulness, and honour to her godly earthly ‘father’ Mordecai.

Mordecai, faithful to God, given leadership in his nation, sees God’s hand of opportunity for Hadassah. Mordecai calls her to enter a door of opportunity to be chosen as Queen. We see how Mordecai faithfully guards Hadassah’s welfare in this selection process.

We see the hand of God’s favour towards Hadassah in the ‘days of her preparation’. Cleansing and purifying, over 12 months, bathing in oil of myrrh and perfumes and beautifications. Still faithful, loving, and caring, obedient to Mordecai.

The story later reveals the fruit of Hadassah’s life-long preparation, the depths of the formation of her God-given character. We see Hadassah’s prayer life, her faithfulness and courage, wisdom, and discernment to bring about God’s ultimate victory for the Jewish people for generations and generations to see and believe and rejoice in.

Read the Book of Esther!

And now, for the Bride of Yeshua, our King of Glory, our Bridegroom, our oil is the anointing of the cleansing, purifying Holy Spirit – fire and water and refining crucible.

In these posts, I pray for the Holy Spirit to convey to us the extravagant love of Yeshua, to draw us into His Heart of love. That this amazing love, through the Holy Spirit, will prepare us as His Bride, ¬to give us bridal love for Yeshua, our Bridegroom King, and make us fully His.

I pray for the Holy Spirit to draw us into conviction, repentance and cleansing at His deep, deep levels; to prepare us; make us ready to be Yeshua’s Bride and thus delight in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Consider Psalm 51 and all the aspects of humility, prayer and supplication shown by King David as he prayed for forgiveness and to be thoroughly cleansed of his sin. We see that David was cleansed and God saw him as ‘a man after God’s own heart, who will do all My will’ (Acts 13:22). Consider also Psalm 24: 3-6 – ‘who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?’

In all of these preparations let us be mindful of the sterling qualities of Hadassah. Consider her courage and perseverance, and the victory ultimately wrought by the Hand of the Lord.
So that we, in our time, may be prepared and ready ‘for such a time as this’.
That we, as we so greatly desire, may be clothed in the white spotless garments of the Bride of the Lamb of God; washed in His redeeming Blood; ready, like Hadassah, when her time came, to choose to submit to God totally – even unto death.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The words written here below, are given to me by Yeshua, and I write them down. They speak of His extravagant, amazing, passionate love, and give us His guidance and direction.

Song of Solomon 1:4: “Draw me away! We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.”

I pray that this word and those to follow, will speak to your heart and you will be drawn by His love and run after Him as His Bride, making yourself ready!

My Bride, come to Me: Give Me your wounded broken heart.
I took your deep pain into My hands and feet, and I received your sorrow into my brow. I paid the complete price to set you free – so that you may dance the dance of life with Me. Yes, dance. Be so free of pain and remorse that your spirit leaps within you and thus comes to Me – in a dimension of freedom that you have not known.

My hands are upon your wounds now – to extract the joy-less-ness; the grief; the disappointment; the sorrow of life’s blows and the grief of separation from My fulness.

Yes, when you let go of these deep, deep wounds, you free yourself from the earthly realm and you can fly to Me – free, free, free – to come and sup with Me and with My Father in the realm of Eternity, where there is no sin, sorrow, disease, or suffering.

Come as a little child – to Me, your Saviour, your Redeemer, and the Lover of your soul. So simple, so pure, so gentle is my love for you and My desire to give you rest for your soul.
Come, come, I, Jesus, call your name. Come, come, I long for you. Come, I love you.

Scriptures:

Jesus’ love: John 15:9. The whole Bible speaks of Jesus’ love.

Consider Isaiah 53. Also, John 3:16 and the Cross of Jesus, the Christ, refer Matthew 27; 28

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9.

Complete price: Isaiah 53 please read all
Verses 4-5: “Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him
And by His stripes. we are healed.”

Hands and feet: Luke 24:36-40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

Crown of thorns: John 19:5 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

Dance: Psalm 149:5 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the [a]humble with salvation.

Life: John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Free: John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Joy: John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Eternity: Ecclesiastes 3:11; Ephesians 2:6; 1:3 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, Ecclesiastes 3:11 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Eph. 2:6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Eph. 1:3

No sorrow: Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Child: Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Rest for your soul: Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 116:7 (Jesus said) “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Saviour: 1 John (all)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us 
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Read full chapter.

Redeemer: Job 19:25-27
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

“But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”.  John 7:37-39 NKJV

Scripture records two other occasions where Jesus “cried out with a loud voice”.  Both were on the Cross:  “Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”   “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit”.  Matthew 27:46, 50 NKJV

Speaking to their blindness at this Feast of Tabernacles, “…Jesus spoke to them again, saying,

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”  John 8:12 NKJV.

Another cry on that great day of the Feast from our Good Shepherd to follow Him and walk in His light!

The love and sorrow of our God; the love and victory on the Cross for us all.

Why would Scripture record the anguish of Jesus on the great day of the Feast of Tabernacles?

Love, because Jesus came in love’s obedience to the Father’s will to be “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 NKJV) for His beloved people Israel and for all mankind. 

Sorrow, because on this great day of the Feast which points to Messiah, the people of Israel denied their Yeshua HaMashiach, who was in their midst.

The adoration and praise due to their Messiah on this Feast is described in Isaiah.

“Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.

 And in that day you will say:

“Praise the Lord, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”  Isaiah 12:3-6 NKJV.

The Holy One of Israel was in the midst of His people on that day. His name was not exalted. His deeds not praised.  His greatness not lauded or shouted.

Instead, the Pharisees expressed their mockery and derision of their Messiah and murderously plotted to kill him.  Refer John 7:40-53;  Matthew 26:3-5

Scripture describes the glory of Yeshua HaMashiach.  “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;”  Colossians 2:9NKJV.

Every book of the Torah points to Messiah and to Yeshua.  The eyes of the Pharisees and those who followed them were blinded by their pride, lust for power and position, and their envy.

Yet Yeshua performed the wonders, signs and miracles described in Isaiah 61: 1-2;  see Luke 4:17-18 also John 20: 30-31.

Yeshua HaMashiach’s beloved people missed their appointed time, their time of His visitation!

The intensity of love and the anguish of sorrow, I suggest from this Scripture, for Jesus to cry out in this manner on the Feast of Tabernacles, comes from Jesus’ heart of love for His brethren the Jewish people.  On this special day of the Feast, they were rejecting Yeshua as their Messiah and King, and denying the love of the Father who gave His only begotten Son as Saviour, Redeemer, King and Messiah. (John 3:16). 

Jesus reveals hearts.

 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27 NKJV)

The faithful, everlasting love of God for Israel

The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates God’s lovingkindness, His faithful and   everlasting love and salvation – beautifully expressed in Jeremiah 21: 2-3 and here in Deuteronomy.

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.  The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” 

Deuteronomy 7: 6-8 NKJV

We see the passionate, extravagant love of God – a love beyond measure. Deep, deep love. Faithful, constant, covenantal love -beyond the comprehension of the human mind.

The love of God Almighty, a love that is faithful and true,  even when His people are not.  This is demonstrated in history- the love of the Father and His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His promises never cease – they are eternal.  The love of God our Saviour and Lord, Yeshua is never ending. It is a constant, everlasting and amazing love.

We await the glorious and wonderful day of the return of the Yeshua HaMashiach.  And for the day the beautiful people of Israel cry out.  And for the promise given in Zechariah –  “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn”. Zechariah 12:10 NKJV

Another cry from Yeshua Hamashiach:

 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  (‘Baruch Haba B’Shem’ Adonai’)   Mathew 23: 37-39 NKJV

Prayers for Yeshua’s beloved people:

We pray, Yeshua that Your people Israel will become thirsty and come to You Yeshua HaMashiach, and drink of the living water that comes from You alone, their Messiah and King.

Yeshua, the Light of the world, we pray your Jewish people will have eyes to see and ears to hear Your voice and they will follow You, Light of the World,  Good Shepherd, and they will walk in Your light, Yeshua, and have the Light which is eternal life in You.  Have the Light which is Life, Life abundantly to the full, till it overflows. (John 8:12;  John 10:10)

More and more streams, rivers of Living water from Your abundant love, flowing into hearts and lives pouring into their innermost being, into families and communities, into the whole Nation of Israel, we pray .” (John 7:38).

Yeshua HaMashiach, may we be longing and waiting for your coming again, as you return in glory to judge the whole earth, to bring restoration to all things, and to rule and reign in the New Jerusalem.  May we watch and pray and do Your will and occupy until your soon return, we pray. (Mark 13:33; Luke 21:35: 1 Peter 4:7;  Acts 10.42; 2 Timothy 4:1;  Luke 19:13 + many more)

Yeshua, we pray: Maranatha, come Lord Jesus, we long for Your coming and that you rule and reign on the Throne of King David from Jerusalem.  Your rightful place, Lord of Lords, and King of all Kings, we pray.  Amen, amen.