In the Bible, the month of Adar is the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar and is associated with joy and celebration, particularly because of the festival of Purim, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them in the days of Esther (Esther 3:7; 9:26-28). Adar is also noted for its emphasis on happiness and the motto “When Adar arrives, joy is increased” (Mishnah Ta’anit 4:6).
Scripture
7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them.
9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.”
10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.
11 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
12 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.
13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day.
15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.
Meaning of Adar in the Bible
The month of Adar holds significant theological and spiritual meaning within the biblical narrative, particularly as it culminates in the celebration of Purim. This festival, rooted in the Book of Esther, not only commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from Haman’s plot to annihilate them but also serves to reaffirm God’s providence over His people. The story illustrates the themes of divine intervention and the reversal of fortune, as expressed profoundly in Esther 9:22, which states, “as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies.” This fluctuation from despair to joy is a powerful metaphor for the human experience, reminding believers that they can find hope and joy amid trials.
Moreover, the declaration that “When Adar arrives, joy is increased” signifies a shift in the communal and individual spirit, encouraging an attitude of celebration, gratitude, and resilience. This idea resonates with other biblical themes such as joy in the Lord as discussed in Philippians 4:4, which advises believers to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Thus, Adar serves as a metaphorical reminder to maintain faith and perspective during hardships, emphasizing that joy is not merely an emotional response, but a profound, faith-driven act that can transform situations and communities. This season invites believers to partake in a collective re-examination of their lives, celebrating God’s deliverance and goodness, while aspiring to embody joy as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The month of Adar is notably significant in Jewish tradition, primarily because it carries themes of remembrance, community, and renewal. One of the key aspects of this month is its connection to the previous month of Shevat, which reflects on introspection and repentance. In a broader sense, Adar represents the culmination of that reflective journey, where the joy of deliverance from past trials leads to a celebration of life and community together. As the days lengthen towards spring, the shift in atmosphere embodies hope, allowing families and communities to engage in collective festivities and acts of charity, strengthening societal bonds.
Additionally, the inherent notion of joy associated with Adar can be understood as a time to invoke gratitude for God’s steadfast love and mercy, experiences that echo throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Festivals like Purim encourage storytelling, not only reaffirming individual faith but also uniting the Jewish identity through shared narratives of survival and resilience against adversity. This tradition stands in contrast to the hardships endured, emphasizing the transformative power of remembering past deliverance. Thus, the month of Adar invites believers to reflect on their own stories of redemption and to engage actively in communal celebrations, embodying a spirit of joy that transcends mere circumstance, fostering connections that echo God’s enduring presence in their lives.
The Significance of Joy and Celebration
The month of Adar is often associated with joy and celebration, particularly due to the events surrounding the festival of Purim. This month serves as a reminder of the importance of rejoicing in the face of adversity and recognizing the deliverance that can come from seemingly dire situations. The transformation of sorrow into joy during this time highlights the biblical theme of hope and redemption, encouraging believers to celebrate God’s faithfulness and intervention in their lives.
The Theme of Divine Providence
Adar also embodies the theme of divine providence, illustrating how God orchestrates events for the good of His people. The story of Esther, which is central to the observance of Purim, showcases how God’s unseen hand works through human actions to bring about salvation. This month encourages reflection on the ways in which God is actively involved in the lives of individuals and communities, often in ways that may not be immediately apparent.
The Cycle of Renewal and New Beginnings
In the Jewish calendar, Adar is the last month before the arrival of Nisan, which marks the beginning of spring and the celebration of Passover. This transition signifies a time of renewal and new beginnings. The month of Adar invites believers to reflect on the cyclical nature of life, the importance of letting go of past burdens, and the anticipation of new opportunities and blessings that lie ahead. It serves as a reminder that after periods of struggle, joy and renewal can emerge, reinforcing the hope for a brighter future.
How to Embrace Joy in Christian Deliverance
Embracing joy in Christian deliverance is a beautiful journey that begins with recognizing the profound love and grace that God extends to us through Christ. As you seek to deepen your faith, remember that joy is not merely a fleeting emotion but a steadfast state of being rooted in the assurance of your salvation and the freedom from sin. Start by immersing yourself in Scripture, allowing the promises of God to fill your heart and mind—passages like Psalm 30:5 remind us that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Surround yourself with a community of believers who uplift and encourage you, sharing in both struggles and triumphs. Engage in prayer and worship, expressing gratitude for the deliverance you’ve experienced, and let that gratitude transform into joy that overflows into your daily life. As you cultivate this joy, you’ll find it not only strengthens your own faith but also becomes a beacon of hope for others, reflecting the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.
Bible References to the Month of Adar:
Esther 8:9-17: 9 The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.
10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud.
11 By these letters the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,
12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.
14 The couriers mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service went out, hurried by the king’s command, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.
15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.
16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.
17 In every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Esther 9:1-19: 1 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.
2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.
3 All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.
5 So the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them.
6 In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men,
7 And Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,
8 But the land lay quiet before Mordecai.
9 The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.
10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.
11 On that day the number of those who were killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king.
12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your further request? It shall be fulfilled.”
13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”
14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.
15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness.
19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.
Ezra 6:13-15: 13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered.
14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.