Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim Chapter 2
- The Three Day, Three Night Fast
- Esther sacrificed her life on Pesach for her people
- Israel’s transgression was erased
- When the Law was ‘fulfilled,’ the ‘second’ feast was celebrated
The Three Day, Three Night fast:
There is a highly significant prophetic connection between Esther (Ishtar) and the Messiah ben David (Yeshua).
During the festival of Purim (that occurs just about a month before HaBikkurim) we learn that Queen Esther, led by Mordecai (who is a ‘type’ of the end-time Administration of the Spirit of Holiness), called for a three night, three day fast that began the night of Nisan 14 and ended at sunset, the completion of Nisan 16 (a period of time of three nights, three days). The sequence of time established in the Torah ‘begins’ with the evening and ‘ends’ with the daytime (Genesis 1:5). Tradition says this Jewish fast was to atone for the transgression that was committed previously against Adonai’s Festival of Pesach.
Esther sacrificed her life on Pesach for her people:
We also learned in our study of Purim that Queen Esther risked her own life when she appeared unannounced before the Persian king’s throne. Holding out his golden scepter the ruler accepted Esther into his presence and thereby placed her under his royal protection. The date of this event was the day of Nisan 15. The Sovereign also accepted Esther’s personal invitation to a banquet that she had prepared for him and Haman to be held that very night (the night of Nisan 16, the first of two banquets).
Israel’s transgression was erased:
Israel’s transgression of substituting observance of Pesach (for Persia’s pagan feast) was then ‘erased’ through a reversal of circumstances. Unlike the Shushan feast where the Jews ate defiled foods as guests at King Ahasuerus’ pagan celebration. Through Esther’s intervention, on behalf of her people, the King and wicked Haman became the guests of Esther at a feast that she had prepared that was in accord with the Holy One’s commandments (no chametz allowed). Esther’s first banquet of wine was given in the evening just a few hours after she had extended her invitation. However, Esther was still fasting on this the third of three nights and days, the night of the Nisan 16, and therefore, she could not partake of her own meal.
When the Law was ‘fulfilled,’ the ‘second’ feast was celebrated:
Esther consequently requested that Ahasuerus and wicked Haman come dine again with her the next night, the Nisan 17 (when her fast ‘under the law’ had been ‘fulfilled’). Therefore, at Esther’s “second” feast she was able to join in the festivities (cf. Esther 7:1-10). As you will recall it was at this ‘second’ feast that Haman’s wicked plan to annihilate the Yehudim (Jews) was exposed. Consequently, after the ‘second’ feast,’ it was Haman’s property that was confiscated and his life that was taken; and not that of Esther, Mordecai, and the Yehudim.