Dedication

 

Dear  Gentle Reader,

Before Christmas and all the trappings of commercialism came about there was Chanukkah! read on to discover your heritage from those who brought us The King of the Jews (and Saviour of the world)!

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .

Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth or the only truth. . . for only the LORD MESSIAH JESUS is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, and THE LIGHT.

CHANUKKAH DEDICATION (Part 1)

"Instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, to cause the lamp TO BURN ALWAYS. Aaron and his sons shall set them up in the Tabernacle of Meeting, outside the curtain which is before the Ark of the Covenant, to burn from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a due from the Israelites FOR ALL TIME, throughout the ages." [Exodus (Shemot) 27. 20 - 21 Tanakh, Torah]

It is said that the Hebrew word, Chanukkah, itself tells of the date for its observance: "hanu" means "rested" and "kah" means "25". Thus, it was on the 25th of Kislev that the Jewish people "rested" from their enemies at that time in history. Chanukkah is the "Festival of Lights" because of the many lights involved in the Feast. "Chanukkah" literally means "dedication" in memory of the re dedication of the Temple in 165 BC by Judas Maccabeus, after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian king. In 176 BC Antiochus tried to force the Jews to give up their faith and to adopt Greek customs. He persecuted the Jews who refused to do this.

Antiochus Epiphanes converted the TEMPLE OF GOD to worship Zeus, and placed an image of Zeus the dominant Greek god (the abomination of desolation) in the Holy Place . He looted the Temple and ordered all Jews to bow down to the idols placed there. Then, Antiochus brought in a sow, and placed it on the Holy Altar in desecration of ALMIGHTY GOD'S holiness. He brought waste and destruction -- desecrated the vessels of the LORD in debauchery and drunkenness and put out the "Ner Tomid" (Perpetual Light).

The Hasmoneans, the Maccabee family, led the Jews in a revolt. After several years of fighting, Judah and his men drove the Syrians out. On the 25th of Kislev (exactly 3 years after the defilement of the Sanctuary) in the year 165 BC they made their entrance into the Temple and rededicated it to the service of the GREAT GOD OF HEAVEN.

In the Temple , the priests left a light burning in obedience to the command of the HOLY ONE, but when they prepared to rekindle this light after the victory, they found that there was only enough oil to last one day. This was a tragic discovery to the Jewish people for the ALMIGHTY'S command could not then be carried out. Search was made for the oil for this Lamp. The oil must be pure and prepared under the care of the high priest and sealed with his seal. No pure oil could be found nor could any be prepared before 8 days (7 days set apart to the LORD; on the 8th day it became holy to the LORD). The small jug of oil bearing the seal of the high priest might suffice for only one day, but according to the Jewish people's tradition a MIRACLE occurred, the oil lasted for the full eight days!

Thus, in Synagogues and homes, Chanukkah is principally observed by the lighting of candles set in an eight-branched Menorah to commemorate the MIRACLE and the victory. This Menorah also contains an additional holder for the candle called "Shammas (servant)" with which the others are lighted. The custom is to burn one candle the first evening, two the second; progressively increased each evening until all eight are lit on the eighth night. Before each candle is lit there is a blessing recited and singing follows afterwards.

It is significant that the eight candles of the Chanukkah Menorah are not lighted with a match but with the "Shammas." Then after the "SERVANT" has given its light to all the others it is put in a high place or a special place of honour in the Menorah. Do you not see in this action a beautiful picture of the only SERVANT (of GOD) WHO was exalted after HE had given HIS light to HIS people? In the words of Isaiah we find HIM described: "The REDEEMER OF ISRAEL, GOD'S HOLY ONE; the DESPISED ONE; HIM WHO is abhorred of nations; to the SERVANT of rulers: kings shall see and stand up; nobles, and they shall prostrate themselves - to the honour of the LORD, WHO is faithful, to the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL WHO chose you." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 49. 7 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

CREATOR GOD exalts HIS SERVANT, MESSIAH YESHUA, and causes kings and princes to bow down before HIM. Yes, the LORD JESUS is the only SERVANT WHO is worthy to be given a position of honour! HE is the ONE sent of GOD to bring us the light of salvation. [Isaiah/Yeshayah 52. 13 - 15; Philippians 2. 6 - 8] Of MESSIAH YESHUA, the KING of all ages, it is written, "The LIGHT OF ISRAEL will be fire, and the HOLY ONE a flame." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 10. 17 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

...to be continued

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel !

The 8-Nights of Chanukkah start tonight at sundown Sunday, December 21st this year. Prepare to enjoy the Festival of Lights!!!

Wishing you every happiness during this Festival of Lights, Christmas, and the coming year. May the bright glow of the festive candles cause us to remember the wonder reflected upon the SERVANT WHO bent down to bring light to those HE served.