Friday, 19 December 2008

• Hanukkah, What is it?

  
  

  
  

  
  

  John 9:5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (NKJ)
  
  Yeshua spoke these words during the feast of Dedication that is mentioned in John 10:22. This coming week will begin the Feast of Dedication, known in Israel and the Jewish world as "Hanukkah" in Hebrew.  Hanukkah is not one of the Feasts of the Lord which are mentioned in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, however it is a significant time that has been remembered and celebrated since 165 B.C.E, even by Yeshua Himself.  It is interesting to see what He teaches about during this time - He being the light of the world, and the miracle which He performed  - opening the eyes of a man who was born blind, something that had not been heard of since the world begun (John 9:32). Hanukkah is also known by the name "feast of lights".
  
  
  
  
  Here is a short retell of the Hanukkah story that happened over 2100 years ago. (taken from the Wikipeda):  Around 200 BCE Jews lived as an autonomous people in the Land of Israel, also referred to as Judea, which at that time was controlled by the king of Syria. The Jewish people paid taxes to Syria and accepted its legal authority. They were free to follow their own faith, maintain their own jobs, and engage in trade.  By 175 BCE Antiochus Epiphanes ascended to the Seleucid throne. At first little changed, but under his reign, the Temple in Jerusalem was looted, Jews were massacred, and the following of God's commandments was effectively outlawed. In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple  and in the ultimate desecration, a pig was slaughtered on the altar of the Temple.
  
  
  
  Antiochus' actions provoked a large-scale revolt that began when Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons Jochanan, Simeon, Eleazer, Jonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against Antiochus.  Judah became known as Yehuda HaMaccabi ("Judah the Hammer"). By 166 BCE Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader.  By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful.  The Temple was liberated and rededicated. The festival of Hanukkah was instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers to celebrate this event.
  
  After recovering Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one, and new holy vessels to be made. Olive oil was needed to fuel the menorah (lamp) in the Temple.  The Temple menorah, which symbolises the Light of God, was required to burn above the altar day and night.  But there was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle. 
  
  During these eight days of Hannukah Jewish families all around the world will come together every night for the eight consecutive nights, to light the Hannukia (an ornament like a menorah but with 9 candles instead of 8), and remember this miracle that was performed by our God.  It is customary to place the Hannukia next to a window facing the street so that all can see and remember the miracle.
  
  
  
  
  
  That sounds to me a bit like Yeshua’s teaching from Matt 5:14-16  "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (NKJ)   It is growing darker outside. Yeshua calls us the light of the world, just as he called Himself. He commands us to allow our light to shine forth through our good works, and to place ourselves in a visible place so that others can see.  Hanukkah is a time of remembering God’s faithfulness and love for Israel and Jerusalem – His dwelling place forever. It is also a good time to look into our hearts and see if there is anything polluting our altars, perhaps some foreign gods that are not supposed to be there. God requires purity and holiness, just as did then with the physical Temple, so it is with our hearts. He is a jealous God and does not stand being competed with.
  
  
  
  
  
  This article was taken from:
  
  The CARMEL ALERT Dec 19th 2008
  A compilation of news reports from the past week for the information of those committed to praying for Israel  and the salvation of the Jewish  people.
  
    
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

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