Almost 22 centries ago, during the time of the second temple in Jerusalem, an evil tyrant from Syria, Antiochus IV, was ruling in Judea. He did not worship the ONE true God, but he allowed the Jews to worship YHWH. As the years passed, many Jews began to embrace the Greek culture and lifestyle. Antiochus decided to go into to Jerusalem and take treasures in the temple. As if that were not enough, he forbid the Jews to keep their Holy traditions, laws, and culture as prescribed by the Holy One of Israel. In a moment to define his power, he desecrated the Holy Altar by sacrificing a forbidden, unclean pig upon it. The temple was then dedicated to Zeus and the Jews were forced to bow Zeus under penalty of death. Many innocent people were brutally murdered and the surviving Jews were taxed heavily. Antiochus' power was not yet sated as he then declared himself a god, Epiphanes, meaning God manifest.
Many Jews resisted, refusing to follow Greek practices or to bow to the pagan idols. This ragtag group of common people, farmers, workers, and servants all banded together under the leadership of Judas Maccabee. By using guerrilla warfare they drove the Syrians out and regained control of the Holy Temple. Immediately they began the task of purifying it. They rebuilt the defiled altar, all new holy vessels were crafted, restored the interior and consecrated the Temple courts. The rededication date of the temple was set to be the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (which usually falls sometime in the month of December on the Roman calender). The festivities for this rededication were to last 8 days. But as they soon discovered they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one day. With an order for new oil to be made, they lit the first candle. Miraculously, the Menorah burned for the entire 8 days of the festival. The whole congregation of Israel decided that the rededication of the alter should be observed with great joy and gladness at the same season each year. The purpose of Chanukah is not just the retelling of the revolt, although it is a marvelously story. The biggest lesson is the power of the Spirit of YHWH, the ability of God's people to live by God's commands, the 8 days of miraculous oil.
"...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord of hosts." Zech 4:6
We light the first candle...
The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you: but the LORD shall be unto you an everylasting light, and your God the Glory! Isa 60:19
The LORD is my light and my slavation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my light; of whom shall I be afraid? Ps 27:1
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