The 18th of December was the beginning of Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication. The festival is not in the Torah because it began around 150BC which is much later than when Moses wrote Leviticus. It is a celebration of the re-dedication of the temple of God. The temple was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes the Seleucid Greek who stopped all Jewish worship in Jerusalem and offered a pig as a sacrifice in the temple to Zeus. A brave group of Jews called the Maccabee’s conducted Guerrilla warfare and eventually expelled the Greeks and re-dedicated and cleansed the temple of God. According to the Talmud, There was one days worth of anointed oil to light the temple menorah – but it lasted 8 days. We are the temple of God. Let us use this time of year to re-dedicate and cleanse our temples. “Test me and try me oh God – to see if there be any wicked way in me” were the words of David. Let them be our words. Evil forces are indeed everywhere. Let us get our house in order and be among those – saved by grace – who will hear “well done my good and faithful servant, i was hungry and you fed me, and i was naked and you clothed me, and i had no home and you gave me a place.” Let your light shine before men and so give glory to your father in heaven. The Festival of Lights is upon us. — John 10:22-23 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, & Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own. — With sin so prevalent today in our world, this rededication of our body as the temple of God is to be set apart from the world. Maybe it is time! Love Mel
