Pride is the worst viper in the heart. It is the first sin that ever entered into the universe. It lies lowest of all in the foundation of the whole building of sin. Of all lusts, it is the most secret, deceitful, and unsearchable in its ways of working. It is ready to mix with everything. Nothing is so hateful to God, contrary to the spirit of the Gospel, or of so dangerous consequence. There is no one sin that does so much to let the devil into the hearts of the saints and expose them to his delusions.
Jonathan Edwards

Chanukah feast of dedication

Chanukah feast of dedication

CHANUKAH .. FEAST OF DEDICATION

by Dr. Michael Schiffman

As the year is swiftly drawing to a close, we are approaching both Chanukah and Christmas. Chanukah begins this year on December 3rd, the eve of the 25th of Kislev. Most people really don’t understand Chanukah. For most people, Chanukah is seen as the “Jewish Christmas.” The reason people look at Chanukah in this way, is because both holidays involve presents, both use lights, and the two holidays take place at roughly the same time of year.

Chanukah is a minor holiday, yet has be elevated to greater importance by Jewish parents looking for an alternative event for their children so they shouldn’t feel left out because they don’t get to take part in the Christmas festivities. Indirectly, the birth of the Messiah has elevated the importance of Chanukah.

Chanukah is NOT mentioned in the Jewish Bible. It is recorded in the Apocryphal books of the Maccabees, and there is reference to it in John’s Gospel that Yeshua went into the Temple on the Feast of Dedication. Chanukah itself commemorates a great miracle that G-d did in the intertestamental period. Antiochus Epiphanes (after whom the city of Antioch is named), sought to conquer Israel and make his subjects greek by culture and religion. He sought to destroy Judaism by forbidding it’s practice. He desecrated the Temple of G-d by erecting pagan idols and sacrificing a pig on its altar. Those who practiced Judaism were killed. This was a very dark time for the Jewish people. Had Antiochus been successful, the Jewish people may have been destroyed, and the Messiah might not have come as was prophecied. Yet G-d was true to His promises. He said the Messiah would come through David’s seed, and that the Jewish people would remain a nation before Him as long as the sun, moon, and stars exist. The L-rd raised up the Hashmonim, the Maccabees, and they fought against Antiochus, recaptured Jerusalem, and drove the SyrianGreeks out of Israel. When they went to rededicate the Temple, they found there was not enough sacred oil for the Menorah to burn. They had enough for one day, but it lasted eight days which gave enough time to process the Holy oil. Chanukah commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple, and it serves as a reminder that we too must rededicate our lives to the L-rd, that we must be dedicated to serving Him, and letting our light shine before men that they may glorify our Father in Heaven.

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