TheLamp

"Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man...and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." (Rev. 1:12-13, 20). We never appreciate light as much as when we find ourselves in darkness. As soon as the power goes out, we light candles, grab the flashlight, whatever we have in the house that prevents us from having to walk through the complete darkness. We take light for granted until we have none. In Revelation, Jesus makes it clear that the Church that leaves its first love, Christ, can have its Lampstand taken away from it, losing its light (Rev. 2:5). The Law of Moses required that the Lamp in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle always remain lighted from night until morning. The Israelites were supposed to supply the freshly pressed olive oil for the purpose of supplying the lamp with fuel (Ex. 27:20-21). Later in Israel's history, the Maccabees began the work of cleansing and restoring the Temple of God after it had been defiled by an idolatrous conquering enemy who were eventually defeated in a great rebellion. The first thing the Maccabees did was light the Golden Candlestick in the Holy Place. By a miracle of God, the oil needed to keep the Candlestick lighted, though it was only enough to last one day, lasted eight days until more oil could be made. Christians generally ignore this season of Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication, also called the Festival of Lights. However, Jesus observed this feast: "Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch." (Jn. 10:22-23). The Greek meaning of the word "Dedication" used in the above verses has a very interesting meaning. It is the word Enkinea, which means "new, recently made, fresh(ness), of a new kind, unprecedented, unheard of, the new thing which as recently made is superior to what it succeeds". As scripture also says regarding an enemy who would be vanquished, "They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?" (Isa. 43:17-19). The lighted Candlestick is not just about the restoration of the old, but it also brings with it an unprecedented "new thing". One of the haftarah readings assigned for this Sabbath is from Proverbs 6, and it rejoices in the Lamp: "For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are a way of life." Psalm 119:105, under the Hebrew letter nun, which means "life, seed, sprout, heir to the throne", reads, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." We know from John 1, that Jesus is the Word of God, the light of creation, whose light gives life to men, and the light dispels darkness (Jn. 1:1-5). This "Lamp" spoken of in Psalm 119 above, lights the path ahead of us as we walk. It is prophetic. It shows us not only what is around us now, but ahead of us as well. The Torah reading for this Hanukkah Sabbath, Gen. 37, also tells of a very prophetic man. This reading is called "Va'yeishev", which means "And he settled". It is the story of Joseph, and his prophetic dreams, and his ability to interpret prophetic dreams. In his first dream as a youth, the natural lights of heaven, the sun, moon and stars, were bowing down to him. Joseph represented a light greater than these. Joseph's name means "add, henceforth, increase, exceed, further, to do more, much more". His brothers envied and resented him, especially because of his prophetic dreams. They plotted to kill him, and to throw his body into a dark pit. After he was sold into slavery, and even put into prison, wherever he was, the place prospered. All who came in contact with Joseph recognized his excellence and the favor that was with him. Though he was put through many trials, he eventually prospered in all of his circumstances. The Lamp is not only prophetic, but brings blessing and favor as well, and all in its light benefit from it. As we know, Jesus said of Himself, "I am the light of the world." (Jn. 8:12, 9:5). In the same manner, He said of those who believe in Him, "You are the light of the world." (Mt. 5:14-16). If we neglect the Golden Lampstand, and its significance, Who are we neglecting but Christ's and our own identity? As we read in the Law of Moses, it is up to the people to supply the oil for the Golden Candlestick. When the Lamp is neglected, there is a lack of the prophetic word, which is a guiding word. This is shown in another haftarah reading for this Hanukkah Sabbath involving the child, Samuel. When Samuel was young, "...the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation" (1 Sam. 3:1). Young Samuel received the prophetic word of the LORD at a time of day "before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was..." (v. 3). The prophetic word that Samuel received would bring an end to the old, negligent and corrupt regime of priests, and usher in a revived presence of the prophetic judge in Israel. Samuel would eventually anoint kings, including David, the predecessor of the coming Messiah. In another haftarah reading for this Hanukkah Sabbath, the LORD gives the prophets Zechariah and Amos powerful prophetic revelations. To Zechariah, the word of the LORD came to guide a discouraged Zerubbabel saying, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (Zech. 4:6), and to Amos, the LORD speaks of those who tell the prophet not to prophesy (Amos 2:12), and then revealed, "Surely the LORD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7). More powerful and effective than any efforts or plans of man, the Spirit of God is often represented by the oil of the olive that anoints the head to make it shine, and is used to supply the Golden Lampstand with its fuel. The LORD also gave the prophet Zechariah a vision of the Golden Lampstand. Two olive trees stood, one on the left side of the Lamp, and one on the right side of the Lamp. Each tree had a branch that fed into the oil bowl of the Lamp to supply it (see Rev. 11:3-4 also). These two feeding branches were described to the prophet as "...the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth." (Zech. 4:13-14). Notice the spelling of "Lord" here. This is the Hebrew word Adon, which means, "master, lord, prophet, prince, king, husband". This meaning sounds like a reference to Jesus. Notice the two olive (root meaning: brightness) tree branches (from a root word meaning a lady's train, the train of a robe), also identified as the two anointed ones (meaning "sons of fresh oil", shining oil producing light) in Zechariah's vision. We see in these words the connection of olive trees and the branches to "light". Jesus warns those who have neglected their lamps, and therefore cannot produce light, that they will miss going in with Him to the marriage supper. Though they will knock on the closed door and cry out, He will tell them that He doesn't know them. How tragic! All of this because they lacked their identifying light (Mt. 25:1-12). The Lampstand, with its light, life, Word and prophecy was not just important to the Hebrews of the Old Testament, but it and especially Whom it represents plays an essential role in the Church. The miracle Light of Hanukkah is very much with us today, and we should seek to have it. The Lamp of the Lord is essential to us as Christians, and essential to all men. Isaiah wrote of the Light (of Christ) as lighting the way out of death: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isa. 9:2). The Light of the world is so important that scripture says Satan, who enslaves, tries to counterfeit it by disguising himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:13-14). However, true light liberates and sets the captives free. The true Light of Christ accompanied an angel into Peter's jail cell "and his chains fell from his hands", and Peter was commanded to leave his prison cell. (Acts 12:7). May we be like the Light set up high upon a lampstand, illuminating all who are around us, walking in His commandment to "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isa. 60:1-2) Our Father has called us to be light even as His Son is Light. If you would like to become what Jesus called the light of the world, you can come to Him by faith in His death for your sins, and confession of your belief in His resurrection. We can pray: "Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for me, and rose again from the dead. You are the Light of the world, and You call those who believe in You the light of the world also. Come into my heart and transform my darkness into light, and death into life. Fill me with the oil of Your Holy Spirit so I can shine in truth and grace. Lead me and direct my path by the light of Your commandments, because they are the ways of life. I give You thanks for receiving me today as I confess my faith in You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."