The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is T'tzavveh, which means, "You shall command." The title comes from Exodus 27:20, as the LORD said to Moses: "And you shall command (tsav-vaw - command, charge, appoint, ordain a divine act, send a messenger, set in order, heap of stones, guide stone) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-children of Israel that they bring you pure (zak/zakak - pure. clean, righteous/pure, bright, clean, shining, transparently clean, to wash, to be transparent, innocent) oil of pressed (katit/katat - beaten in a mortar rather than in a press, pounded fine/beat, break in pieces, crushed, destroy, to break, to rout an enemy) olives for the light (ma'or/'or - luminous body, brightness, light-bearer, candlestick/light, shine, enlighten, fire, glorious, light of day, light the eyes, make the face shine), to cause ('ala - offer, ascend, light, arose, exalted, offering, rise, shoot forth, come up before God) the lamp (nir - to glisten, a lamp, a light, progeny) to burn ('ala - see above) continually (tamid - continually, evermore, always, perpetual, indefinite extension, sacrifice)." This instruction was for the care of the golden lampstand that was to be placed within the tabernacle.
As we see the Hebrew meanings of the words in this one verse, the light and effectiveness of the lamp do not come without cost. The purity and brightness of the light are products of the oil of olives that have been beaten and crushed and is also connected to the idea of righteousness and innocence. The burning light produced is an offering, a sacrifice that rises up before God, and produces progeny (descendants). According to the meanings above, this light is not limited to the area around it but shoots forth in indefinite extension. It is a light that is commanded to shine continually, and forever more. Jesus said of Himself that He is the light of the world. He also said of those who believe in Him that we are the light of the world. (Mt. 5:14-16).
Daniel prophesied of those who were wise in the last days of great turmoil and persecution: "Those who are wise shall shine (zahar - admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be bright, to enlighten, to shine forth, be brilliant, give forth light) like the brightness (zohar - brightness, shining, brilliancy) of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars (kokab - star, of Messiah/Christ, numerous progeny, blazing, an illustrious prince) forever and ever." (Dan. 12:3). This light that is commanded above by God to Moses is not the light that we take for granted, produced at the flip of a switch. This light is an offering, a sacrifice, that multiplies. It is the same 'or light (see ma'or/'or above) that God spoke into the dark emptiness before the creation in Genesis 1. It is the light that is produced by and is obedient to the voice of God. It is the same light that the darkness cannot overcome (see Jn. 1:5). It is the light of God and His Son, the Messiah/Christ, Jesus.
The maintenance of this light in the tabernacle was a responsibility given to the priesthood (Lev. 24:1-4, Num. 8:1-3). There is an account in scripture of a negligent and vile priesthood and the lamp of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD during a time when there was no longer an open (paras - burst out, burst forth, open) vision (hazon/haza - to see, prophecy, perceiving eyes/vision in night, prophecy, revelation, oracle) in Israel: "And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to dim (kehe/kaha - be dark, dim, obscure/utterly, darkened, be restrained, the light of the eye grows dull) that he could not see (ra'a), and before the lamp (nir - see above) of God went out (kaba - quenched, extinguish light or fire) in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called (qara' - call out, appoint, be chosen) Samuel. And he answered, 'Here I am!' (1 Sam. 3:2-4).
Although young Samuel was not of the priestly tribe of the Levites, he was dedicated or set apart to the service of the LORD by His mother before his miracle conception. He became a living offering to the LORD in a way. He even wore a little linen ephod (see 1 Sam. 2:18-19) as he ministered to the LORD under Eli, the priest.
As Eli allowed the lamp of the LORD to grow dim in the tabernacle, his sight, both physical and spiritual, became dim also. Before the lamp went out, the LORD called young Samuel and spoke to him. Eli's household would be judged because of the wickedness of Eli's sons and Eli's reluctance to restrain his sons. The LORD said: "For I have told him (Eli) that I will judge (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them...And therefore...the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pardon, to be covered) for by sacrifice or offering forever." (v. 13-14).
The house of Eli would be removed from the priesthood, and Samuel, the young boy, would become the priest, prophet and judge of Israel. The LORD called Samuel before the lamp of the tabernacle could be allowed to go out from neglect.
Jesus spoke of the connection between this spiritual light and spiritual eyesight: "The lamp (lychnos/leukos - a lamp, candle or candle placed on a stand or candlestick, illuminator, the eye which shows the body which way to move or turn/light, bright, brilliant, dazzling white, white garments, white color of ripening grain)) of the body is the eye (ophtahlmos/optanomai - the eye, sight, the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing, vision/to look at, to gaze at something remarkable with wide-open eyes, to allow one's self to be seen). If therefore your eye is good (halous - as a particle of a union, whole, fulfilling its office, good, sound), your whole body will be full of light (photoeinos - composed of light, well-illuminated, full of light, transparent). But if your eye is bad (poneros/ponos/penes - evil, wicked, full of and pressed by labors or annoyances or hardship/great trouble, anguish/starving poor), your whole body will be full of darkness (skoteinos - full of darkness, covered with darkness, opaque). If therefore the light that is in you is darkness (skotos - darkness, darkened eyesight or blindness, ignorance respecting divine things and the consequent misery in hell, a person in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway), how great is that darkness (skotos -see above/skia - shadow, shade caused by the interception of light)!" (Mt. 6:22-23). The Greek meanings in these verses give us a deeper understanding of light and darkness, and the struggle for control within us as well as the connection between spiritual light and the spiritual sight of the eye. Paul also prayed that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened that we may know the hope of His calling and the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (see Eph. 1:17-18).
It is interesting to note that the weekly observance of the Sabbath in each home begins with the prayerful lighting of the Sabbath candles and, by the sweeping of hands over the candles and then to the eyes, the light of the candles is invited and received into the eyes. Lord, light our eyes with the revelation of our Savior, Messiah/Christ Jesus.
Jesus told a parable about ten virgins who were to be part of the wedding of the Bridegroom, who returned at night. Five of the virgins were wise (see Daniel above), having plenty of oil (see above) to keep their lamps shining brightly. Five of those virgins were foolish. They could not go out to meet the Bridegroom when He came because they had no oil with which to light their lamps. By the time they had acquired the oil, the Bridegroom had already come and gone, having entered into the wedding, and the door was shut. When the five foolish virgins came afterward crying for the Lord to open to them, He answered: "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know (eido - to see, perceive, look, behold, turn the eyes to) you." (Mt. 25:1-13). Not only does the lighted lamp represent all of those things that we saw above, but the prepared lamp of (spiritual) light also identifies who is known by Messiah/Christ, who revealed Himself as the returning Bridegroom in the parable. He identified the wise virgins by His light shining within them.
Peter wrote of the special priesthood of light that has been given to those who have become part of the Light of the world, Jesus: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness (skotos/skia - see above) into His marvelous light (phos - light emitted by a lamp, heavenly light, fire as light and which sheds light, God as light which is pure and brilliant, the light of truth and knowledge and spiritual purity) who once were not a people but are now the people of God [note - God is light: see 1 Jn. 1:5], who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Pet. 2:9-10).
Jesus spoke of and Paul wrote of the believers in Christ as sons of light who believe in the Light (Jesus), walking as a child of light, and being light in the Lord. (see Jn. 12:36, Eph. 5:8, 1 Thess. 5:4-5). We can understand the importance of having our eyes enlightened in understanding spiritual truths, as well as being light that leads others out of darkness, but there is also another spiritual importance to this kind of light. Paul wrote that all things, including the things to be reproved (elegcho - exposed, call to account, bring to the light), are made manifest (phaneroo/phaneros/phaino/phos - to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, expose to view, to be plainly recognized/apparent, open, shining/appear, to lighten, shine, be bright, be resplendent, be brought forth into the light, shed light/light, emitting light) by light that is shone upon them: "...for whatever makes manifest is light." (Eph. 5:13). To me this means that not only do we shine light into ourselves to expose any darkness that is present, but it also means to shine this light onto the hidden works of darkness in a way that exposes them for all to see. However, Paul notes that all things are made manifest by light, including the hidden things of God - revelation, visions and so on. We, being light, also make these truths plain for all to see. The same light that can expose darkness and its works is the same light that also manifests the light of the Lord and heaven here on earth. All things are made manifested by this light. Paul also connects this kind of light to resurrection, writing: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (v. 14), which he taught from Isa. 26:19 and Isa. 60:1. We have already been raised from the dead when we are in Messiah/Christ. (see Eph. 2:5-7, Col. 2:12-13, Col. 3:1-4).
This Sabbath is a special Sabbath referred to as Zachor, meaning "Remember" or "Don't Forget." This is the Sabbath that comes before Purim, a day set aside to remember and celebrate the destruction of a plot to kill the Jewish people of Persia (now Iraq/Iran). The king of Persia ruled over an empire that extended from India to Ethiopia. (Esther 1:1-4). A set of circumstances occurred by which (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Esther, whose Jewish identity and Jewish name (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Hadassah (myrtle tree) had been hidden from the king, ended up being the king's new wife, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-queen of the land. There was an evil man named Haman, who was one of the princes of the land, who had gotten the permission of the king to execute all of the Jews in the empire by paying money to the king. Esther was exhorted by her uncle to go to the king and intercede with him against this wicked decree. She was the only person who was in a position to approach the king. She feared that the king could kill her for approaching him without having been summoned, but with the support of the prayers and fasting of the Jews in the land, Esther approached the king. (Est. 4:10-17, Est. 5:1-3).
Reminding us of what Paul wrote above, the evil plot of Haman was exposed or made manifest before the king by Esther. However, not only was Haman exposed, but an even greater hidden secret would be exposed or made manifest at the same time - Esther's Jewish identity. (Est. 7:1-6). Haman and his sons were destroyed, and the threat to the Jewish people was removed. How does light play a part in this story? Hidden things were revealed or made manifest, which is one of the things that light accomplishes, but also, Esther's name means "Star", which is a light in the heavens. (see also Dan. 12:3 as mentioned above). Esther, the Star, a light of heaven, saved many lives that day, including her own.
If you would like to learn more about being light in the Kingdom of God, you can join with me in my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You are called 'The Father of Lights.' Scripture says that You are light. Jesus our Savior said that He is the Light of the world and called us to be the same light. Lord, help me to understand by Your Word and Holy Spirit how to walk as this light. Help me to be one who dispels the darkness in Jesus' name and Light. Help me to be the resurrection light of Messiah/Christ to those who are in darkness and perishing. Let the light of Christ and the candle of the Holy Spirit that dwell within me as Your Word promises, shed light upon hidden things, including first the hidden things in my own soul. I ask this in the name of the Lord, Jesus. AMEN."
