"Arrogance and scorn have now grown strong; it is a time of disaster and violent anger. Therefore, my sons, be ZEALOUS for the law and give your lives for the COVENANT of our fathers." -1 Maccabees 2:49-50
What is Hanukkah? I ask this because, up until yesterday, I thought that it was simply a holiday full of rejoicing because of the recapturing of Jerusalem, during Greek domain. For a long while, I simply thought that, because Christians got to celebrate the pagan holidays, what could Messianic children celebrate instead? I'm sure that you have heard the expression, "Well during Christmas, Christian's get only presents for 1 day, but Messianic and Jewish people receive presents for 8 days during Hanukkah! So we get the better end of the deal!" If you have not already been warned, this is a common misconception. And I am willing to bet, that perhaps only a fraction of the children who celebrate the Maccabees holiday, truly know that it has allot more to do with presents for 8 days.
Due to space, and not wishing to disinterest, you, Dear Reader, I will not tell the entire story of Judah Maccabee. However, it IS very worth it, to mention, that this was not a joyful event. And the wickedness of the Greek's in Jerusalem was beyond grievous. "Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she who sat in the bridal chamber mourned. The land was shaken because of it's inhabitants, and the house of Jacob was covered in shame."
--1 Mc 1:27-28
The Greek's, and the converted Jews, ransacked Jerusalem, and turned the Temple of יהוה into a complete disgust with their wickedness. And every man who dared to defy what they were doing, was not just killed, but tortured to death. An account of one righteous widow, and her 7 sons, tells that they were scalped, alive, maimed and then burned, because they refused to eat of the abominations of the unrighteous. Though all the while, they blessed יהוה with their mouths, and cursed the wicked, unafraid to give their lives for the FAITHFULNESS TO THE COVENANT.
My dear reader, Bride of Messiah....
~I ask you, not to meditate on these things, but to meditate on the word o
f יהוהas it reads in Psalm 1. Remember, always, the price that was paid, and is still yet to be paid, for the covenant. I encourage you to read 1 Maccabees through 2 Maccabees, or at least scan through it.
And always allow the Master to move you, and teach you....
let us not forget Jerusalem...
a snapshot of my sister's and I
