CHANNUKAH DEVOTIONS
Day One Yahweh is our Light Isaiah 60:19; Revelation 22:22-24; Psalm 27: 1 The spiritual surpasses the natural and we live in that light and in that glory.
Day Two The Word is our Light Psalm 119:105, 130; Proverbs 6:23 The commandment is a lamp kept burning by the oil of the Spirit.
Day Three We are a light to others Matthew 5:16; Luke 11:33; Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15 Examples - representatives and reflections of His person.
Day Four The entrance of His light Luke 11:34-36 Our perceptions need to be kept pure
Day Five Messiah is the light John 1: 4-5; 8:12; 12:35-36 Shining in the darkness
Day Six Paul sees the light Acts 26:12-18 The light reaches the nations.
Day Seven No longer in darkness Ephesians 5:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6; 1 Peter 2: 9; 1 John 1: 5-9 Earthen vessels with the treasure of the light within
Day Eight We need to shine Philippians 2:14-16 Holding forth the Word of life
Chanukah Reading Night One - Yahweh is Our Light The eternal Word, as God, shines in the darkness of men's natural conscience. Though men by the fall have become darkness, yet that which may be known of God is manifested in them; (see Rom. 1:19-20).
The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: but Yahweh shall be unto you an everlasting light, and your God your glory (Isa 60:19).
In heaven there shall be no occasion for sun or moon, for it is the inheritance of the saints in light, such light will swallow up the light of the sun as easily as the sun does that of a candle. Revelation 22:22-24
Those that make God their only light shall have Him as their all-sufficient light, their sun and shield. Your God shall be your glory. The spiritual surpasses the natural glory and living by the Spirit that of living by the natural elements. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5 Yahweh is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).
Yahweh is my light. David’s subjects called him the light of Israel, (2 Sam. 21:17). And he was indeed a burning and a shining light: but he and all others shine with a borrowed light. Yahweh a light to his people, to show them the way when they are in doubt, to comfort and rejoice their hearts when they are in sorrow. It is in his light that they now walk on in their way, and in His light they see light.
Chanukah Reading Night Two - The Word is Our Light
"Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).
"The entrance of your words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130).
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life (Proverbs 6:23).
The nature of the Word and the great intention in giving it is for it to be a lamp and a light. It manifests to us that which otherwise we could not have known; it shows us what is amiss, it directs us to shed light on our way. The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit; it is like the lamps in the sanctuary, and the pillar of fire to Israel. It must be not only a light to our eyes, to gratify them, and fill our heads with speculations, but a light to our feet and to our path, to direct us in the right ordering of our conversation, both in the choice of our way in general and in the particular steps we take in that way, that we may not take a false way nor a false step in the right way.
The Living Word dwells within us to give us light. "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Y'shua the Messiah." 2 Cor.4: 6 We are thereby made vessels of light, to impart light to others on the way.
Chanukah Reading Night Three - We Should Be a Light to Others
Matt. 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light" (Luke 11:33).
The apostles were ordered to preach the gospel to every creature. It is a great privilege that the light of the gospel is put on a candlestick, so that all that come in may see it, and may see by it where they are and where they are going, and what is the true, sure, and only way to happiness. In His light we have light and we shed that light so that in us they may see Him. All believers in Messiah are light in God (Ephesians 5:8), and must shine as lights (Philippians 2:15)
Y'shua calls himself the Light of the world (John. 8:12), and as workers together with him, we have some of His honour put upon us. The light of day was welcomed when it shone out of darkness, and so is the morning light of every day. So is the gospel, and those that spread it, to all who receive it.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. The disciples of Messiah, who are forward and zealous in his service, become bright and shining lights and are taken notice of as beacons. They are for signs (Isa. 7:18), men wondered at (Zech. 3:8); all their neighbors have any eye upon them. Some admire them, commend them, rejoice in them, and study to imitate them; others envy them, hate them, censure them, and study to blast them. They are concerned therefore to walk circumspectly, because of their observers; they are as spectacles to the world, and must take heed of every thing that looks ill, because they are observed so keenly. The disciples of Messiah were obscure men before he called them, but the character he put upon them dignified them, and though they were reproached for it by some, they were respected for it by others, advanced to thrones, and made judges (Luke 22:30); for Y'shua will honour those that honour him. As the lights of the world, they are intended to illuminate and give light to others.
Chanukah Reading Night Four - The Light of the Body is the Eye
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness (Luke 11:34).
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me (Acts 26:18).
The light of the body is the eye (v. 34), which receives the light of the candle when it is brought into the room. So the light of the soul is the understanding and judgment, and its power of discerning between good and evil, truth and falsehood. Now, according as this is, so the light of divine revelation is to us, and our benefit by it; it is a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.
If this eye of the soul is single, if it see clear, sees things as they are, and judge impartially concerning them, if it aim at truth only, and seek it for its own sake, then the whole body, that is, the whole soul, is full of light. And if the soul be thus filled with the light of the gospel, having no part dark,— if all its powers and faculties be subjected to the government and influence of the gospel, and none left unsanctified — then the whole soul shall be full of light, full of holiness and peace. It was darkness itself, but now light in Yahweh, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give you light, v. 36.
If the person's judgments are biased by the corrupt and vicious dispositions of the mind, by pride and envy, by the love of the world and sensual pleasures,— if the understanding be prejudiced against divine truths, and resolved not to admit them, the whole body, the whole soul, should be full of darkness.
Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness, v. 35. Take heed that the eye of the mind is not blinded by partiality, and prejudice, and sinful aims. Be sincere in your inquiries after truth, and ready to receive it in the light, and love, and power of it.
Chanukah Reading Night Five - Messiah is the Light of the World
Then spake Jesus (Y'shua) again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:4-5).
Then Jesus (Y'shua) said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus (Y'shua), and departed, and did hide himself from them. (John 12:35-36).
God is light, and Messiah is the image of the invisible God; God of gods, Light of lights. He was expected to be a light to enlighten the Gentiles (Luke. 2:32), and so the light of the world, and not of the Jewish church only. The visible light of the world is the sun, and Messiah is the Sun of righteousness. One sun enlightens the whole world, so does one Messiah, and there needs no more. Y'shua in calling himself the light expresses,
- What he is in Himself— most excellent and glorious.
- What he is to the world— the fountain of light, enlightening every man. (John 3:19).
The light shines in darkness. Light is self-evidencing, and will make itself known; this light, whence the light of men comes, has shone, and does shine. The eternal Word, as God, shines in the darkness of natural conscience. Though men by the fall have become darkness, that which may be known of God is manifested in them; (see Rom. 1:19-20). Something of the power of the divine Word, both as creating and as commanding, all mankind have an innate sense of; were it not for this, earth would be a hell, a place of utter darkness; blessed be God, it is not so yet.
Chanukah Reading Night six - Paul saw the light Acts 26:12-18
Paul saw a heavenly vision, it was without doubt a divine appearance. He saw a great light, a light from heaven, it was such a light as was above the brightness of the sun, outshone and eclipsed that and this could not be the product of Paul’s own fancy, for it shone round about those that journeyed with him: they were all sensible of their being surrounded with this inundation of light, which made the sun itself to be in their eyes a less light. The force and power of this light appeared in the effects of it; they all fell to the earth upon the sight of it, such a mighty consternation did it put them into; this light was lightning for its force, yet did not pass away as lightning, but continued to shine round about them.
Messiah himself appeared to him (v. 16): I have appeared to you for this purpose. He was in this light, though those that travelled with Paul saw the light only, and not Messiah in the light.
He made himself known to him, he said, “I am Jesus (Y'shua); he whom thou hast despised, and hated, and vilified; I bear that name which thou hast made so odious, and the naming of it criminal.” This convinced him that the doctrine of Y'shua was divine and heavenly, and not only not to be opposed, but to be cordially embraced: That Y'shua is the Messiah, for he has not only risen from the dead, but he has received from God the Father honour and glory; and this is enough to make him a Christian immediately, to quit the society of the persecutors, whom Yahweh from heaven thus appears against, and to join himself with the society of the persecuted, whom Yahweh from heaven thus appears for.
Chanukah Reading Night Seven - No Longer in the Darkness
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in Yahweh: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto Yahweh. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them (Eph. 5:8-11).
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (1Thess. 5:4-6).
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9).
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Messiah shall give you light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (Ephesians 5:11-15).
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus (Y'shua) Messiah his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:5-9).
A state of sin is a state of darkness. Now are you light in the Lord, enlightened by the word and the Spirit of God. Now, upon your believing in Messiah, and your receiving the gospel. Walk as children of light. Children of light, according to the Hebrew dialect, are those who are in a state of light, endued with knowledge and holiness.
“Now, being such, let your conversation be suitable to your condition and privileges, and accordingly live up to the obligation you are under by that knowledge and those advantages you enjoy— Proving what is acceptable unto God (Also see John 3:19-22).
Chanukah Reading Night Eight - We Need to Shine
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Messiah, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain (Phil. 2:14-16).
We should have a cheerful obedience to the commands of God: “Do all things, do your duty in every branch of it, without murmurings. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it.” God’s commands were given to be obeyed, not to be disputed. This greatly adorns our profession, and shows we serve a good Master, whose service is freedom and whose work is its own reward.
We should have peaceableness and love one to another. “Do all things without disputing, wrangling, and debating one another; because the light of truth and the life of religion are often lost in the heats and mists of disputation.” When God raises up a good man in any place, he sets up a light in that place.
Or it may be read imperatively: Among whom shine you as lights (compare Mt. 5:16). Let your light so shine before men.
Believers should endeavor not only to approve themselves to God, but to recommend themselves to others, that they may also glorify God. They must shine as well as be sincere — Holding forth the word of life.