| Appointed Time Ministry |
|
You will arise and have compassion on Zion, |
| for it is time to show favor to her; | ||
| the appointed time has come. | ||
| Psalm 102:13 |
| Home | | Purpose | | Prayers | | Teachings | | Other Ministries | | Contact Us | |
| Hanukkah Studies - Day 8 by Sarah McIlvaine | |
|
Hanukkah – Day 8 Eight
Days There are a couple of things I would like to touch on briefly tonight in finishing up this series of teachings on Hanukkah. The first is the number eight. Hanukkah is a celebration of eight days. What is the significance of this? We often hear that eight is the number of new beginnings and this is true. E.W. Bullinger has this to say in his book, Number in Scripture: “As seven was so called because the seventh day was the day of completion and rest, so eight, as the eighth day, was over and above this perfect completion, and was indeed the first of a new series, as well as being the eighth. Thus it already represents two numbers in one, the first and eighth.” (p. 196) |
 |
|
In this study we have been
focusing on dedication, the meaning of Hanukkah. We see this pattern of
eight days in the biblical pattern of dedication. Something was set apart
(sanctified) for seven days and then on the eighth considered holy to the
Lord. Consider the law of the
firstborn animals, "You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your
harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons
you shall give to me. 30You
shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall
be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. (Exodus 22:
29-30) On the eighth day circumcision was to take place for all the male
children. (Lev. 12; 3) For seven days the altar of the
Tabernacle was consecrated by sacrificing a bull for a sin offering. On the eighth it was considered
holy. (Exodus 29:36-37) The
future altar of the millennial Bullinger also see the number eight as being associated with resurrection and regeneration. In this connection he sees circumcision as being performed on the eighth day because it foreshadowed the circumcision of the heart of the new covenant which signifies new creation. And regarding the passage on the firstborn mentioned above he has this to say, “The first-born was to be given to Jehovah on the eighth day (Exodus 22: 29, 30). But Resurrection is the great truth which is signified. Christ rose from the dead on ‘the first day of the week,’ that was of necessity the eighth day.” (p. 200) Eight is also from a root meaning “to make fat” or “to super-abound.” Bullinger again gives this insight, “Seven means, as we have seen, according to its etymology, “that which is spiritually complete or satisfying; while eight denotes that which is superabundant or satiating.” (p. 198) In this regard he cites the Feast of Tabernacles which is the only feast which was kept for eight days, with the eighth being set apart from the seventh. (Leviticus 23: 33-36) This is interesting in that there is actually a special connection between Tabernacles and Hanukkah according to 2 Maccabees 10: 6-7: “And they kept eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of tabernacles, when they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts. Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.” It was as if it were a second Tabernacles celebration. And if Tabernacles is to be ultimately fulfilled in the coming Messianic reign of Yeshua during the Millennium, then it will be a super-abundant time. These are just thoughts tonight. I leave you to meditate them yourself. I would only ask -- what of us? Where are we in our process of rededication, of regeneration? Have we moved any closer to the super-abundant life? Well, we are all in process aren’t we? I am so glad God is patient with us. But there is one more thing
I would like to leave with you.
While I was studying to prepare teachings on Hanukkah, I felt like
the Lord led me to look at other scriptures regarding times when the
2 Chronicles 34 and 35 tell
of this period. The
last dedication came when the exiles returned from
What struck me was what all
three had in common. After
each of these dedications they celebrated the Passover. I really don’t know what that
means right now, but what was impressed on me was that some of you are
going to be called to celebrate Passover this year, whether you have ever
done so before or not.* If
this is you, then you will know.
The Holy Spirit will lead you! This feast is intensely meaningful
and if you have never observed it before, I strongly encourage you to make
plans to do so this year. And
then maybe? – next year in Shalom, Sarah McIlvaine *While I wrote this some years ago, it is still true, I believe, that celebrating Passover is a very important thing for believers to begin to incorporate into their rededicated lives. Its vital truths will be made ever more real to you as you do so!
-Sarah McIlvaine (2008) |
|