DELIVERANCE AND DEDICATION
Sunday – December 14, 2025
Video link: https://youtu.be/hKMJ8-C3_HM
Today at approximately 6 PM is the beginning of the nine-day Festival of Dedication. This feast is also known as a Festival of Lights or more commonly Chanukah (Hanukkah – alternate spelling). The timing of this Festival is generally between our (American) Thanksgiving and Christmas (Christian celebration [mass] of the birth of THE Christ). This festival appears to have been observed by Jesus.
John 10:22-23 (KJV)
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
The Feast of Dedication or Chanukah is a proclaimed Hebrew feast. It is not one of the commanded Feasts of the Lord or Appointed Times of the Lord as spelled out in Leviticus chapter twenty-three and elsewhere. The featured picture above is an artist’s depiction of Herod’s Temple in the time of Jesus. It is called Herod’s Temple because He added to the Second Temple platform. The first Temple was built by Solomon, later destroyed and rebuilt in the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and others following a decree by King Cyrus of Persia, commonly called the Second Temple.
The origins of Chanukah occurred during the so-called inter-testament period (Malachi to Matthew – about 400 years). The Holy Land including modern day Israel at that time was occupied first by Alexander the Great of Greece and then following his death by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175 BC – 164 BC). Antiochus was a brutal ruler who outlawed Judaism and placed a statue of Zeus in the Most Holy Place of the Temple. On top of all that, he sacrificed unclean animals in the Temple. Worse still it is reported by Josephus the Jewish Historian and in the non-canon book of Second Maccabees 5:11-14 and 6:1-11 that Antiochus would sacrifice pigs, cut off the hands of Jews, cut out their tongues, and sacrifice them together with the unclean animals on the Alter of Sacrifice.
A Jewish revolt led by the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem in about 165 BC. They immediately set about the cleansing of the Temple, to return the Temple to its intended use, that is to rededicate the Temple to the True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When they went to light the menorah located in the Holy Place, they found there was only enough special oil for one day and it took eight days to make new oil. Pictured is a Menorah or candelabra as prescribed by God (Exodus 25:31-40) with six lamps and a center lamp (seven total). The center lamp is called the servant lamp. The candelabrum is pure gold. The oil represents the Holy Spirit, the six lamps represent mankind, the gold represents purity (righteousness), and the servant lamp is Jesus. The Servant lamp is used to ignite the fire in the other lamps. I think you can readily see the picture of the Holy Spirit always being present but becomes a purifying flame when Jesus, or the Word, enters the picture. They lit the Candelabra anyway knowing there was only one day of oil and it would take eight days to make more of the special olive oil for this purpose.
Miraculously the oil burned for eight days until the new oil was ready. Now, Chanukah is celebrated with a nine-candle candelabra recognizing that God delivered them once again from their enemies and caused the candles to flame miraculously for
eight days. There are four candles or lamps on each side of the servant lamp. Eight is the number of new beginnings and number nine represents divine completeness given from the Lord. Israel has been preserved by the Hand of God over and over down through history and they will be a people of God forever. Likewise, many of us have been delivered and preserved by the Grace and mercy of God until this day.
TAKE HOME:
- Our God is a God of deliverance and rededication.
- Jesus is the servant of all and yet also King and Lord not to mention Savior and High Priest.
- Let’s be thankful that our God is a redeeming God and gives us a fresh start as often as needed.
Lord willing, I will resume our study of the Kingdom of God next Saturday. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
REMINDERS
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Lord willing, I will resume right here xxxx. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
REMINDERS
Please take a moment to share this teaching and prayerfully consideration becoming a financial partner with this ministry. Visit our store/shop on the website, register for our emails, and order the books, they also make great gifts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://threeminuteword.wordpress.com
YOUTUBE: https://tinyurl.com/588t7343
RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/c-6530176
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdavidrwood
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581438181109
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-wood-d-o-5ab7ba81/recent-activity/all/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
WEBSITE: https://www.awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
MY BOOKS: https://tinyurl.com/2s4mb9kkINSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/awakeariseandtriumphministries/
