The Glory Hidden in the Menorah

Feb 47 min read

Christmas lights in background with menorah candles lit. The center candle holds the brightest light. Text:" The Glory Hidden in the Menorrah"

A white capital cursive H with black background. Gold glitter around it in circular fashion. Used as opening letter of writing.

Hanukkah is a beautiful Winter-time holiday celebrated by those in the Jewish faith every year around Christmas. It is marked by the lighting of candles in the dark, and celebrated with many wonderful traditional foods, gifts, and fun for the entire family. It has deep spiritual roots that go back thousands of years for the Jewish nation.

In these roots, the Jews celebrate the victory of the Maccabee zealots over the Syrian Greeks for 8 days. It is a very inspiring story of light, hope, and overcoming devastation for the Jewish nation. This story is not found in the Bible or the Torah but rather in the Talmud, the Jewish central text containing many historical writings and oral traditions. But even in

Darkened room with family eating meal at table. Menorah lit in foreground, family eating and having fun in background.

spite of this amazing story, it also has another meaning that the Lord showed me just two days ago. This little-known meaning is tucked right inside the branched candelabra of the menorah. This meaning-- while lesser broadcasted-- is more radiant than all of the other meanings put together. This meaning is none other than The Glory hidden in the Menorah.

How Do the Maccabee's Relate to the Glory Hidden in the Menorah?

The Maccabees were a group of rebels that rose up within the Jewish nation as a result of the oppression of the Seleucids on the Jewish nation in 168 BC. When Alexander the Great was killed, four generals split land four different ways as a result. The Seleucids took the piece in which Israel resided. They attempted to halt the faith and ways of the Hebrews and to not only erase their identity, but to also force them to conform to the Paganistic culture around them.

Religious Persecution

Things became even more distressing with the cruelty of the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the area. At one point, Antiochus went so far as to prohibit the Jewish practices and then created an altar to Zeus in the Hebrew temple. He cruelly attempted to force them to sacrifice pigs from this altar. Both of these acts are forbidden by Judaism (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 14:8).

However, in this time of oppression, many lost their lives, suffered ongoing religious persecution, and still more succumbed to the pressure to conform and to deny their faith.

Man standing facing the wailing wall in Jerusalem with flag of Israel draped on his back.

Rebels With a Righteous Cause

With great faith, bravery, devotion to God in the face of martyrdom, the Maccabees arose as rebels to this treatment. They eventually, through strategic plans, after three years, were able to lead a revolt, overcome their oppressors, and recapture the temple of God. They refused to be defiled by what was occurring, and did not back down despite the cost.

After the battles ended, they started the cleanup and rebuilding of what had been utterly destroyed. They cleansed and rededicated the temple that had been desecrated. Part of this rededication involved the traditional lighting of the Menorah, but when they attempted to light it, they only had enough sacred oil for one day. Despite the lack of oil, they lit the menorah anyway. Miraculously, after 8 days the menorah continued to shine till new oil was made available for use.

Miraculous Glory!

They praised the Name of the Lord! This miracle proved that God had preserved them and was once again protecting their nation. As a result, Hanukkah became an 8-day celebration. They so named this holiday "Hanukkah" because this Hebrew word means, 'dedication'. They were rededicating the temple back to God and in so doing, each year that Hanukkah is celebrated, they continue to dedicate the temple, in this candle lighting holiday.

A large fully lit silver menorah with white candles in a beautiful living room

Glory in the Menorah

As a Christian mother, and a prophetic person, I love Israel and all things Hebrew. I do not claim to know everything about all that is celebrated and all the meanings for everything, but I love to research it and appreciate it when I can. I mostly hear this Aleph-bet from the Lord, when He directs me to its meanings. I then teach this to my children as well. We don't get to celebrate Hanukkah every single year, but in the times we have been able to celebrate it, it has been such a blessing to celebrate and learn together.

So, a few nights ago, when the Lord used the word, "Shamash" I had an idea of what He was talking about. He was referring to the main 'helper' candle of the Hebrew Menorah. This is the candle in the center of the Menorah and sits slightly higher than all the rest. It is lit first every night of Hanukkah and is the candle used to light every additional candle every night thereafter.

I went to define this word that I thought I fully understood, but when I did, I discovered that it also means, “sun." It refers to the shining brilliance of the sun. In the Bible, the sun is always symbolic for the glory of God! Psalms 84:11 speaks of it perfectly as just one example:

"For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11 AMPC

And also Malachi 4:2"

"But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy." Malachi 4:2 AMPC

My mind now blown, I am imagining this candle all lit up and brightly shining in the darkened house!

A small menorah on a table in foreground with a male hand using the shamash to light the other candles. A woman in the background wearing a white shirt behind the menorah sitting at the table.

Jesus Christ, The Glory and Radiance of God

For while this candle is the "helper" its glory is greater than all the other candles because it sits higher, for its use, and its separation on the Menorah. Who does this sound like? None other than Jesus Christ, in the form of the Holy Spirit, full of glory, as He lights each of the sons and daughters in His glory! Being the servant candle, the Shamash, a parallel of the humble servant, Jesus Christ, lights up His devoted servants with His glory to share with the world!

Also, since Hannukah means, "rededication" it represents to all of us as believers that we should use this time to rededicate or lay down our 'temples' in service to the Lord. (our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit). Since Jesus was an example for all of us to lay down our lives in self-surrender for others and to God, we also dedicate our bodies to self-surrender in service to others and God.

Prophetic Word

In a recent prophetic word that the Lord spoke to me, He stated that we would be "filled with His coming glory in proportion to the degree of our dying to our flesh." We must come before Him and ask Him about ourselves if we aren't sure. His heart is set upon the Harvest of Souls. This delights His heart. (Acts 2:17-39) As His people, we want to serve Him and obey Him not just because He's God, but because He has done so much for us. He is our treasured Friend. We have come to know His desires so well through the fellowship and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that we desire everything He desires.

The root of our Christian faith is Judaism. Salvation was always meant to come first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16-17) When the Jews did not fully accept that Jesus was the Messiah, the Gentiles were then opened to accepting the Gospel Truth as well. (Acts 13:42-48) What the Lord allowed me to see today was that they have been celebrating their Messiah all this time in using the Shamash candle every Hannukah. Did they know? I don’t know. But I thank God that they rejected Jesus at first so that I could come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

The Glory of Christ Will Not Stay Hidden for Much Longer

I pray for my Jewish brothers and sisters, and speak that they, too, will come to know and accept the loving care and salvation of Jesus Christ as their Messiah. He is more than ready for them to come to Him, and it is our joy to see them come!

God’s glory is soon coming to this earth. Every eye will see it. Jew, Gentile, it doesn’t matter. He will light His sons and daughters with His glory, and we will shine the light of Heaven in the earth. Just as Hanukkah candles shine for all the world to see in the middle of a darkened house they are unmistakable.

He Cannot Wait to See You Lit Up--You are His Family

The Lord says now as I write this; “Family”. He is precious. His family is His delight. Does this surprise you that He longs to see you lit up with Himself? He calls You His own and He wants those that He loves to be like Him. Nothing pleases Him more when His children live their lives in honor of Him and reflecting Him. Yes, His children will light up the world with wonderful servant ministries being built now, (like the Shamash is the servant candle) and in all those that genuinely and unashamedly love the Lord, Jesus Christ. Standing for Him in every way, those that belong to Him truly were born for such a time as this!

The tomb of Jesus Christ opened with bed on left in foreground and linen lying on the bed. The open tomb door on the right side has three crosses on a hill visible with the sun shining brightly over the tops of them. Text is Psalm 24:3-7 scripture.: Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not listed up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. This is the generation of those who seek Hm, who seek Your face--even Jacob, Selah. Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up. O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in!" Psalm 24:3-7

We will bring glory to His Name and to the Father's Name. There will be many miracles performed, and many more miraculous things performed that He didn't do in His earthly ministry as well. God's children will be seen by all the world, for we will be shining the radiance of Heaven just like Jesus.

Halleluiah to Our King of Glory! May the whole earth be lit with the blaze of His children reflecting His beauty, passion, grace, and light! We magnify Him alone and lift Him high in Jesus' Glorious Name!

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