Hanukkah Is Our — Reasonable Service

Picking up where we left off in our first two Hanukkah discussions (if you didn’t read part 1 first, here’s the link https://whatishebrewing.com/2022/12/19/hanukkah-is-our-culture/), we explored the inaugural Festival/Feast of Hanukkah/Dedication, commemorating the re-dedication of YAH’s Temple. We also discussed the importance of living a life of dedication/hanukkah to YAH, by highlighting some of the exemplary lives & sacrifices of our ancestors in Scripture. Now, to further enrich your understanding of Hanukkah, I recommend reading and reflecting on 2nd Chronicles chapters 29-30, and contemplating the profound re-dedication/Hanukkah service undertaken by King Hezekiah at the outset of his reign, here’s a quick excerpt:

“He (King Hezekiah) in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house (The Temple) of Yahuah, and repaired them.”

DIVREI HAYAMIYM SHENIY (2 CHRONICLES) 29:3 את CEPHER

Before we proceed, let’s establish a vital connection: the service of The Temple, as described in 2 Chronicles 29-30, parallels our own reasonable service unto YAH. This is rooted in the understanding that our bodies are, in fact, the living temples of YAH.

“What? know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Ruach Ha’Qodesh (The Holy/Set Apart Spirit of YAH) which is in you, which ye have of Elohiym (God), and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Elohiym in your body, and in your ruach (spirit), which are Elohiym’s.

QORINTIYM RI’SHON (1 CORINTHIANS) 6:19-20 את CEPHER

“I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohiym, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy (set apart), acceptable (pleasing) unto Elohiym, which is your reasonable service.”

ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 12:1 את CEPHER

To strengthen our understanding, let’s explore the concept of “service” in multiple languages. Let’s examine the Hebrew, Greek, and English definitions to gain a more comprehensive insight.

Upon further examination of the etymology of “service”, we also discover the following:

“Meanings “state of being bound to undertake tasks for someone or at someone’s direction; labor performed or undertaken for another” are mid-13c. Sense of “service or employment in a court or administration” is from c. 1300, as is that of “military service (especially by a knight); employment as a soldier;” hence “the military as an occupation” (1706).”

https://www.etymonline.com/word/service

Our reasonable service unto YAH encompasses not only our worship but also embodies the concept of military service. I served 20 years in the Air Force, where I attained the rank of sergeant, and it was only towards the end of my career that I came to understand the etymological connection between “sergeant” and “servant”, it’s the same word https://www.etymonline.com/word/sergeant?utm_source=app. During my military service, my life was governed by the laws and Constitution of the United States, supplemented by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). I understood the concept of living under multiple levels of authority and service.

During my military service, a higher level of authority governed my life — Christian doctrine. As a devoted Christian (for all but the last 3 years of my 20-year tenure), I sincerely believed I was serving and following the Messiah with unwavering dedication. However, this conviction was shaken when I encountered Scriptures that prompted a critical reevaluation of my servitude. Compelled to scrutinize my beliefs, I carefully examined the instructions and commands in Scripture, questioning whether my reasonable service to the Messiah truly aligned with His Word. I had to distinguish between the teachings of Scripture and the influences of church doctrine and personal misconceptions. This introspection revealed a startling truth: despite my perceived dedication, I was not serving the Messiah according to His Word. Instead, I was inadvertently living in opposition to His Instruction (Torah).

I now invite you to engage in a similar introspection. Ask yourself: “How does my life – encompassing my heart, soul, and might – align with the requirements outlined in Scriptures such as these?”

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR Elohiym (God), and GUARD (keep/obey) His COMMANDMENTS: for this is the whole DUTY (“service”) of man. For Elohiym shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

QOHELETH (ECCLESIASTES) 12:13-14 את CEPHER

“And now, Yashar’el (Israel), what does Yahuah Elohayka (YAH your God) require of you, but to FEAR Yahuah Elohayka, to WALK in all His ways (see below how we walk in His ways), and to LOVE Him (see below how we love Him), and to SERVE (see previous service verses) Yahuah Elohayka with all your heart and with all your soul, To guard (keep/obey) The Commandments of Yahuah, and His statutes, which I command you this day for your good?”

DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 10:12-13 את CEPHER

“And hereby we do know that we know Him, IF (and only if) we guard (keep/obey) HIS COMMANDMENTS. He that says, I know Him, and guards NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, is a liar, and the Truth is NOT in him. But whoso guards (keeps/obeys) HIS WORD (which includes His Commandments), in him truly is the love of Elohiym perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so to WALK, even as He WALKED.”

YOCHANON RI’SHON (1 JOHN) 2:3-6 את CEPHER

“For this is the LOVE of Elohiym, that WE GUARD (keep/obey) His COMMANDMENTS: and His COMMANDMENTS are NOT grievous (burdensome/too hard to keep).”

YOCHANON RI’SHON (1 JOHN) 5:3 את CEPHER

“Here is the patience of the qodeshiym (set apart ones/“saints”): here are they that guard (keep/obey) The Commandments of Elohiym, AND (not “or”) the faith of Yahusha (The Messiah).”

CHIZAYON (REVELATION) 14:12 את CEPHER

“Blessed are they that DO (keep/obey) His Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, AND may enter in through the gates into The City (of paradise, aka “Heaven”). For without (those on the outside of The City) are dogs, and sorcerers and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. (A huge lie is that you can enter in through the gates while breaking His Commandments)”

CHIZAYON (REVELATION) 22:14-15 את CEPHER

“Not everyone that says unto me, Adonai, Adonai (“Lord, Lord”, Master, Master), shall ENTER INTO the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the will of MY FATHER (His will is His Torah) which is in Heaven. Many will say to ME in THAT DAY, “Adonai, Adonai (“Lord, Lord”), have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works?” And then will I profess unto them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity (LAWLESSNESS, you who break YAH’s Commandments).””

MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 7:21-23 את CEPHER

I implore you, to reread, meditate, and reconcile yourself with passages like the ones above. As the Feast of Hanukkah/Dedication comes & goes, let us pray to YAH, asking Him to help us to live our lives in hanukkah/dedication to Him, each & every day! And let us also remember to pray for one another, and to love & forgive our achiym & achyot (brothas & sistas). Why? Because we are truly in this thang together family!

“By this we know that WE LOVE THE CHILDREN OF ELOHIYM, WHEN WE LOVE ELOHIYM, AND GUARD (keep/obey) HIS COMMANDMENTS.”

YOCHANON RI’SHON (1 JOHN) 5:2 את CEPHER

Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

Until next time, shalom ✌🏾
~Yahrahn
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Hanukkah Is NOT Our…