Menorah: God’s Lamp, Man’s Light Series

Our Hebrew Heritage Series

Menorah: God’s Lamp, Man’s Light

September 9, 2012 FBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

A The church has been robbed.

1 We have lost out on our Hebrew heritage.

a When we understand that our faith is traced back to Israel, Hebrews, Judaism we will have a better understanding/more complete knowledge of Jesus, our Jewish Lord.

b We have been depraved our biblical legacy, Hebraic foundation of our faith

2 We will explore our Hebrew Heritage over the next four weeks.

a Monarah, Shofar/Tashlich, Jesus in the Feasts/Passover, Sabboth

b 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. Romans 11:16-18 (NASB)

B Pray

I The Menorah is the only piece of tabernacle/temple that God totally designed Himself.

1 In Exodus (37.17-24) God told Moses to build a golden lamp stand upon which seven (7) lamps were to be positioned.

17 Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs and its flowers were of one piece with it.18 There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it;19 three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.20 In the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers;21 and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.22 Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold.23 He made its seven lamps with its snuffers and its trays of pure gold.24 He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold. Ex 37:17-24 (NASB)

a The almond tree is featured in the design of the monorah used in the Tabernacle & Temples.

aa Leaves, flowers, & fruit, perhaps reminded Jews of Aaron’s almond tree rod.

bb Num. 17.8, Aaron’s rod was used by God to perform a miracle (His rod bore leaves, flowers & almonds overnight.)

8 Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. Num 17:8 (NASB)

b Flavius Josephus described the menorah as . . .

“Over against this table, near the southern wall, was set a candlestick of cast gold, hollow within, being of the weight of one hundred pounds, which the Hebrews call Chinchares; it it be turned into the Greak language, it denotes a talent. It was made with its knops, and lilies, and pomegranates, and bowls (which ornaments amounted to seventy in all); by which means the shaft elevated itself on high from a single base, and planets, including the sun among them. It terminated in seven heads, in one row, all standing parallel to one another; and these branches carried seven lamps, one by one, in imitation of the number of planets. These lamps looked to the east and the south, the candlestick being situate obliquely.”

aa He is reporting that the design of the menorah in the Tabernacle represented the sun & the planets.

bb Early man thought there were only seven planets in our solar system: Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth/Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.

cc Also, days of the week named for these 7 planets. (Sunday/Sun, Monday/Moon, Tuesday/Mars, Wednesday/Mercury, Thursday/Jupiter, Friday/Venus, Saturday/Saturn)

2 In the tabernacle, it stood facing the Table of Shew bread in the Holy Place.

a Its light would shine like a million diamonds reflecting on the gold inner walls of the sanctuary.

b Tradition says the seven lamp lampstand had six lamps all facing the center candle.

aa The center candle is called “Ner Elohim” (The lamp of God)

bb AKA: “Shamash” (Servant Lamp).

c Every morning, a priest would service the lamps that had burned through the night.