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

20 "You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light , to make a lamp burn continually. Ex 27:20 (NASB)

b His WORD gives us insight/light into our lives.

aa When God’s Word isn’t made manifest we lack vision, fall down a slippery slope of sin.

bb His Word dispels the darkness, confusion, ignorance, fear, superstition

E There are many types of menorah like structures in Scripture.

1 The Jewish feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, PENTECOST, Rosh Shoshanah, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles), Days of the Week, Seven year tribulation, Seven Spirits of God, etc.

a The first time I see the menorah structure is in Genesis 1.1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

aa In the Hebrew this is a seven word sentence.

bb Bereshit (In the Beginning) barah (created) Elohim (God) eht (Word of Creation) hasamayim (the heavens) vaeht (and) haeretz (the earth).

b The fourth word EHT (pronounced as ‘eight’) seems to represent the shemash/servant candle.

aa Aleph & Tahv (first & last letter in Hebrew Aleph-Beit); equivalant of A & Z in English;

bb Rev. 1.8, Greek . . . Alpha Omega!

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Rev 1:8 (NASB)

2 Jewish tradition says the Shemash didn’t go out (Burn 24 hours on what the other lamps would burn up in 12).

a 12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12 (NASB)

b 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket , but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:14-16 (NASB)

aa He is the source of our light . . . we just reflect Him.

bb He never dims, dulls, goes dry.

c Sometimes we fall away, slip into sin . . . we need to get re-lit, fresh oil!

Conclusion:

THE PURPOSE OF THE LIGHT

"There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast. One night, though, a woman from a nearby village came and begged him for some oil to keep her family warm. Another time a father asked for some to use in his lamp. Another man needed to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and grant the requests of all.

Toward the end of the month, he noticed his supply of oil was dangerously low. Soon it was gone, and one night on the light on the lighthouse went out. As a result, that evening several ships were wrecked and countless lives were lost. When the authorities investigated, the man was very apologetic. He told them he was just trying to be helpful with the oil. Their reply to his excuses, however, was simple and to the point: "You were given oil for one purpose, and one purpose only - to keep that light burning!"