Messiah in Chanukkah Chapter 3
- Kislev Scripture Lesson #3: God is our Comforter
- The Strength of the Father dwells in the Messiah
- The Grace of Adonai is manifested through the Messiah
- Messiah, who is full of grace and truth is the Light of the World
Kislev Scripture Lesson #3: God is our Comforter:
דברי נחמיה בן־חכליה ויהי בחדש־(כסלו) כסליו שנת עשרים ואני הייתי בשושן הבירה׃
דִּבְרֵ֥י נְחֶמְיָ֖ה בֶּן־חֲכַלְיָ֑ה וַיְהִ֤י בְחֹֽדֶשׁ־(כסלו) כִּסְלֵיו֙ שְׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֥י הָיִ֖יתִי בְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָֽה׃
Nehemiah 1:1: “The words of Nechemyah (נחמיה-the Consolation of Adonai) ben Chachalyah (בן־חכליה). Now it happened in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Shushan the fortified city (capitol).”
God is [our] Comforter and Consoler.
The name Nechemyah refers to the administration of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Nehemiah means, Adonai is Consolation, and Adonai is Comforter. The name of Nehemiah’s father Chachalyah (חכליה) literally refers to the provoking of a flash of brilliance, a sparkle in the eyes in a good sense. It means the one whom the “LORD Enlightens.” How does God enlighten us?
GOD Enlightens [us] by His Spirit and His Word.
The Strength of the Father dwells in the Messiah:
The Eternal Spirit (Ruach Olam) enlightens us through our meditation of His Word. In ancient Hebrew the word picture for son is a tent that has been built for the strength of the father to dwell-in. In Nehemiah 1:2 we discover that a near relative of Nehemiah is his brother Chanani. Chanan-i (חנני) in Hebrew this means My Grace. This means:
The Enlightenment of God dwells within us by His Spirit of Grace.
The Grace of Adonai is manifested through the Messiah:
This Hebrew word for grace (chen, chanan) is different in its meaning than the word we use to describe the overall ministry of the Spirit of Grace (Ruach Ha-Chesed). The word chanan (grace, favor) in Hebrew is a word picture of a strong one in humility and meekness voluntarily taking the form of a servant and stooping down to help an weak one by providing him or her aid (consolation, comfort).
On the other hand, the Hebrew word chesed refers to the loving-kindness of the Spirit of the Holy One. When we are referring to the Spirit of Grace (Ruach Ha-Chesed) we are referring to the exceptional faithfulness of God to His children; even when we are unfaithful to Him.
The Ruach Ha-Chesed is the One who enlightens, consoles, and comforts us.
This the Spirit of Loving-kindness did in great measure for all humankind by His entering into the womb of the virgin Jewess Miryam and indwelling her with the indwelling Presence of His Spirit; His spiritual DNA; the Seed of our heavenly Father.
Messiah, who is full of grace and truth is the Light of the World:
The Messiah of God was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the sacred month of Kislev. Kislev is the month of Divine Confidence. We are confidant in the promise of God’s graciousness. Kislev is the month of great grace and favor when Avinu Shebashamayim, our heavenly Father, looked down upon fallen humanity and bestowed upon us a second chance at living our lives in accord with His will.
When the Messiah was conceived the Eternal Light of God reentered the Temple of Man.
Kislev is the month when the Eternal Light of the Temple was relit by the Spirit of Loving-Kindeness when the holy child was conceived in the womb of Miryam bat David. Due to Messiah’s conception, birth, and life our hearts—spirits; i.e. the eternal part of our being— can now be permanently relit with the Living Torah of the Eternal Light in the temple of our own bodies and we can now be the sons and daughters of the Holy One forever.