Finding Jesus In HanakkuhSample

  

Day 4

Desolation of the Temple (Dedication)

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:28 "So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” 

Teach: In the year 165 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes arrived back from Egypt and mercilessly attacked the city of Jerusalem. The non-canonical book of 2 Maccabees 5 states, “He ordered his soldiers to cut down without mercy those whom they met and to slay those who took refuge in their houses…..In the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost, forty thousand meeting a violent death, and the same number being sold into slavery.” If this was not enough, this cruel-hearted ruler attacked the temple and set up a statue of the Greek god Zeus inside. This, of course, was a complete abomination to the Jews, and many refused to worship Zeus, so Antiochus sent an army to enforce his decree. It was during these dark times that a certain priest named Mattathias sparked a revolt and, along with his five sons, had to flee to the Judean wilderness. When Mattathias died a year later, his son Judah returned to Jerusalem with an army, and through the course of many battles claimed Jerusalem back, rededicated the temple, and replaced the spoiled altar with a new one. Judah knew how important it was to rededicate the temple. For that which we love most is what we are most dedicated to.

Jesus Himself was dedicated to something He loved very much. He was dedicated to humankind. He came to earth to give eternal life to all those that would receive Him and accept Him as their Savior. While He could have asked a thousand legions of angels to stop Him from going to Calvary to die on a tree for the sins of the world, He did not flee and leave mankind in their sins. He loved us so much that He was dedicated to offer His life up, take on all of our sins, and give us the opportunity to receive everlasting life with Him forever.

The question I must ask myself is: What am I most dedicated to?

Prayer: Lord, strengthen and deepen my dedication to you. Do not allow me to give my time and talents to that which is not for your Glory.