THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #194 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #175
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3880
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #194
THE LIFE OF MOSES #175
MOSES AT MT.SINAI#74
THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 33)
THE MENORAH #3
The Tree of Life in the Old Testament represents the heart of the Garden of Eden...the idea of Paradise.
But for us the Tree of Life is Jesus, and heaven is not just a place but His Presence among us.
In other words, Heaven is not another country but the Person of our Lord in whose presence we shall find fulness of joy.
In fact the light of heaven will not emanate from a celestial light source like the sun but from the glory that radiates from His Presence.
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."—(Revelation 21:23)
From yesterday's teaching on the Menorah, we can discern how it represents the Tree of Life.
But research deeper and you will find it actually embodies Jesus as the Word of God.
1. The Tree of Life as the Word of God.
"Since Man was driven out of Paradise, the Word of God is for fallen man the Tree of Life"— M.A. Zimmerman "Studies in Genesis"
The oil used in this lamp was explicitly olive oil.
An excellent and recommended read on this topic is "God's Lamp: Man's Light" by John D. Garr, Ph.D., who notes in his book the following insights:
"The Jewish people have long believed that the Menorah originally represented the Tree of Life . . . the Tree of Life also represented the Torah, the wisdom of God's Word.
Solomon declared . . . "
Happy is the man who finds wisdom . . . She is a tree of life . . ."
— Proverbs 3:13,18
Revelation also makes this connection.
"Blessed are those who do His commandments (Torah/Word of God), that they may have the right to the tree of life."
— Revelation 22:14
The olive tree was considered an "eternal" tree, considering its longevity. There are olive trees around today that are considered to be over 3000 years old.
Garr also comments on this.
". . . even when the trunk of an olive tree is cut down, new life springs forth from its roots."
— John D. Garr
So from the aforesaid studies, the Tree of Life is equated with the Word of God.
2. TheTorah Scrolls and the Tree of Life
Torah scrolls are said to be wound on olive wood dowels, and they are called "Etz Hayyim," which means "Tree of Life."
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments (Torah/Word of God).”
— Matthew 19:16-17
Quoting Garr again:
"The Torah is the record of God's instructions that, when fulfilled in men's lives, produce life...walking in rebellion against the commandments of God that were explicitly set forth in the Torah tends toward darkness and death"
In his book, "The Beast That Crouches at the Door," by Rabbi David Fohrman, he writes that Modern day Torah observant Jews who attend synagogue on the Sabbath recite Proverbs 3:18 -"It is a tree of life to all who grab hold of it" when the Torah is raised for all to see.
This is publicly seen in a Feast called the Simchat Torah when the Torah Scrolls are taken out of their ornate metal casements and held up like a dancing partner by Orthodox Jews who whirl around with it as in a dance.
In Jerusalem we often see this celebration of Simcat Torah performed in the square before the Western Wall. They expressed such joy and reverential love for the Torah.
Conclusion
The Menorah as a symbol of the Tree of Life thus represents the Word of God.
And Jesus being the Word of God is found in the symbols of both the Tree of Life and the Menorah.
But Jesus as the Living Word of God is not just cold and impersonal Logos but Rhema - full of the revelation knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
From two dimensional print or writing on scrolls and bibles, He becomes the embodiment in three dimensional form of the Word of God.
Thus John wrote in John 1:14
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
We all want to be back in the Garden of Eden and see the Tree of Life and partake of its fruit.
But until we change our mindset that heaven is not just a Place but the Presence and Person of Jesus, the object of our faith may well be the shadow and not the substance of faith.
As a result Heaven becomes a nebulous destination - an afterthought that is as dismissive as the catch-phrase: "Heaven can wait."
N.B. We will study more of the many symbolisms of the Menorah tomorrow.
Lesson 3880
THE LIVES OF THE
PATRIACHS #194
THE LIFE OF MOSES #175
MOSES AT MT.SINAI#74
THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 33)
THE MENORAH #3
The Tree of Life in the Old Testament represents the heart of the Garden of Eden...the idea of Paradise.
But for us the Tree of Life is Jesus, and heaven is not just a place but His Presence among us.
In other words, Heaven is not another country but the Person of our Lord in whose presence we shall find fulness of joy.
In fact the light of heaven will not emanate from a celestial light source like the sun but from the glory that radiates from His Presence.
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."—(Revelation 21:23)
From yesterday's teaching on the Menorah, we can discern how it represents the Tree of Life.
But research deeper and you will find it actually embodies Jesus as the Word of God.
1. The Tree of Life as the Word of God.
"Since Man was driven out of Paradise, the Word of God is for fallen man the Tree of Life"— M.A. Zimmerman "Studies in Genesis"
The oil used in this lamp was explicitly olive oil.
An excellent and recommended read on this topic is "God's Lamp: Man's Light" by John D. Garr, Ph.D., who notes in his book the following insights:
"The Jewish people have long believed that the Menorah originally represented the Tree of Life . . . the Tree of Life also represented the Torah, the wisdom of God's Word.
Solomon declared . . . "
Happy is the man who finds wisdom . . . She is a tree of life . . ."
— Proverbs 3:13,18
Revelation also makes this connection.
"Blessed are those who do His commandments (Torah/Word of God), that they may have the right to the tree of life."
— Revelation 22:14
The olive tree was considered an "eternal" tree, considering its longevity. There are olive trees around today that are considered to be over 3000 years old.
Garr also comments on this.
". . . even when the trunk of an olive tree is cut down, new life springs forth from its roots."
— John D. Garr
So from the aforesaid studies, the Tree of Life is equated with the Word of God.
2. TheTorah Scrolls and the Tree of Life
Torah scrolls are said to be wound on olive wood dowels, and they are called "Etz Hayyim," which means "Tree of Life."
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments (Torah/Word of God).”
— Matthew 19:16-17
Quoting Garr again:
"The Torah is the record of God's instructions that, when fulfilled in men's lives, produce life...walking in rebellion against the commandments of God that were explicitly set forth in the Torah tends toward darkness and death"
In his book, "The Beast That Crouches at the Door," by Rabbi David Fohrman, he writes that Modern day Torah observant Jews who attend synagogue on the Sabbath recite Proverbs 3:18 -"It is a tree of life to all who grab hold of it" when the Torah is raised for all to see.
This is publicly seen in a Feast called the Simchat Torah when the Torah Scrolls are taken out of their ornate metal casements and held up like a dancing partner by Orthodox Jews who whirl around with it as in a dance.
In Jerusalem we often see this celebration of Simcat Torah performed in the square before the Western Wall. They expressed such joy and reverential love for the Torah.
Conclusion
The Menorah as a symbol of the Tree of Life thus represents the Word of God.
And Jesus being the Word of God is found in the symbols of both the Tree of Life and the Menorah.
But Jesus as the Living Word of God is not just cold and impersonal Logos but Rhema - full of the revelation knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
From two dimensional print or writing on scrolls and bibles, He becomes the embodiment in three dimensional form of the Word of God.
Thus John wrote in John 1:14
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
We all want to be back in the Garden of Eden and see the Tree of Life and partake of its fruit.
But until we change our mindset that heaven is not just a Place but the Presence and Person of Jesus, the object of our faith may well be the shadow and not the substance of faith.
As a result Heaven becomes a nebulous destination - an afterthought that is as dismissive as the catch-phrase: "Heaven can wait."
N.B. We will study more of the many symbolisms of the Menorah tomorrow.
