Candlestand
And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
Genesis 8:5
Now we're come to the time of the end of the flood in the tenth month as seen in the text. It seems an awful long time that they've been shut up therein, doesn't it? At least, it does to those contained on the ark, as well as any floating boat with a storm raging outside could I suppose. It must have been a relief indeed to those inside to finally start seeing the lay of the land. If you will recall, those inside had no way of knowing just where they were. Therefore, Noah took into the habit of using a bird. Birds, you see, are excellent markers of space and direction. They contain a natural urge to stop off and rest in the tops of the trees and high places and such. More than that, these also enjoy gathering materials for building a nest. It seems that sending the dove was a little smarter than ever it seemed. One day the dove returned with a trace of a twig in her mouth letting Noah know land had appeared. Then off it flew, never to be seen or heard from ever again.
Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
Ezekiel 24:1-2
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
Jeremiah 39:1
Well, after all that time, King Nebuchadnezzar and his army from far off Babylon had finally shown up. It must have seemed like a long time in waiting for those stuck in the land. They were left there, the rest of the people, with all their devices, governors, and stuff. Of this, had the prophets foretold for a mighty long time, or so it seemed to the people. Then in the tenth month, what was promised finally came to pass in full with nothing delayed. It has to do with the promises, the shape of the star, and the one who hung it all into place it seems. Just maybe that might stand to reason.
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti
Esther 2:16-17
Remember the beauty pageant told of in Esther so long before. Perhaps you don't either and that's still okay. Maybe we haven't seen it just yet but we will in a moment. Still though, this is the story of a woman who had waited long in captivity for a touch from above. This touch she was looking for was more than just from mere men. The king Ahasuerus was ruling and reigning for now in this place, but he had an altercation it seems with his wife. It was one so severe, that she entirely quite failed to appear. Whatever the reasons were for this spousal disgrace, the results are plain to be seen. A beauty contest was held open for all those who attended in this far off land where the Jews were being held in captivity. It seems these too had rebelled against God and so had been put safely away. It would be for a time though and that not for long just as the results of the pageant arrived that same day. Esther, the clear winner, was little more than a Jew. It's it nice to know though that favor comes perhaps when we expected it least. A reminder that no matter what may have come, there is still hope for tomorrow to come.
In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 29:1
Let's look for a moment at the basic star shape. Some have said it looks like a crab. If I remember rightly what is crab-shaped, I'm pretty sure it's just not going to look quite like that. The shape of the stars then comes in the form of a Y. I can even arrange it to ask the question why if you want. That's a very good question as to why anything so bright and beautiful would resemble a creature that's quite possibly been hauled up from the sea. Come on now. I know something else though this star is shaped like. It almost looks like a candlestick, doesn't it? Back in the bygone days, they would pour metal into a mold to make a candlestand. Some of them had more than one branch on it especially in the houses of the very wealthy. An example of this would be the menorah used in ceremonial worship today. Back then though, they could make the candlestand into whatever they wanted. This one then, has just two branches, one for each light. That way the drips from the candle could be caught before a puddle of wax formed at its base or a stray breeze caught the candle and so spread to the house. It's good to know though that someone is in charge of this thing to keep it well tended from either burning too much or yet going out.
Tebeth (10th) / July, Cancer, candlestand