Seder
by Brad Scott
Most Americans have heard of Chanukah. Most of what Americans understand about this festival comes from Adam Sandler's parody on Saturday Night Live. I have taught this festival in schools many times over the years. Most children believe that Chanukah is the "Jewish Christmas".
The new year, according to Scripture, begins in the month of Aviv (Nisan) on the new moon. Fourteen days later is Pesach or the Passover meal. The arrangement of this meal is called a seder (סדר). The Passover Seder is the order of the meal itself, based upon the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt some 3500 years ago. The word seder means order or arrangement and is also where the prayer book (siddur) derives from, as well. This word is found only one time in the Tanakh and only in the negative sense.
Iyov (Job) 10:22A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
Manmade religions may have their own order or arrangement, but so does our Creator, and I do not relish the thought of standing before our eternal Judge and having Him proclaim that I am out of order. Here are a couple of examples of this word used in the New Testament.
Colossians 2:4-5And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order [seder ], and the steadfastness of your faith in Messiah.
Romans 13:1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained [set in order] of God.
Shalom Alecheim! ◊