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Awesome Hands – part 91

“Hearken to the sound of the trumpet”

November 4, 2015

Previously we talked about the beginning components commanded by God to make for the sanctuary. So far we have been told to make an ark, a mercy seat and the cherubim, and in this study today we will continue to see the items that accompany those we have already mentioned.

We saw that the Lord communes with us both above the mercy seat between the two cherubim, and today we are going to look into how we have fellowship with the Lord as well as how we are given power by the Lord to execute His will.

“The table of shewbread”

The first verses we are covering today are found in Exodus 25:23-28.

Exo 25:23  Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Exo 25:24  And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
Exo 25:25  And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
Exo 25:26  And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
Exo 25:27  Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
Exo 25:28  And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
Exo 25:29  And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
Exo 25:30  And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

Like the ark, we now have a table which is made of wood but covered in gold. Given that we have an overlay of gold being used to cover the wood, we can apply the same thoughts to “overlay” that were mentioned in last week’s study.

The Hebrew word used for “overlay” is connected with “watchmen” and “rather identical” according to Strong’s and BDB. The next question then is how does the table of shewbread relate to watchmen?

There are many verses which deal with tables in scripture, but we are going to look towards those verses that show us our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ as it relates to “tables”.

The table we are concerned with is not the physical table overlaid with gold in the physical tabernacle that is being setup with Moses, but we are concerning ourselves with what the table represents to us in the Spirit.

Luk 22:24  And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Luk 22:25  And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luk 22:26  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Luk 22:28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

There is the “table of the Lord” we must all be aware of. At this table, we partake of the cup of the Lord with the Lord, so like any table we have fellowship at (since that is what eating a meal at a table is all about – fellowship with family, friends, peers and loved ones) we must know the “manners” which are expected.

When eating at the Lord’s table we must recognize the table we have been seated at. Here is what is on the table.

Lev 24:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 24:2  Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
Lev 24:3  Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations.
Lev 24:4  He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
Lev 24:5  And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.
Lev 24:6  And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
Lev 24:7  And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 24:8  Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
Lev 24:9  And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons’; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.

We know from scripture that we are be prepared as kings and priests for the Lord’s work and the Lord’s kingdom. Therefore, it is incumbent for us to know how to perform as a priest at the table the Lord has prepared for us.

Simply put, we cannot even partake of the bread on the table, the BREAKING of Bread which is CHRIST, unless we have first dealt with any devils that desire to participate with us at this table.

What do devils have to do with the table of the Lord?

1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1Co 10:18  Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1Co 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1Co 10:24  Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

Often times, I have heard 1 Corinthians 10:16 referencing Christ but just as often key component is missing from what the subject of this verse is. It just so happens that the table in the temple of God has on top of it 2 rows of 6 loaves of bread.

The bread we break is the COMMUNION of the body of Christ. In breaking of bread together, what is the focus?

Communion – the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.

What I am about to share now is going to make the old man in anyone not spiritually minded CRINGE at the thought of these words being Truth. However, I am to look after the sanctuary and tend to it well.

First, communion as defined above is an intimating sharing with the body of Christ, and who is Christ’s body? Second, WHO is the BREAD?

Joh 6:48  I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51  I am the LIVING BREAD which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give IS MY FLESH, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 6:52  The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

Jesus just told you and me and anyone who ever reads these words that we MUST eat His flesh and drink His blood. HOW CAN THAT BE? Jesus Christ’s flesh isn’t even around now! Or is it?

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but TRY THE SPIRITS whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

What happens to Jesus Christ’s flesh? It is put to DEATH but THROUGH DEATH comes LIFE!

We eat the flesh of Christ by SITTING at His table, and His table is one where we commune with each other over what this death process that produces life is all about.

However, this is NOT a table where just anyone is welcome to eat. Yes, I said that. The table of the Lord is NOT OPEN to just anyone partaking of this bread.

Everyone WILL eventually partake, and no human can determine who is caused to enter the sanctuary, but here is who we are told is permitted to LAWFULLY partake.

Exo 28:1  And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

Num 18:1  And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

Num 18:5  And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.

Keeping the charge of the sanctuary includes avoiding the pollution of the sanctuary by those who are not allowed into it. The Lord is very specific that we listen and learn NOT to be like the ministers of Babylon who permit uncircumcised strangers into the sanctuary.

In our unconverted service to the Lord, we have all been guilty of breaking the covenant of the Lord regarding this matter, but now we know of the more expedient way.

Eze 44:5  And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
Eze 44:6  And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
Eze 44:7  In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
Eze 44:8  And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
Eze 44:9  Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.

Someone who is uncircumcised is a gentile. This was true physically and is just as true spiritually. What then is the connection to uncircumcised hearts and the sanctuary?

1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

Mal 1:6  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Mal 1:7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

Whenever we allow someone to worship false idols and false spirits, i.e. false doctrine WHOM we consider a brother or sister in Christ, then we are allowing the polluted bread to sit on this table the Lord has covered with His gold.

How does the gold “overlaid” on the showbread table have anything to with doctrine? Remember, we are at the gate COVERING the protection for the city called JERUSALEM.

Isa 62:6  I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
Isa 62:7  And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Eze 44:17  And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
Eze 44:18  They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.

We are the watchmen of the gate and MUST keep the sanctuary holy by doing what the Lord commands. Our duty as watchmen is to tell God’s people to listen to the trumpet of the Lord!

Jer 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Jer 6:17  Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Jer 6:18  Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
Jer 6:19  Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

If all this sounds a bit far-fetched, then I will include one more story which I hope will help let us know who it is the Lord is working with now and who it is we are also to help into the sanctuary.

Mat 15:22  And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23  But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Mat 15:24  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 15:25  Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Mat 15:26  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Mat 15:27  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Mat 15:28  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

With eyes to see you will notice there are some key ingredients on why Jesus helped this woman and her daughter. First, she asked for mercy and acknowledged this was the “Son of David”. Then, she worshipped Him. Finally, she acknowledged that the Lord was speaking Truth thereby speaking Truth herself.

When all of these ingredients were together it was apparent that this woman had FAITH, she had BELIEF that Christ was Christ.

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

We know this woman was given Faith because the story is told so that we understand that EVEN the DOG in the masters house is given mercy. Jesus says He is sent to the house of Israel and here is this woman who calls herself a dog in this house.

The house of the Lord is being covered in these latest studies to show that the sanctuary items given to Moses and the Israelites have immense meaning to our walks with Christ today. They aren’t only items that had value for the physical Jews, but they are also items that show us who we are in Christ and who He is to us. That is worth far more than physical gold could ever be worth.

In the next study, we will be covering the various items mentioned in the last verses of Exodus 25.