Exo 25:23-40  Instructions About the Making of the Table of Shewbread and the Golden Candlestick

[Study Aired October 17, 2022]

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 always. 
Exo 25:31  And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. 
Exo 25:32  And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Exo 25:33  Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:34  And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 
Exo 25:35  And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. 
Exo 25:36  Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 
Exo 25:37  And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. 
Exo 25:38  And the tongs thereof, and the snuff dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39  Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Exo 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Introduction

Part One – What does the Table of Shewbread Signify?

The last part of Exodus chapter 25 focuses on instructions regarding the making of the Table of Shewbread and the Golden Candlestick. To appreciate today’s study better, we need to understand spiritually what the Table for Bread or the Shewbread and the Golden Candlestick signify. 

The Table for Bread or Shewbread is located on the right (North) side of the Holy Place within the Tabernacle. The primary purpose of the Table was to hold the Shewbread which was set before the Lord. Every Sabbath, the priests would replace the loaves from the previous week with a new batch of bread. Twelve loaves of bread were arranged into two rows of six, and these loaves represented the twelve tribes of Israel. 

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.

The Shewbread represents our Lord Jesus Christ who is the bread of heaven or the heavenly manna. 

Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 
Joh 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 
Joh 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 
Joh 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Apart from the Shewbread, other items placed on ‘the table for shewbread’ are vessels of plates, dishes, jars and bowls. The plates and the dishes were likely used to hold the frankincense. The jars and bowls were apparently used for offering.

Num 4:7  And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

The plates, dishes, jars and bowls symbolize the elect as shown in the following verse:

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

A Table is used often in the Bible to indicate where people gather to eat as shown by the following verses: 

2Sa 9:11  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.

1Ki 2:7  But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

The Table of the Shewbread is not different – it is where the priests eat the Shewbread in the presence of the Lord. Aaron and his sons, representing the priesthood, were those alone privileged to eat the bread in the presence of the Lord in a holy place every Sabbath day. Aaron and his sons symbolize the elect who are privileged to eat the bread of heaven, that is, the words of the Lord in the presence of the Lord. So, the Lord’s commandment for Moses to make a Table for Shewbread is to show us how the Lord prepares us to be given eyes to see and ears to hear. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The Lord dining with His disciples, (called the Lord’s supper) when He was about to die, while on earth is a foreshadow of our being fed with the word of the Lord in His presence. 

Part Two – What Does the Golden Candlestick Signify?

One of the most important items within the Holy place is the golden candlestick or lampstand.  It consisted of a shaft and the branches. On the ends of the branches there were lamps. Finally, there was the oil for the lamps. There was no natural light in the tabernacle, and therefore the light from the candlestick was what enabled the priest to perform his duties before God. The following verses makes the spiritual significance of the golden candlestick obvious:

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

The golden candlestick symbolizes the church of the firstborn. The shaft from which comes the branches is a symbol of Christ just as the vine represents Christ and the branches symbolize us. The oil which runs through the shaft and the branches represents the Holy Spirit. 

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

As stated earlier, there was no natural light in the tabernacle and therefore the light from the candlestick was what enabled the priest to perform his duties before God. Part of our study today is to look at the instructions given to Moses as to how to construct the golden candlestick. What this means is that today’s study is to show us how, as the church of the firstborn, we are to mature or become the light of the world. 

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Let’s start our study today with how the table of the shewbread is constructed as follows:

Instructions About the Making of the Table of Shewbread

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. 

As we have stated in the previous study, the shittah tree, from which shittim wood is made, grows wild in the Sinai desert and the Jordan River valley. Growing wild means that it is not planted and taken care of by man. In other words, it is not the work of man. If we are to be given ears to hear and eyes to see like Christ, then we need to know that from the beginning until our maturity it is all the work of God – not man. The measurement given of the Table is to make us aware that to be given eyes to see and ears to hear entails being constantly measured to see if we have obtained the standards of Christ. This means that we are constantly being judged to conform to the standards of Christ. All those who are not measured are not part of the commonwealth of Israel or His elect. They belong to the Gentiles!!  

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 
Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

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.

Overlaying the Table with gold means that to be privileged to eat at the Lord’s Table requires us to be refined just like gold refined in the fire. This is the judgment of our old man which brings us to learn righteousness. 

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

A simpler rendition of verse 24 and 25 is as follows:

Exo 25:24  You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. 
Exo 25:25  And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. 

The molding of gold, together with the rim round about the table, was to support it so that nothing which was placed on the table would fall down. As we indicated in the introductory section, what was placed on the Table were the Shewbread and the vessels for frankincense and offering, which spiritually represent the word of the Lord and the elect. As our understanding is being enlightened and our eyes are seeing, we are kept by the word of His power which is represented here by the gold molding and the rim roundabout the table.

Heb 1:3  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

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.

In Ezekiel chapter 1, the living creatures, who represent the elect, have wheels which are rings full of eyes. These living creatures represent the elect. The four cast rings of gold are therefore the elect who are placed in every corner of the earth even as the Lord fills the earth. The number four means the whole of all the elect scattered over the four corners of the earth. 

Eze 1:15  Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. 
Eze 1:16  The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 
Eze 1:17  When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. 
Eze 1:18  As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. 

Rev 7:1  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

The staves are long rods of wood which pass through the rings to make it easier to carry the table such that the table is preserved. The function of the staves suggests that spiritually, they represent the spirit of the Lord which helps us bear Christ wherever we go. These staves are made from shittim wood and therefore are not of man’s origin but the Lord. The staves placed in the rings means the promise of the comforter being within us to lead us into all truth so that we, His elect, can have the mind of Christ (shewbread) and therefore continue the feasting wherever we go.

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. 

As indicated earlier, the dishes, spoons, covers, and bowls all represent the elect. 

2Ti 2:20  Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 
2Ti 2:21  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

The utensils were to be made of gold which means that they have to be refined as gold through the fire. This is the judgment of our old man.

Rev 3:18  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

These utensils are used for holding frankincense and for offering. As we are aware, we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord. The prayers of the elect are signified by the frankincense.

Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,
Rev 8:4  and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Exo 25:30  And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me always. 

This verse is another way of saying the word of the Lord should not depart from our mouth and that we should meditate on it day and night.

Jos 1:8  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Instructions About the Making of the Candelstick

Exo 25:31  And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo 25:32  And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: 
Exo 25:33  Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.

The candlestick must be made of pure gold and of beaten work. What this is telling us is that the church of Christ consists of those who are like gold beaten to assume any shape through the process of melting through heat. This means that it is through our fiery trials (heat) the Lord can make us become part of the church of the firstborn like Him.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

As indicated in the introductory section, the shaft represents Christ, and the branches symbolize the elect and they are all ‘beaten work’ of gold. There are three branches on each side of the shaft, and for each branch, there are three decorative almond blossoms (bowls). Where each pair of branches comes out from the shaft or stem, there must also be a decorative almond blossom. 

The fact that there must be three decorative almond blossoms on each branch is to make us aware that it is through judgment that we blossom or mature to produce fruits (almond). In other words, being given to partake of the Lord’s words (shewbread) is through our fiery trials which causes us to produce fruits (almond). That is when our light will shine before men so that they see our good works and therefore glorify our Father in Heaven.

Num 17:8  And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. 

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Exo 25:34  And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 
Exo 25:35  And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. 
Exo 25:36  Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 

A simpler rendition of these verses are as follows:

Exo 25:33  There are to be three decorative almond blossoms on each branch 
Exo 25:34  and four on the stem. 
Exo 25:35  There must also be a blossom where each pair of branches comes out from the stem. 
Exo 25:36  The lampstand, including its branches and decorative flowers, must be made from a single piece of hammered pure gold. (CEV)

As we have indicated, the shaft or the stem is Christ who has four of the decorative almond blossoms. This is to demonstrate that it is through Christ that the whole (the meaning of the number four) of the elect becomes mature. The pairing of the branches together with a blossom on each pair is to show us that we become witnesses of Christ as we mature. The lampstand, its branches and the decorative flowers being all made from one beaten work of pure gold is to bring to our attention that even as our Jesus Christ matured through the things He suffered, we are also to mature through our fiery trials in order to become the light of the world.

Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.
Heb 5:6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 
Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Exo 25:37  And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

The seven lamps refer to the complete number of the elect from every generation. Verse 37 states the purpose of the candlestick – that is, to give light to the space in front of it in the Holy place. What is insightful to note is the fact that the light given by the candlestick is not seen outside the Holy place. It is to give light for the priest to perform his duty. In this dispensation, although we are the light of the world, we are not seen that way by many (the world). It is only the elect who see our light and use it to perform their duty – that is, live a life worthy of the Lord. This light is the word of the Lord which is the light for our path. Paul sums up our being beaten like the work of gold in order to give light as follows:

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2Co 4:8  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 
2Co 4:9  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 
2Co 4:10  always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies (providing light for the priest to function).
2Co 4:11  For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

The reason the world (including Babylon) does not see this light of the elect is because they do not know the Lord.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

As He is, so are we. Although our Lord Jesus Christ was the light of the world, the world did not recognize His light.

Joh 1:6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Joh 1:7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light (Jesus Christ), that all men through him might believe. 
Joh 1:8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light (Jesus Christ). 
Joh 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 
Joh 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 
Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Exo 25:38  And the tongs thereof, and the snuff dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39  Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.

The tongs and the trays used for the lamps are to be made of pure gold. In summary, the lampstand and all its equipment must be made of gold. Being made of gold means that it is the true doctrine of Christ which establishes everything in the House of God including the elect. 

Pro 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Exo 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

The pattern that we are to model everything after is Christ and His words. This is because it is in Him that everything is sustained. Without Him everything falls apart.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 
Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

May the Lord be merciful to us to be found in Him and to be upheld by the word of His power. Amen!!

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 94

“The making of the tabernacle – recap”

January 13, 2015

The latest group of studies in the Awesome Hands series have been covering the tabernacle as instructed to be built by the Lord to Moses and the Israelites.

Since this part of the series started at the beginning of October 2015, I thought this would be a good point to do a recap on the various parts of the tabernacle that have already been covered so that we can start our next study from where we left off.

Recap

In Awesome Hands part 88, we started the studies on the tabernacle which themselves start in chapter 25 of Exodus.

Often times I ask myself how do scriptures which were pinned thousands of years ago apply to me today. After all, the world will tell you as a Christian that the bible is just a collection of stories written by sheep herders and superstitious neanderthals.

So when I dive into the topic of the tabernacle and what is means for me today, given that it is no longer physically around, I have to consider what the world thinks (and by extension what most naturally comes to my mind too) and what we know as being Holy Spirit inspired writings. After all, it does take Faith to believe and of the bible.

Having arrived at our first verses covering the commandments of the tabernacle, we read:

Exo 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

In this first study, we covered what it means to willingly offer to the Lord. Given that we know that freewill is a false doctrine according to scripture, we covered various scriptures that show that it is the Lord Himself who places a thought or action upon the hearts of those He is going to work with.

Act 7:22  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Act 7:23  And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

Here in Acts, Stephen expounds on what the tabernacle meant for the children of Israel even though they had no clue what was happening except for what the PHYSICALLY could relate to.

As a result of simply leaning towards their own understandings and the desires of their carnal hearts, this is how they reacted to Moses and how WE react to those God sends our way. Anyone we are sent to will have the SAME reaction.

Act 7:35  This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
Act 7:36  He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Act 7:37  This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Act 7:38  This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Act 7:39  To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
Act 7:40  Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Act 7:41  And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

Because we all rejoice in the works of our own hands, we know that this series of studies we are covering about the tabernacle are telling us how the tabernacle is one of WITNESS to and for us.

Act 7:44  Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

The other major point that was brought out in the first study covering the tabernacle is that Stephen looked stedfastly into heaven instead of how the KJV says that he looked “up”. This is an important distinction because it shows us that Stephen, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, was able to see the heavenly things versus only being able to see physical things.

Truly, the tabernacle that we are talking about and that Stephen emphasized to those gathered to accuse him of being blasphemous against the law is of one witness against them. This was what Stephen was caused to “willingly” do as an angel/messenger of God and it is the same for us today.

Act 6:15  And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

The purpose of studying the witness of the tabernacle

We all need to understand the spiritual significance of what the tabernacle, which God is building with His hands, means to us today and in our lives directly. This was the focus of the second study in this covering of the tabernacle.

After all, we are the temple of God where God dwells and when folks desire to “see God” they have this desire because God has sent them to you in your lives for your and their benefit. Likewise, we are always on display as the temple for all of those we interact with everyday.

Like Stephen, we will be questioned and ridiculed for what and why we believe what we do. Our job is NOT to worry and answer their criticisms because THEY HAVE NO FAITH which can only be gifted by God. Rather, we are to be a WITNESS to those around us.

We are who God would have WORSHIP Him and how do we worship God?

Act 6:14  For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
Act 6:15  And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Act 7:1  Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
Act 7:2  And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:25  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
Joh 4:26  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Joh 4:27  And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

See, Jesus comes on a cloud of great witnesses who worship in spirit and truth. We have Faith to know and believe the Truth.

Our worship is to be a witness to this and that is what the tabernacle is all about.

The items within the tabernacle are placed there to witness to us who it is we are to the Lord. There are various chambers or rooms, various components with those chambers and they all have spiritual significance.

In the second part of the series covering the tabernacle we studied the connection what God telling us what we must do as working for the tabernacle and what that Love would look like.

We saw that God will call teachers to teach and bear fruit of the Truth of the Word of God, but that we all in some capacity have been called to teach to those sent our way. There are certainly “callings” which tell us how to act in certain situations, but we all have been given the capacity to teach the Word of God in deed and example.

There are men who have been called to teach when the church is gathered, there are women who have been called to teach the younger women and children. Men have been called to rule their homes well and women have been called to teach their children the ways of the Lord. We all have been given a capacity and role to teach.

This is the willing offering of our service to the Lord, but within that offering there are fine details that reveal to us the mind of the Lord on the importance of the place He dwells spiritually.

The example and shadow of heavenly things

The third study covered the various items of gold, silver and brass and specifically the differences with some items being made of solid gold while others are overlaid with it.

The spiritual significance of an item being overlaid with gold versus simply being beaten out of solid gold is that the same word used as “overlay” in Hebrew, H6823, is mentioned as “probably rather identical with” H6822 overlay or “tsaw-faw”.

H6822
tsâphâh
BDB Definition:
1) to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch
1a) (Qal) to keep watch, spy
1b) (Piel) to watch, watch closely
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
Same Word by TWOT Number: 1950
H6822
tsâphâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 38
watchman, 14
2Sa_18:24-27 (5), 2Ki_9:17-18 (2), 2Ki_9:20, Isa_21:6, Eze_3:17, Eze_33:2, Hos_9:6-8 (3)
watch, 5
Gen_31:49, 2Sa_13:34, Isa_21:5, Hab_2:1 (2)
watchmen, 5
1Sa_14:16, Isa_52:8, Isa_56:10, Jer_6:17, Mic_7:4
look, 2
Psa_5:3, Mic_7:7
looketh, 2
Pro_31:27, Son_7:4
watching, 2
1Sa_4:13, Lam_4:17
behold, 1
Psa_66:7
beholding, 1
Pro_15:3
espy, 1
Jer_48:19
waited, 1
Job_15:22
watched, 1
Lam_4:17
watcheth, 1
Psa_37:32
watchman’s, 1
Eze_33:6
well, 1
Pro_31:27

A watchman COVERS the thing he is watching with the concept of “I am covering your back” or I am “looking out for the city”.

The watchman covers the city with his ability and the safety net of covering the city with a watchful attendance to said safety.

The significance of items being overlaid is that they show us that we are watchmen for the things concerning the temple of God, the tabernacle where He dwells. Our service is to serve in this capacity by worshiping in spirit and truth.

The ark is overlaid with gold while the mercy seat and cherubim are of solid beaten gold.

Hearken to the sound of the trumpet

The item that we covered in the fourth study was the table of shewbread.  Like the ark, this is a table made of wood but overlaid with gold.

Given what we learned with the connection of overlaid gold being directly rooted in watchmen, this table of bread takes on an important spiritual significance to us.

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 22:29  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 24:5  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 studied that before we can ever consider eating at the table of the Lord, this spiritual table of shewbread, we must deal with the “devils” that desire to sit with us at this table.

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?

The bread we break is the COMMUNION of the body of Christ. Since we are focusing on doctrines of devils within this 4th study, we must also recognize that as watchmen we watch the gate of “that great city”.

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.

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!

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.

The golden candlestick

In the fifth study we covered the golden candlestick and how it was made. The candlestick itself was very important in that it has many details which can easily be read over and missed if not looked into.

For one, there are almond shaped blossoms on each of the branches and on the stem multiple times.

Almond trees which produce these blossoms do so as one of the first trees in the spring to blossom.

What we can learn spiritually will add to this knowledge that the almond tree is among the first to “do something”.

The Hebrew word H824 used as almonds in the verses we are covering on the tabernacle is a denominative word form H8247 meaning “almond”. This Hebrew word (H8247) has a root of H8245.

H8245
shâqad
shaw-kad’
A primitive root; to be alert, that is, sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill): – hasten, remain, wake, watch (for).
Total KJV occurrences: 12
H8245
shâqad
Total KJV Occurrences: 12
watch, 6
Ezr_8:29, Psa_102:7, Isa_29:20, Jer_5:6, Jer_31:28, Jer_44:27
watched, 2
Jer_31:27-28 (2), Dan_9:14
hasten, 1
Jer_1:12
remain, 1
Job_21:32
waketh, 1
Psa_127:1
   watching, 1
Pro_8:34

What was very significant about the almonds who are all over the candlestick of LIGHT, is that they are also connected to the watchmen.

Ezr 8:29  Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
Psa 102:7  I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
Jer 31:28  And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

In order to solidify the connection of “watching” with the almond and almond tree, here is what the Lord gave to Jeremiah to admonish us with:

Jer 1:11  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Jer 1:12  Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

The word used in verse 12 here in English is “hasten”, but it is the only time that the translators of the King James used “hasten”. If you look at the Strong’s list I posted above, you see this is the same word H8245 meaning “watch”.

(ASV)  Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it.
(BBE)  Then the Lord said to me, You have seen well: for I keep watch over my word to give effect to it.

The last connection we covered with the golden candlestick was its connection to Zechariah 4 and the two olive trees which provide the oil for the light.

Without recovering that entire study here, I’ll just say that oil is connected with the spirit of the Lord and the anointing of the Spirit.

Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The two anointed ones stand by the Lord and pour out the oil which they themselves have been anointed with.

As can be seen by those with eyes to see and ears to hear, the Holy Spirit has revealed that gold, almonds (watching) and olive oil (Holy Spirit and power of God the Father) are VERY important to our Christian lives today. We are the priests who are being trained up first on how to handle the items of the sanctuary and to do the duty of a priest which is to keep His commandments faithfully.

The splendor of the tabernacle

The last study that has been completed before this recap study was on the beginning of chapter 26 of Exodus.

We talked about the various layers of the covering of the tabernacle and how they represent different aspects of Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him.

There are layers of fine linen, goats skins and rams and badgers skins.

The blue, purple and scarlet colors are all important to show us the progression we make in our walks with the Lord and what we are being called to.

We have a war of the flesh and spiritual happening daily, and as this war rages on, we have a progression happening from fleshly carnally minded “red” to heavenly minded “blue”.

The layer of fine linen, in particular, is the only part of the covering of the tabernacle that is referred to as “the tabernacle” whiles the other layers are those which are seen on the outside.

The splendor of what was seen on the inside of the tabernacle was not something that could be seen from the outside because what was seen on the outside was the basest layer of “flesh”.

Someone “passing by” would never know all these gold items and wonderfully made linen coverings and curtains were hidden inside.

This is equivalent in many spiritual types to what is held on the inside of us since we know where the spirit of God is and it is in His kingdom.

In the next study, we are going to pick up with the second part of Exodus 26 and continue covering the fine details of what the Lord has given us in order to help us understand our calling in Him and our relationship with our Lord.