THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK (Exod. 25:31-39; 37:17-24)
This great candlelabrum, which stood at the south side of the first room, was one piece of pure beaten gold. It was made of a talent of gold, or about $27,375 worth of gold. Its size is not given in the Bible; but the amount of gold used, and the size of it in relation to the height of a man as shown by the bas-relief on the Arch of Titus, is ground for supposing it was probably two cubits, or three feet, high, as was the golden altar on which it was to shed light.
This great candlelabrum, which stood at the south side of the first room, was one piece of pure beaten gold. It was made of a talent of gold, or about $27,375 worth of gold. Its size is not given in the Bible; but the amount of gold used, and the size of it in relation to the height of a man as shown by the bas-relief on the Arch of Titus, is ground for supposing it was probably two cubits, or three feet, high, as was the golden altar on which it was to shed light.
It was made with a central upright shaft from each side of which went out three branches; oil lamps were on the top of the branches and central shaft, all on one plane. It was more properly a lamp-stand than a candlestick. On each of the arms or branches were three bowls like almonds, with a “knop,” or knob, and a flower with each bowl. Four of these bowls, knops, and flower were on the central shaft. Thus it had the appearance of a golden almond-tree with fruits in the three stages, as was Aaron’s almond-rod laid up in the tabernacle, which in one night, budded, blossomed, and bore almonds.The purpose of the candlestick was to give light on the table of shewbread opposite and for the priestly ministration there and at the golden altar. It was to be kept always burning with beaten olive-oil, and to be trimmed and cared for by the priests evening and morning.
Typical Significance of the Candlestick. - As the altar and the laver were typical of Christ, so was the candlestick and all the other articles of furniture in the sanctuary, as well as the two veils. It is necessarily so because he is the only Savior. The different articles of furniture were needed to set forth the various phases of his work in our salvation much as he used, in his parables, different things to illustrate the various phases of the kingdom of God. He it is who is the source of all spiritual light. Christians merely reflect his light. He said, “I am the light of the world.”(John 8:12). In a special sense this light is shed on those who are saved. The sinner is said to be in darkness; but Christians are called “children of light” (1 Thess. 5:5). “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.” (Eph. 5:8). “That ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9). Even without these clear statements from the Bible, it would still be evident that the golden candlestick typified Christ, who is the giver of light to his church. Seven is the number of perfection. Christ’s light is perfect. Its being made of gold may be significant also, because gold is the sacred metal that characterizes the presence of God and probably symbolizes the glory of God. As the boards and pillars have already been shown to be covered with gold, so the Christian is clothed with God’s glory and presence. But the candlestick was solid gold - a fit representation of Christ. The blessedness of the light of Christ is better appreciated if we compare the condition of “saints in light” with those groping in the darkness of sin and heathenism.
“My darkness now is passed away, In Jesus all is perfect day; And peace and comfort ever stay, Since Christ is my perfect light.”
THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD (Exod. 25:23-30; Lev. 24:5-9)
On the north side of the holy place, opposite the candlestick, stood the gold- covered table of shittim wood, called the “table of shewbread.” It was a table of ordinary size, two cubits (three feet) long, one cubit (eighteen inches) wide, and one and one half cubits (twenty-seven inches) high. It was encompassed by a crown and border of gold, and had a golden ring on each leg through which bars were passed, by which to carry it. On the table were placed, each Sabbath-day, twelve loaves of bread, as many loaves as there were gems in the high priest’s breastplate, one for each of the tribes of God’s people. Six loaves were placed at one end of the table and six at the other end. On each of these rows was laid frankincense. When fresh loaves were brought each Sabbath, the former loaves were eaten, in the holy place, by the priests, while the incense was burned upon the golden altar near at hand.
The Antitypical Shewbread. - But what phase of Christ’s redemptive work is foreshadowed by this golden table with its twelve loaves and frankincense? The loaves are not supposed to be understood to be symbolic of the tribes, as some have supposed, but symbolic of something for those represented by the tribes, because they are eaten by the representatives of the tribes, the priests. But what is the bread of those in God’s church, the “kingdom of priests” who were represented by those who entered into the first room of that ancient tabernacle? Let Jesus answer. “I am that bread of life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:48,51).
The loaves of the shewbread typified the same spiritual food as is symbolized by the bread of the communion Supper in the New Testament church. The one pointed forward to it, the other points backward to it. Jesus is the bread on which the soul of the regenerated feasts. He satisfies every hunger of the heart. As natural bread sustains the life of the body, so he sustains the life of the soul. And this bread is for all God’s people. There was a loaf for little Benjamin as well as for royal Judah. As all God’s people were then represented, so all of them are included in Spiritual Israel now. And there is plenty to satisfy their hunger, which was signified by those sumptuous loaves; each one containing twice as much flour as was needed for the food of a man for a whole day.
But God also received a portion from the table of shewbread. The incense that was burned upon the golden altar was a memorial of the loaves that belonged to God. Here at this golden table, then, we feast with Jehovah. We not only have communion with one another, but we have blessed communion with the Father. There, through the broken body of our Saviour, without which fellowship with our holy Creator were impossible, we have fellowship with Divinity. There he sups with us and we with him (Rev. 3:20). There we tell him our inmost thoughts. There also he reveals to us the indescribably glories of his own perfection. Thank God for Jesus, the true bread; for without him we could never know the blessedness of communion with out Maker.
continued, next THE GOLDEN ALTAR
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