Exodus 37:17-29 • Continual Light, Constant Prayer

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

If you remember in Ex.35-40 we’ll be looking at the construction of the Tabernacle as well as the various articles for the Tabernacle.…

And the Priestly Garments for those who minister in the Tabernacle…

So this section of the book involves & revolves around the Work that will be done for the Lord - It’s all about Israel’s obedience to the Lord.

So far we’ve looked at several things pertaining to Israel’s Obedience:

In Chapter 35, Israel’s Obedience Involved: Their Priority, Giving, the Holy Spirit, and Sufficiency.

In Chapter 36, Israel’s Obedience Involved: The Actual Building of the Tabernacle.

In the 1st half ch. 37 and we saw the Israelites obedience as it pertains to all the furnishings that will be inside the tabernacle.

Vs. 1-9 The Arch of the Testimony

Vs. 10-16 The Table of the Showbread

12 loaves of bread: Speaks of God provision for His people

To us it points to Jesus who is our nourishment.

2. Current Study’s Overview

That brings us to verses 17-29 and our study for today as we continue to look at Israel’s Obedience and all the Furnishings that will be inside the Tabernacle.

And today we will be looking at 2: The Golden Lampstand & The Alter of Incense Read…

The Title of today’s message is:

Because as you saw in our quick reading of today’s scripture, we are looking at another furnishing or object that will be inside the tabernacle. The Table of Showbread.

1. The Golden Lampstand Vs. 17-24

One talent of gold is about 75 lbs. @ 16 oz per lb. or 1,200 oz @ about $1,600 per oz. 2 million bucks…

This is the Manora of today… the 7 lamps… 3 on each side of the middle one

There is also a 9 holder lamp stand this is the Hanukkah, festival of light…

In 164 BC Antiochus Ephiphanies defiled the Temple in Jerusalem by sacrificing pigs…

This caused the great Maccabean revolt… once the Greeks were defeated they set out to cleanse the Temple…

By lighting the Manora, but only had enough oil for one day… but miraculously the Manora stayed lit for 8 days…

Thus the 8 days of Hanukkah… and the 9 candlestick holder Manora…

In Ex.27:20 this lamp was to burn continually… giving light constantly…

Exodus 27:20 NKJV

20 “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.

What a beautiful picture that paints for us in pointing to & speaking of Jesus Christ…

John 8:12 NKJV

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:14 NKJV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

APPLICATION: as Jesus dwells in us His light shines through us…

2. The Altar of Incense Vs. 25-29

So the Altar of Incense was about 1 ½’ sq. x 3’ high… overlaid in pure gold…

This Altar was in the Holy Place where the Lamp-stand & Table of Showbread were…

It was not in the Holiest Place where the Ark of the Testimony was…

Though in Heb.9:4 we’re told there was a golden censer in the Holy of Holies outlined in Lev.16:12-14 which was used during the Day of Atonement to burn incense… presumably not this Altar…

According to Ex.30:7-9 this incense was to be burned every Morning… & every Evening… everyday…

Exodus 30:7–8 NKJV

7 “Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.

And when the Priest offered the incense it would signal the people to Pray…

The thought is that the smoke from the incense would carry the Prayers of the people up to God…

Luke 1:10 NKJV

10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

APPLICATION: It was beautiful reminder for the people to Pray… what a great reminder for us…

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

17 pray without ceasing,

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—