Life and Light in the House of God

Life and Light in the House of God Exodus 25:23-40 Context • God’s instructions for His dwelling emphasize who He is and what He does. • God’s abode is relatively simple – a family-sized tent. • God’s presence and mercy are symbolized in the ark and its covering – it will sit in the holiest place. • God’s abode has an antechamber, and there we find two more pieces of furniture – the table and the lampstand. God’s Table (25:23-30) 1. Design: • • • Console – no chairs; utilitarian Unity – essentially one piece when overlaid with gold Holy – the gold and the rings symbolize separateness 2. Purpose: • • • Bread of Presence: (lit., “bread of the face”); 12 large pieces of bread (22’’x12”x4”; approximately 5lb each). See Leviticus 24:5-6. Presented fresh weekly; consumed by the priests. Frankincense: see Leviticus 2, 24; expensive aromatic resin elevated the intensity of the offering Wine: a liter in a gold pitcher; covenant symbolism God’s Lamp (25:23-40) 1. Design • • • • • 75 lbs. of Gold (v. 39 7 lamp stands (v. 37), one central; 3 on each side (v. 32) Intricate moldings: almond blossoms including both the calyx (the green bulb portion underneath) and the flowers. The lamps held both a reservoir for the oil (pure olive) and a wick (typically linen) Deliberate mix of almond and olive 2. Purpose • • Symbol of light and life (see Psalm 36:9; John 1:4) Almond: early blooming tree symbolized renewal; its fruit is more substantive than bread and equally important Reflections (see Fesko, J.V., The Table and the Bread of Presence) 1. The table and all its contents were a weekly reminder of God’s covenantal intentions – provision, abundance, life, and light. 2. The bread and lamp are symbolic of a Person – “the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives light to the world. … I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:33; 51) 3. As members of the New Covenant, we are members of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) entitled to the bread and wine as a covenantal (Luke 22:20) proclamation of Christ’s sacrifice for us (1 Corinthians 11:26)