Spiritual Pattern part 15

Spiritual Pattern 15

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.

And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.

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.

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.

Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.

And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.

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.

And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

INTRODUCTION

Good Evening Southpointe!! We are on part 15 in our study on Wilderness Tabernacle. Which we have title Spiritual Pattern.

This evening we are going to talk about the The Table of Shewbread.

Like the altar of incense and the ark of the mercy-seat, it was made of shittim wood, overlaid with gold.

Just like all the other furniture and altar, they point to Jesus being the Son of God and the Son of man.

The table suggests at once the thought of fellowship. The bread is the Bread of God.

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.

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

The bread was the bread of God which could only be eaten by the priests.

This is where God and the priestly worshippers had communion and fellowship at the table.

Christ is more, He is the Bread of Life, bread for man as well as Bread for God.

Christ meet the need of God the Father and man.

let’s look at:

And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.

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.

Here we have two crowns: Understand crowns what they represent:

When someone is crowned what does that mean?

The concept of the crown originates from a cap, turban, or more formal metallic crown that was decorated with jewels.

The crown placement on one's head indicated that one was set apart for a particular task or calling.

Its placement on one's head indicated that one was set apart for a particular task or calling. Such crowns were used for the high priest or for kings of Israel.

Such crowns were used for the high priest or for kings of Israel.

The crown indicated the consecrated role of its wearer, since it could be profaned. In the case of the king it also reflected his exalted position.

Besides the concept of consecration and exaltation, a second term for crown in the Old Testament indicated the presence of honor.

In some cases it pictured the reception of honor because one entered into a special position.

In other cases, the crown indicated the presence of honor as a cause for glory and joy.

So let’s remember the Table of Shewbread represent Christ. And He received two crowns.

a. From the Father, Christ was exalted.

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII The Table of Shewbread (Exodus 25:23–30; Leviticus 24:5–9)

God has crowned Him, giving Him to be “Head over all.”

God has crowned Him, giving Him to be “Head over all.”

b. From the believers, as we worship Him.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

When we worship Him we are crowning Him, because the crown indicated the presence of honor as a cause for glory and joy.

Crown Him, crown Him, and your fellowship with Him will be more sweet and abiding.

Now let’s look at the Loaves.

It seems to us that while the table, made of wood and gold which represents Christ in His twofold nature as God and man.

The loaves represent Christ moral character and also the character of His people in union with Him.

Let’s look at what they are made of:

a. Fine flour

Flour is the product of the earth, and the necessity of man. The human body of Jesus Christ may be seen here.

His earthly life was like fine flour, perfect in its whiteness.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

Christ was without spot.

But as fine flour Christ was tested and tried, tempted at every point by God, men, and the devil but everywhere He was the same.

No unevenness, no irregularity, everything was the same, uniform, straightforward, and pure.

You see, you can turn fine flour anyway you want and it is still fine flour. No sifting, pressing, or bruising can change its character.

Christ’s earthly life was without sin.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

How does your character line up the fine flour?

Are we the same joyful, trusting Christians in adversity as in prosperity?

Are we always and everywhere the same? Does change of circumstances never bring out any pride, impatience, or self-seeking?

Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.

b. Baked

The flour had to be baked into cakes or loaves, and it was still fine flour. the baking did not change the character of the flour.

The Lord Jesus had no sin, yet He suffered for sin. He was baked in the hot oven of God’s wrath.

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

We see Christ in the garden in agony and blood.

Crying out for this to pass, but in the midst of it, Christ remained the same pure unchanged, and unchangeable one.

There’s many who are like inferior flour, they don’t bake well. the firing does not seem to improve them much.

The flour had to be baked before it could be eaten as holy bread.

Our lives will not be of much good to others until we ourselves have passed through the testing fires.

Artificial baking powders will not make up for the lack of purity of the flour.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

c. Renewed every Sabbath.

The bread of His presence must be ever fresh. Christ as the living Bread is always fresh in the eyes and estimate of God.

We understand that the 12 tribes are represented here.

And what is true of Christ is true also of His redeemed people who are one with Him.

Too many the story of the gospel is old and time-worn but to the hungry soul it is fresh bread from Heaven.

The secret of our soul stay fresh is feeding continually upon Christ.

We can not keep fresh if we live upon the stale bread of old experience. We need to renew daily.

Give us each day the food we need,

There is more than enough:

I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.

Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

d. Frankincense

The loaves were placed in two rows of 6, which being 12, so that represented the 12 tribes.

the frankincense pure, white, and fragrant, was put on the top of the loaves. This pure incense covering the loaves speaks to us of the righteousness of God.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

We stand by faith upon redemption ground. The frankincense is more than human goodness, it is divine worthiness, something that rises unto God with a sweet, soul-pleasing savour.

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't.

I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.

I love God's law with all my heart.

But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.