The Table of Showbread: God Sustains His Own
Notes
Transcript
The next item to be described is the table used to display the bread of the presence. This is the first furniture item described for the Holy Place, second only to the Holy of Holies in sacredness, which is also where the Ark of the Covenant will reside.
1. The Blueprint for the Table, 25:23-28.
1. The Blueprint for the Table, 25:23-28.
Dimensions of the table are 36 inches long, 18 inches wide and 27 inches high.
The acacia wood that the table is made of typifies the Lord’s life and ministry. Just as this wood is a hard, indestructible wood that grows in the Sinai desert, so Christ came as a root out of dry ground (Isa. 53:2), and sinless in his human nature.
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
The indestructibility of the wood spoke of Christ in His humanity, withstanding the fire of crucifixion (Jn. 10:18)
“No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
… the decaying effect of the grave (Acts 2:31), ...
he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.
… and His bodily resurrection (Mt. 28:5-6
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
Then verse 24 tells us that pure gold is to be laid over the entire table with a gold border around it.
The gold represented Jesus’ deity. The Bible explicitly states that Jesus is divine (John 1:1; 10:30-33),
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
“I and the Father are one.”
The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.
Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”
The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
ascribing such divine attributes to Him as His eternal existence (Rev. 1:8),
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
omnipresence (Matt. 28:20),
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
omniscience (John 2:24-25),
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,
and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
and omnipotence (Phil. 3:21).
who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Together the wood table with the overlay of pure gold typified the union of Jesus’ divine and human natures (Phil. 2:6-11). The Scriptures teach that He had two natures, but we cannot ascribe two personalities to Him. This union of His divine and human natures should never be thought of in terms of deity possessing humanity (which would deny His humanity) not of his humanity was simple indwelt by deity. Jesus was uniquely different from from any other man who ever walked the face of this earth; both His divine and human natures were united in one person. This teaching is clearly set forth in the Scriptures but is difficult for some people to grasp.
Verse 25 tells us that there was a rim to the table top. The rim for the table was to be three inches around the the top of the table with a gold border. This probably was an aesthetic touch as well as practical rim to keep the items on the table top in place.
This table had four gold rings just as the ark did, placed upon the four corners of the table and close to the rim on the top of the table. Specifically, the rings were to enable the table to be carried without actually touching the table.
The poles to transport the table were , like those for the ark, to be of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. The poles are only inserted in the rings when the table is set to be moved as the children of Israel traveled from place to place.
The table was to be located on the north wall of the Tabernacle in the Holy Place, opposite the golden lampstand on the south wall, before the table of incense and separate from the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies behind the inner veil.
A table symbolizes and invites fellowship and sharing, a striking symbol that demonstrates the LORD’s desire to “sit at table” with His people in an even more intimate level that on Mount Sinai earlier in Exodus 24:9-11.
2. The Accessories for the table, 25:29.
2. The Accessories for the table, 25:29.
Along with the table, there were four kinds of vessels that were to be made of pure gold. They were to hold the bread that would be placed there and for the pouring out libations of wine, as well as holding frankincense. The Hebrew words that designate these utensils are difficult to translate. While their descriptions are uncertain, we have a general knowledge of their functions.
The dishes may have served to contain the bread after it was baked, or even have been used to bake the bread. The pans seem to refer to a small, concave pan or ladle for the frankincense. Jars are probably for the wine, the bowls are used to pour drink offerings. Each item, being mad of pure gold, demonstrates that the LORD knows how to set a good table. The purpose of these elaborate procedures was to bring the senses of the worshipper, as well as his mind and heart, to be aware of the worship and fellowship with the LORD
3. The purpose for the table, 25:30.
3. The purpose for the table, 25:30.
This table and the bread displayed upon it indicate that God desires communion and fellowship with His people. It may also possibly be a “thank offering” to the LORD recognizing His provision for them. The manna was provided daily for the people to teach them constant dependence on the LORD.
The bread of the Presence (i.e. God) consists of twelve loaves, set out on the table in two piles or rows of six. Each loaf represented one of the tribes of Israel. The bread (almost assuredly unleavened) was to be baked and replaced weekly (1 Sam. 21:5-7). It was always to be in the LORD’s presence, before the LORD’s face.
Exodus The Table (25:23–30)
The sentiment of Psalm 50:9–13 undoubtedly reflects very early Israelite awareness of the difference between Yahweh and the gods of the nations, who needed to be fed.
“I shall take no young bull out of your house Nor male goats out of your folds.
“For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills.
“I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
“If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.
“Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats?
The bread that was removed was to be eaten with wine by the priests in the sanctuary, according to Lev. 24:5-9.
“Then you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it; two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake.
“You shall set them in two rows, six to a row, on the pure gold table before the Lord.
“You shall put pure frankincense on each row that it may be a memorial portion for the bread, even an offering by fire to the Lord.
“Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before the Lord continually; it is an everlasting covenant for the sons of Israel.
“It shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him from the Lord’s offerings by fire, his portion forever.”
4. The significance of the table:
4. The significance of the table:
The bread and the wine on the table may have been a symbolic recollection of that moment when Israels representatives had shared a meal in the presence of the LORD on the mountain in Exodus 24. Here, in the sanctuary, Israel through their priests would always find a continuing welcoming hospitality in the presence of the God who provided daily food for all twelve tribes of Israel.
Exodus (The Table (25:23–30))
The Table of the Bread of the Presence is another symbol by which Yahweh’s nearness was suggested. By its opulence as by the containers and the food and drink placed continually upon it and periodically renewed, this Table announced: “He is here,” and here as one who gives sustenance.
The table itself could be referred to as the table of the Presence (Num. 4:7) due to the proximity within the tabernacle to the Ark of the Covenant.
The twelve loaves were a perpetual thank offering to God from the twelve tribes for the blessings they received from Him day by day.
Just as God provided for Israel day by day, some have suggested the bread also signified Israel’s vocation. As the Priests represented Israel, so Israel was to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a source of spiritual food for the world (Ex. 19:5-6).
‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
It is a table of salvation. The Lord during His earthly ministry gave a parable in which a king gave a marriage supper for his son. The invited guests refused to come. This provoked the king to deal with the rejectors, and having done so, he extended the invitation to include those in the highways and byways. These were bidden to come and eat. Thus an invitation has gone out to the world to come and partake of the salvation offered through Christ.
It is a table of providence. Our Creator provides all that man and beast need today, yet how few recognize it or give thanks for His bountiful provision.
It is a table of the Lord. It prefigures Christ as the the sustainer of spiritual life. Whereas the manna pictures the day-to-day care of God (The Lord as life giver), the showbread pictures the fullness of God’s sustaining of His people for this table was to always be full of the bread of sustenance. (the Lord as life sustainer). The table and the bread on it were considered as one.
Let me say this another way, we have life in Christ when we come to Him through faith; we are growing in that life through Christ when we depend on Him in faith. He is the bread of life; He is also the source of every good in our life as we daily trust in Him.
The table of communion which we have just shared reminds us of this truth. When we came to faith in Christ, we were at the moment of salvation baptized into Christ, receiving new life. Now, every time we partake of the Lord’s table we are reminded that our new life and our living together for Him is only made possible through the gift of God, Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf. Some day we will eat sustaining meal together with our Savior anew as He completes His perfect work in us, the bride of Christ. What a glorious day that will be!