Exodus 25:30-3530And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway. 31And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. 32And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: 33Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. 34And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 35And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. (Exodus 25:30‑35)
Therefore is it not a very precious thought, dear Christian reader, that we who believe and are “made priests unto God,” are privileged to have fellowship with God Himself in His thoughts about His precious Son? And just as Aaron and his sons, type of Christ and His own now, “fed on the showbread in the holy place,” so we in spirit entering into the true tabernacle feed on Him who is “the true bread,” while He has fellowship in our joy.
Let us remember then that we cannot be feeding upon Christ, that is, being occupied with Him, and find our joy in the world too. We can only feed upon Him, and find our delight in Him as the perfect One in the “holy place,” which for us is the very presence of God.
The border of a handbreadth crowned with gold was without doubt to hold the loaves in their position on the table. And does this not speak to us of our blessed Lord who is holding His own secure, and out of whose hand no power can pluck them?
“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28). They are eternally secure! That hand of power, tether with that heart of love, is holding all His blood-bought ones safe until He has them home with Himself in the glory, beyond the reach of every harm.
The Golden Candlestick
The candlestick was “all of it one beaten work of pure gold.” It consisted of a central shaft with three branches on each side. To this candlestick and its branches there were seven golden lamps, with tongs and snuff dishes, the whole including the vessels, being made out of one talent of pure gold. The candlestick was not for candles, but pure olive oil burned in it, so it may be translated “lampstand.” (J.N.D. Trans.)
The candlestick was set over against the table of showbread on the south side. There were no windows in the tabernacle, nor any means by which the light of the sun could enter. The candlestick was then a most important part of the furniture, and altogether necessary to the service of the sanctuary. By the light given from it, by the olive oil in the golden lamp, the priests ministered within the tabernacle, unaided by the light of nature, or of the world, which was here entirely shut out. It was only in the light shed from the candlestick that they could see the golden table with its “continual bread,” or the beautiful colors of the inner curtains of the tabernacle, which were never seen but from within.
The candlestick then, with its seven lamps, the gold, and the oil, here speaks of divine light in its perfection in the power of the Spirit of God. Apart from the candlestick, all would have been dark in the tabernacle. So therefore, it is only in the light shed by the Spirit of God that we can see the glories of Christ and the mind of God revealed in His presence—the holy place.
“It is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit... But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:... neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2:9, 10, 149But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9‑10)
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14).
ML-05/31/1970