WEDNESDAY
Moving out from the Most Holy Place, we come now to the Holy Place. This area housed a few important artifacts used in the worship practices of Israel.
First is the table for the bread of the presence.
Exodus 25:23–30 (NIV) 23 “Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. 24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. 25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 26 Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. 27 The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 28 Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. 29 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. 30 Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.
This table would hold 12 loaves of bread, one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Every week on the Sabbath, Aaron and his sons would go into the Holy Place to arrange the bread. Only Aaron and his sons (who became the Levitical priesthood) were to eat this bread. The bread was to remain before God, in his presence, at all times (Ex. 25:30). This bread symbolized God’s provision for his people and his desire to be with them and commune with them.
Next is the altar of incense.
Exodus 30:1–10 (NIV) 30 “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you. 7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.”
The altar and the incense burning constantly reminded the people of the importance of their prayers. In Psalm 141:2 and Revelation 5:8 and 8:4, incense represents the prayers of God’s people. This incense would be taken into the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest and God would appear in the cloud (Lev. 16:2; 12-13).
Finally, there was the lampstand.
Exodus 25:31–40 (NIV) 31 “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. 37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
This lampstand represents the tree of life from Eden. The light from the lamps may have corresponded to the stars in the heavens, therefore, representing heaven. The cups of the lampstand were to be shaped like almond flowers. In the Jewish tradition, almond trees symbolize awakening, renewal, and hope, as the almond tree blooms early in spring. This lamp would be the only light in the tabernacle so the only way to see anything. This lampstand, then, symbolizes the presence of God shining forth in and from the sanctuary. In Revelation we will see that the lampstand is interpreted as churches, witnessing communities to the rest of the world (Rev. 1:20; 11:4). So the lampstand is likely a representation of Israel’s call to be a witness, revealing the source of life to be in the presence of God. The people of God are called to shed light on the true way to life eternal in the presence of God. (See Zech. 4:1-7 as well.)
As a bit of a side note, in studying this passage I remembered a dream someone shared with me and Savanna before we planted LifeBridge. This person had a number of prophetic visions and dreams. In his vision he saw LifeBridge as an almond branch (I think it was a branch…it may have been a root…either way I think the meaning is the same). I didn’t have much of a sense as to the meaning of that when he shared it, but this study, along with subsequent dreams and visions about LifeBridge, have helped to fill in some context. I believe our church is currently establishing the supporting structure for a renewal that God will bring in the near future. We are putting roots down as a deeply formed community of believers in Burlington to properly steward a move of God. We are growing into the supporting structure so when spring comes (God moves), the flowers (new believers) will be have a place to bloom (thrive in their spiritual life).
Additional Content
Reflection
Reflect on the meaning of each of the artifacts in the Holy Place:
- The Incense Our prayers ascending to the throne room of God. God hears our prayers. Let’s not take that for granted. Regularly meet with him in prayer.
- The Table for the Bread God’s gracious provision. Do you trust that God will provide your needs? His desire is to commune with you, as you commune with friends and family around your table. God wants to meet with you, do you want to meet with him?
- The Lampstand Our calling to be a light of revelation to the world. By your life and your words, are you shining light on the true source of life being in the presence of God? You can only do this if you are there yourself. You can only do this if you are believing and living according to the truth revealed by God in his word.