What a Table

O. T. #222  "What a Table"
Feb. 5, 2014
Exodus 25-Part 4
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before Me alway.  Exodus 25:30 

LET IT GLOW

Our dining table is an old, oak table which previously belonged to my parents. Even though it
is wobbly, marred, and stained, the memories made of loved ones around this table are invaluable. We ate meals with family and friends throughout the years there. My husband and I played many
a card game with my folks sitting there. Such fun and fellowship has been experienced around that table. I had not realized what a treasured item in our house this table is. Yes, what a table!
God wanted a special table in His residence, too. Will you join me in checking it out?

Previously in this chapter we read about the details of the Ark of the Covenant which was to
be placed in the Holy of Holies room of the Tabernacle. Over the Mercy Seat is where God
appeared in His shekinah glory, representing His presence with His people. (Only the High
Priest could enter behind the veil, once a year on the Day of Atonement as he offered the
blood sacrifice for the people.
Jesus is our Mercy Seat. He is the place and the means of our redemption. (Guzik)

Located in front of the Holy of Holies was a separate room called the Holy Place. It contained
three special things:

1. The Table of Showbread
2. The Altar of Incense
3. The Golden Lampstand

What are we told about this table?

• It was about 3' long and 2' wide, made of Acacia wood, and overlaid with pure gold.           Pure refers to the physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense of being clean. (Strong's Concordance)
• Four rings made of pure gold were to be made in the four corners of the Table. This was          for transporting the Table whenever the tent, Tabernacle, was moved. 
• On it were placed twelve fresh, new loaves of bread. Each Sabbath the priests on duty were allowed to eat  the bread (Lev. 24:5-9). This bread was to sustain the priests as they ministered within the Tabernacle.  
• The utensils on the table were to be made of pure gold, also. The utensils included dishes, spoons, bowls, and their covers.
• The Table of Showbread was to always be set before the Lord God.

Do we provide enough bread (money, salary) for the pastor in our church to live on? Is he
provided for as we are provided for through our salary?


LET IT GROW

What can we learn from the Table of Showbread and its articles?

• The showbread is a typify of the Lord Jesus Christ as the bread which came from heaven    (John 6:32-33).
• In John 6:35, we read where Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to         Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
• The bread was to remind the tribes that they were constantly in the presence of God and He saw all that they did (Lev. 24:5-9) As God fed His people with manna, He feeds us on      His truth and His Word (Matt. 4:4). Israel was supposed to fee the Gentiles and witness to them, but they did not always obey.
• Bread is the means of nourishment of the natural life. It points to the higher bread with      which God nourishes the soul. It reminds us of our duty to give thanks for this. As Christ    gave Himself for us (John 6:51), we are to live, not to ourselves, but to Him who died for us, and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15).  (Matthew Henry)
• The priests picture Christ sustaining believers in their service for Him. God meets the needs    of His children.
• The gold used to cover the items used in the Tabernacle was to be pure gold. That meant that the gold was refined in the fire. As I understand, the heat brings the impurities to the top and are removed from the pure gold. When we are put into the fire of trials, they should expose our impurities, sins. We come to Jesus for the cleansing of our soul from its sins.

Isaiah 48:10 God states, See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in
the furnace of affliction.

1 Peter 1:7 tells us, These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise,
glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Is Jesus the bread for our soul's substance? Do we give Him thanks for His love, grace, mercy,
and forgiveness, as well as meeting our physical needs? How pure is our faith? Does it withstand the heat of the trials? Are our motives pure? Morals pure?

LET IT GO

Go to Jesus when my soul is hungry.

Feed on God's Word.

Keep my faith, motives, and morals pure.