The Ark, the Table, & the Lampstand

Topic: Tabernacle
Passage: Exodus 25:10–40

August 11, 2019

Commentary

The first two pieces of furniture described for the Tabernacle were the Ark and the Mercy Seat, the lid that covered the Ark. The Lord told Moses to have the people make the Ark from acacia wood, about 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. It was to be covered inside and out with pure gold and have gold rings for poles so it could be carried. Inside the Ark were placed the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments (v. 16). Two cherubim made of solid gold were placed on the lid, facing each other with wings outstretched over the Ark (vv. 18–20). God said He would meet with Moses there and speak to His people (v. 22). The Ark represented God’s presence dwelling among His people.

The second item, the Table of Showbread, was also made of acacia wood and covered with pure gold. It held 12 loaves of bread, replaced each Sabbath (vv. 23–30). The bread reminded Israel that God lovingly and contin-ually cared for all 12 tribes each week of their journey. It also beautifully pictured Jesus, “the Bread of Life” (John 6:35), who fully satisfies our deepest spiritual hunger and need.

The third piece was the Golden Lampstand. Made from one piece of pure gold, it had seven branches shaped like almond blossoms (vv. 31–36). Its seven oil lamps gave light to the Holy Place and were tended each morning and evening (Ex. 27:20–21). The lampstand symbolized the Holy Spirit’s con-tinual presence and pointed forward to Christ, the true “Light of the world” (John 8:12). Each item in the Tabernacle pointed to the holiness and presence of God, showing that He desires fellowship with His people and wants to dwell among them.

Application

What do my giving habits say about my heart toward God? When I give, do I do it freely and joyfully, or only when I feel pressured? God asked His people to give from willing hearts so He could dwell among them. How can I use my time, money, or talents this week to help make God’s presence known where I live and serve?

Exodus 25:10–40 (NET)

10 “They are to make an ark of acacia wood—its length is to be 45 inches, its width 27 inches, and its height 27 inches. 11 You are to overlay it with pure gold—both inside and outside you must overlay it, and you are to make a surrounding border of gold over it. 12 You are to cast four gold rings for it and put them on its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 13 You are to make poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold, 14 and put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them. 15 The poles must remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it. 16 You are to put into the ark the testimony that I will give to you.

17 “You are to make an atonement lid of pure gold; its length is to be 45 inches, and its width is to be 27 inches. 18 You are to make two cherubim of gold; you are to make them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid. 19 Make one cherub on one end and one cherub on the other end; from the atonement lid you are to make the cherubim on the two ends. 20 The cherubim are to be spreading their wings upward, overshadowing the atonement lid with their wings, and the cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the atonement lid. 21 You are to put the atonement lid on top of the ark, and in the ark you are to put the testimony I am giving you. 22 I will meet with you there, and from above the atonement lid, from between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will command you for the Israelites.

23 “You are to make a table of acacia wood; its length is to be 36 inches, its width 18 inches, and its height 27 inches. 24 You are to overlay it with pure gold, and you are to make a surrounding border of gold for it. 25 You are to make a surrounding frame for it about three inches broad, and you are to make a surrounding border of gold for its frame. 26 You are to make four rings of gold for it and attach the rings at the four corners where its four legs are. 27 The rings are to be close to the frame to provide places for the poles to carry the table. 28 You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them. 29 You are to make its plates, its ladles, its pitchers, and its bowls, to be used in pouring out offerings; you are to make them of pure gold. 30 You are to set the Bread of the Presence on the table before me continually.

31 “You are to make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand is to be made of hammered metal; its base and its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its blossoms are to be from the same piece. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand, three branches of the lampstand from one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on the next branch, and the same for the six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 On the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms, 35 with a bud under the first two branches from it, and a bud under the next two branches from it, and a bud under the third two branches from it, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36 Their buds and their branches will be one piece, all of it one hammered piece of pure gold.

37 “You are to make its seven lamps and then set its lamps up on it, so that it will give light to the area in front of it. 38 Its trimmers and its trays are to be of pure gold. 39 About seventy-five pounds of pure gold is to be used for it and for all these utensils. 40 Now be sure to make them according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.

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