Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 48
Worship in Ancient Israel (4)
The Tabernacle was a rectangular structure divided into sections. The holy place was 30 ft. long and 15 ft. wide, and the holy of holies was 15 square ft. The holy place and the holy of holies were divided by a huge, heavy veil made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, richly embroidered with figures of cherubim (Ex. 26:1-33). Three pieces of furniture graced the holy place. The golden lampstand stood on the left side (south); the table of showbread stood on the right side (north) and the altar of incense stood in front of the veiled entrance to the holy of holies, which contained the ark of the covenant.[1]
We have studied the Ark of the Covenant which symbolized the very presence of God with His people and the Altar of Incense which symbolized Israel’s communion with God. The incense represents the prayer of God’s people (Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4). It is likened to sweet incense offered to God. The Ark of the Covenant is located beyond the veil in the Holy of holies or the most holy place. And outside the veil is the Altar of Incense placed in the centre of the holy place just touching the veil. In the holy place was the Table of Showbread and the Lampstand. The priests entered the Holy Place daily to minister to the LORD. The table of showbread stood on the right (north side of the holy place, Ex. 40:22), the 7-branched golden candlestick or lampstand stood on the left (south side; Ex. 40:24), and the altar of incense stood in the Holy Place right in front of the veiled Holy of Holies (on the west side before the veil).[2]
- The Golden Lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40)
The Lampstand is made from one talent of pure gold (v29). A talent is about 90 pounds (1440 ounces) or 40.8kg. This lampstand had a centre stem with three branches on each side, making it a 7-pronged lampstand as our text tells us from Exodus 25:31-32.
31 And 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.
32 And 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:
Each stem had three groups of almond blossom cups, knobs and flowers – except the middle stem, which had four. Notice that it was not made from a mould but was hammered out of a single talent of gold (Ex. 37:17, 24). The craftsman who crafted it was given the great ability by God to be able to sculpt such a beautiful piece.[3]
It was of the priest’s ministry to care for the lampstand. Its lamps were kept perpetually burning (Ex. 27:20-21) by filling them with pure olive oil.
Exodus 27:20-21 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. 21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
The priests trimmed each lamp every evening and morning (Ex. 30:7-8) with pure gold tongs and snuff dishes (Ex. 25:38). The tongs and snuff dishes were used in trimming the lampstands. The priests placed the used portions of the wick into a snuff dish and carried them out of the Tabernacle for proper disposal.[4]
Exodus 30:7-8 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
It is interesting to observe the 5th vision of Zechariah to the Jewish returnees to Jerusalem from exile after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Their mission was to rebuild the temple so that worship in Israel can be re-instituted. Zerubabbel the governor was given the mandate by God to rebuild the temple.
This 5th vision of Zechariah was meant to help the builders to be labourers together with God and not rely on their own strength. Zechariah was asleep when he was awakened by the interpreting angel, the angel was nudging him to rehearse what he saw, Zechariah saw a candle-stick of gold with a bowl on the top, having seven lamps, and each lamp furnished with seven feeding tubes, and two olive trees standing beside the candlestick.
From the two crowded branches, the clustering olives were pouring a constant supply of golden-coloured oil into tubes that led into the bowl. This makes the lamps self-sustaining. The prophet inquired about the meaning of this vision, and after some delay, was told that it conveyed the truth that in carrying on the work of rebuilding the Temple, it was not by human power, but by the strength of God. The delay heightened the curiosity of the inquirer.
This is a picture of the source of strength for Christian service: “not by might nor by power but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (v 6). The Holy Spirit’s power is likened to the oil that flows to keep the light of the candlesticks burning. Israel is to depend on God for wisdom and strength to be His witness.
In the book of Revelation, the 7 churches in Asia Minor were depicted as the 7 golden candlesticks.
Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
The warning to the church at Ephesus is to repent for she had lost her first love and the indictment to come is that God will remove their witness if they do not turn back to God.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The priests’ work in the holy place was to ensure that the lamp was continually burning. It speaks of Israel’s responsibility to keep close to God so that He may continually guide them. It is interesting to note that when the priests failed in their duty, it would interrupt their communion with God. The light once snuffed out would mean the holy place would experience darkness and the priests would not be able to do their duty of offering incense and the work of changing the showbread.
The work of the priest in the holy place keeps the communion with God open and thriving. The offering of the incense, the changing of the showbread, and the light needful to ensure the work is performed coming from the lampstand. Truly, without the wilderness, the barrenness is frightening. But within is the very presence of God to protect, persevere and prosper them in their ways. They need to keep up that communion with God so that wisdom can be appropriated in their daily lives. The tabernacle and the work in the keeping of the tabernacle is a portrait of the active and healthy interaction between God and His people.
We do so by prayer and the study of God’s Word. God’s Word is a light to our paths and a lamp to our feet. We need to continually set time to study God’s Word to allow the light of God’s Word to shine and guide us in the pathways of life.
How is your devotion life with God? Is it thriving or wanting? Is it haphazard or consistent? By coming for Bible study and Prayer Meetings, we endeavour to keep the communication channel with God open! We pray not only for ourselves but for others as the priests did on behalf of the people of Israel.
Realize that great privilege we have to come to this house of prayer to keep the candlestick burning in this church! May we not neglect this duty as the priests did in ensuring that there is that unbroken communion with God as without is the wilderness signifying the ravages of life without God and His blessings. May God increase our devotion for Him if we are slack and help us to continue to walk with Him! May the Lord help us! Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee
[1] David M. Levy, The Tabernacle – Shadows of the Messiah, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 1993, 41.
[2] Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines, Rose Publishing, 146.
[3] Ibid., 42.
[4] Ibid., 47.