Last week, in Wilderness Instructions, Part 5, we learned that the symbols of the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat are to be a constant reminder to us that God resides in our Heart-Temples, that He is there for us, that He longs to guide us and direct us, that He longs to be with us.
But God’s wilderness tabernacle instructions are far from finished. Our lesson today takes us to Exodus 25:23-29, the instruction given for the construction of “The Table”:
“You shall also make a table of acacia wood…you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs.. you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.” (NKJV)
Isn’t it interesting that the first instructions for the table are very similar to the instructions for the Ark of the Covenant. Both are to be made of acacia wood, a wood that is hardy against insects and rot, thus reminding us that God’s presence in our heart-temples will stand the test of time; both are to be covered in gold, a precious, valuable and beautiful mineral, which reminds us that God’s presence in our heart-temples is the most precious gift we have ever received; and both are to have rings fashioned at the corners, and poles of acacia wood, again overlaid with gold, for carrying purposes, thus reminding us that God wants us to understand that He is always with us, that we can carry His presence and His power with us into every situation we face.
But if there are so many symbolic similarities, why does God specify another piece of furniture?
To find the answer to this question, we must look to the purpose of the table. We begin to get a hint of its purpose as we read vs. 29: “You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold.” (Ex 25:29 NKJV); and in verse 30: “And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.” (Ex25:30 NKJV).
The Bible further describes the table’s purpose in the book of Numbers: “On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring; and the showbread shall be on it.” (Numbers 4:7 NKJV)
Thus we understand that the purpose of the table was to hold up the showbread!
But what is this “showbread” and why was it important to the temple?
We get a bit more information about the showbread in the book of Leviticus: “And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake. You shall set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the LORD.” (Leviticus 24:5-6 NKJV)
The showbread, then, was to be baked in 12 cakes. 12 cakes for 12 tribes of Israel. And each cake was to be made with exactly the same amount of flour, which would suggest that God does not play favorites. He saw each of the tribes as equal in His sight!
Bread is also symbolic in other ways. It was a staple for Biblical times, representing sustenance and provision. Thus, the bread signified to the people of Israel that God was the One who sustained them. Fittingly, Jesus calls Himself the “Bread of Life” (See John 6:35).
Bread is also a key ingredient in social settings. Whenever the Bible refers to believers fellowshipping together, it uses the phrase, “They broke bread together” (See Acts 20:7). Thus, bread also served to remind Israel of God’s desire to commune with them, that they were free to enjoy His hospitality!
The Bible then gives further instruction: “And you shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, an offering made by fire to the LORD.” (Let 24:7 NKJV)
Frankincense was used in the temple in many ways. First of all, it was burned, representing the people’s prayers being carried to Heaven. The actual Frankincense crystals burn with a bright white flame. This signifies the purity and light of Jesus.
Frankincense was also used as a substitute for sacrificial offerings on the altar, thus it reminding us that Jesus is the “substitute” sacrifice for our sins. Medicinally Frankincense produces a calming, restorative effect, and research is now being done on its abilities to cure cancer. This it is symbolic of producing a spiritual uplifiting and renewal in our lives. **
So what does this table with its bread and frankincense mean for us today?
It serves to remind us of the following:
1. God resides in our heart-temples;
2. God desires to commune with us and for us to enjoy His hospitality;
3. God wants to have a relationship with us;
4. God is the one who sustains us, both physically and spiritually; He is our provision;
5. God does not play favorites. He sees His relationship with each of us to be equally important;
6. And finally, it reminds us that Jesus is the substitute offering for our sin, the one that will bring us purity and renewal.
Let’s try and remember this lesson the next time we read about the table in the wilderness, for through it, God teaches us important lessons about our heart-temples!
Please join us next week, for Wilderness Instrucitons, Part 7: The Lampstand.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
* http://planetholy.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/why-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/
** http://ferrel.wrytestuff.com/swa119876.htm
(To access the entire “Wilderness Instructions” mini-series, please click here.)