Today, we are again looking in the Sanctification room or the Holy Place of the earthly tabernacle where we see three important pieces of furniture. Can you name them all? The Table of Show Bread, the Altar of Incense and finally the Golden Candlestick. We see the importance of Bible study at the Table of show bread, we see the vital need for prayer at the Altar of Incense, and we see the importance of service/being a witness for Christ at the Candlestick-the third and crowning step in sanctification or Christian perfection. As Christ’s followers we need all three apart of our experience today. We can’t be without any and succeed.
Let’s read Exodus 25:31-40 together. You can also see detail on the Candlestick in Exodus 37:17-24 ( but we won’t read that now just giving you that for reference.)
What was the candlestick made up of? The Candlestick was made of a talent of pure gold ( unlike the other pieces of furniture and it weighed 120lbs and was then valued at $30,000. Today the value of the candlestick is about 3 million dollars. It was one solid piece of gold. It was the most costly as well as the most elaborate of the sacred vessels. By this immense amount of gold used in it God would convey the extreme importance of and the high value that Jesus places on true soul service. It is the symbol of the motto “Share your faith” “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16.
Who did the Candlestick represent? Christ. Who is the light of the world. John 1:9. As His followers we are to be lights in this dark world Matt 5:14. Especially did the central shaft to which all the branches are joined represent Christ who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. It’s interesting to note that the gold was beaten. Think about that for a moment. So Christ and His faithful followers must suffer persecution 2 Tim 3:12. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The gold was beaten Ex 25:31, 36. It required many a skillful blow to shape all the details of its ornaments. So Christ was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. It is TRIAL that purifies the church and fits it to be the light of the world. This has been demonstrated in the sufferings of thousands of martyrs of the Dark Ages and during the Reformation “but the blood of martyrs was the seed of the church. The beaten work also meaning that it was all of ONE PIECE.
Let’s talk about the parts of the candlestick. It had one main shaft with three branches projecting from each side. These 6 branches were alike, each having 3 bowls made after the fashion of almonds…a knop and a flower resembling lilies Patriarchs and Prophets p. 348- There were 9 ornaments in each branch. The main shaft had 4 bowls made like almonds, his knops and his flowers. -12 ornaments. Thus the shaft and the 6 branches had 66 ornaments. Under each of the 3 pairs of branches was a knop – 3 more ornaments. Including the ornamental base the candlestick had a total of 70 ornaments. What detailed description. Yet even though this inspired description is so minute the caution is added “ Look that thou make them after their pattern which was showed thee in the mount.” Exodus 25:40. Why all this detail? Because any variation from God’s exact plan would destroy or mar the meaning and thus fail of teaching important spiritual truth pertaining to the plan of salvation.
What is the significance of its seven branches? We can remember it its entirety the candlestick rep Christ as the light of the world John 8:12. Especially does the main shaft with its significant number 4 represent Christ. He it is “One like unto the Son of man” who walks in the midst of the 7 candlesticks Rev 1:12,13 which are the 7 churches. The entire church of God Rev 1:20. As 7 not only rep completeness but perfection so the church of God is to be perfect “a church holy and without blemish” Eph 5:27. Jesus said also to His disciples, “Ye are the light of the world as city set on a hill cannot be hid.” Matt 5:14.
The lamps burned continually-As the bread on the table was continual Number 4:7 and the incense on the altar was perpetual Exodus 30:8 so the lamps burned continually. Lev 24:2. “They shed their light by day and by night. PP 348. Just so the light of the church should shine around the circle of the earth by day and by night. No matter what our occupation in life every service should be def. directed to advance God’s work. Thus day by day may be true light bearers ‘ambassadors for Christ’ 2 Corintians 5:20.
What was the significance of the oil? It was pure olive oil that had been beaten Lev 24:2; Exodus 27:20. The oil is the Spirit of God that causes the lamps to send forth their light. Christ is the “bowl” from which the oil flows into the seven lamps, for He it is who sends the Holy Spirit to the seven churches. Without this pure oil it is impossible for the followers of Jesus to let their light shine in its full brightness. The oil was beaten to cause the lamps to burn always. Exodus 27:20. Daily we need a filling up the holy spirit. Not just once a week, but daily. We cannot “burn” without the Holy Spirit. Heaven longs to give the Holy Spirit.
Who lighted the lamps? The priest. So Christ our High Priest must light our lamps BEFORE we can shine for Him. He the central shaft sends oil to all the branches and that without measure. “Its measure being the measure of the fullness of Christ.” Eph 4:13.
The morning and evening lightings. When Aaron burned the incense on the altar in the morning he trimmed the lamps “Every morning…he dressed the lamp; at even he lighteth the lamps Ex 30: 7,8. In the evening a fresh supply of oil was put into the lamps, in the morning the dressing or trimming , of the lamps caused them to shine in their fullness. The burning of the incense and the care of the lamps were closely associated. So, as we kneel at our altar of prayer morning and evening our High Priest will give us a fresh supply of His Holy Spirit as a new fitting up for service.
The Blessing of service: Our efforts to help others and point them to the way of life, will not only benefit them but it will “react in blessings upon ourselves.” This was the purpose of God in giving us a part to act in the plan of redemption. He has granted men the privilege of becoming partakers of the divine nature, and in their turn of diffusing blessings to their fellowmen. This is the highest honor the greatest joy that it is possible for God to bestow upon men.” Steps to Christ p. 83. Such light bearing is not stinted or meager. It is thus described by Luke “Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38.