THE TABERNACLE (9), Dr. Samuel Lee
THE TABLE FOR BREAD; THE LAMPSTAND
Passage: Exodus 25:23~40  
Key verse: 30
The Table(A)
23 “Make a table(B) of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.[a] 24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. 25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth[b] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 26 Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. 27 The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 28 Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold(C) and carry the table with them. 29 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.(D) 30 Put the bread of the Presence(E) on this table to be before me at all times.
The Lampstand(F)
31 “Make a lampstand(G) of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.(H)
37 “Then make its seven lamps(I) and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays(J) are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent[c] of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern(K) shown you on the mountain.
Footnotes
- Exodus 25:23 That is, about 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide and 2 1/4 feet high or about 90 centimeters long, 45 centimeters wide and 68 centimeters high
- Exodus 25:25 That is, about 3 inches or about 7.5 centimeters
- Exodus 25:39 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
Cross references
- Exodus 25:23 : 25:23-29pp — Ex 37:10-16
- Exodus 25:23 : ver 30; Ex 26:35; 40:4, 22; Lev 24:6; Nu 3:31; 1Ki 7:48; 1Ch 28:16; 2Ch 4:8, 19; Eze 41:22; 44:16; Heb 9:2
- Exodus 25:28 : S ver 13
- Exodus 25:29 : Nu 4:7
- Exodus 25:30 : Ex 35:13; 39:36; 40:4, 23; Lev 24:5-9; Nu 4:7; 1Sa 21:4-6; 1Ki 7:48; 1Ch 23:29
- Exodus 25:31 : 25:31-39pp — Ex 37:17-24
- Exodus 25:31 : Ex 26:35; 31:8; 35:14; 39:37; 40:4, 24; Lev 24:4; Nu 3:31; 1Ki 7:49; 2Ch 4:7; Zec 4:2; Heb 9:2; Rev 1:12
- Exodus 25:36 : ver 18; Nu 8:4
- Exodus 25:37 : Ex 27:21; 30:8; Lev 24:3-4; Nu 8:2; 1Sa 3:3; 2Ch 13:11
- Exodus 25:38 : S ver 37; Nu 4:9
- Exodus 25:40 : S ver 9; Ac 7:44; Heb 8:5*
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Source:  BibleGateway
A wooden table, covered with gold, was to always hold fresh bread so the people could always remember the presence and providence of God. Later, God would provide manna as bread from heaven-which points to Jesus, the true bread (Jn 6:49,51). The purpose of the bread is to teach us thankfulness for God's continually abiding presence and providence. We remember this presence at the Lord's table (Lk 22:19).
2. The lampstand of pure gold (31-40)
A beautiful lampstand made of pure gold-adorned with gold almond flowers-would provide light in the covered tabernacle. The lamp showed the way to God's presence. This reminds us of Jesus, the light of the world. In Revelation, lampstands represent the church (Rev 1:20). We are to let Jesus' light shine through us (Mt 5:16), pointing to Jesus who is the way to God, as the lampstand did. All this is to be done by God's pattern and plan.
Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus, the bread of life and light of the world. Grant me a daily thankful heart, and help me shine Jesus the way to the world around me.
One Word: Come to Jesus