April 26, 2019
Construction Instruction
Exodus 25:23-40
Jake Hornberger
Central Truth
Being in God's presence requires holiness. In His kindness through Jesus, God has provided a way for believers to dwell in His presence daily.
Key Verse | Exodus 25:30
"And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly."
Exodus 25:23-40
The Table for Bread
23 You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. 25 And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth 1 25:25 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 27 Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. 29 And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.
The Golden Lampstand
31 You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, 35 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. 36 Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. 38 Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent 2 25:39 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms of pure gold. 40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.
Dive Deeper | Exodus 25:23-40
It's easy to skim over the specific measurements and descriptions for the bread table while looking for the main applicable points of this passage. However, knowing that the purpose of the tabernacle was so that God may "dwell in their midst" (Exodus 25:8), the details are reminders of God's holy character, His loving provision, and His amazing grace in Jesus.
God commanded pure gold overlays for the table of the bread of Presence, border, rings, poles and even the dishes! Notice the perfect detail required to enter His presence. God's character is so pure and holy that only those fulfilling His specific requirements may come into His presence—and His requirement is pure holiness.
On the table were set 12 loaves of bread representing God's covenant relationship with the 12 tribes of Israel. The bread of the Presence served as provision and sustenance for the priests as they stood in God's presence, reminiscent of His kind provision of manna for them in the desert. Here I notice God's loving desire to provide a way for His people to be in relationship with Him.
The bread also foreshadows God's amazing grace through Jesus, the One who enables God's people to stand in His presence for eternity. Jesus describes Himself as "the bread of life" (John 6:35), and the Passover bread (Luke 22:19) as "my body, which is given for you."
The details about the bread of the Presence remind me that because of my brokenness, I would never be able to stand in the presence of God's holiness unless in His lovingkindness He provided the way through Jesus. Those believing that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) can stand in His presence for eternity. Furthermore, because God is always with us (Matthew 28:20, John 14:16, Hebrews 13:5), we can trust that in the hard times, He's there to lean on; in the painful moments, He's there to comfort; in the dark days, He's there to bring hope and joy; and in the emptiness, He alone provides eternal satisfaction and peace.
Let's enjoy the amazing gift of living His presence today!
Discussion Questions
1. Have you come to understand your own brokenness that prevents you from entering the presence of a Holy God and the grace offered in Christ? If not, watch this.
2. How are you taking advantage of opportunities to grow in relationship with this Holy God?
3. What does it look like for you to "set the bread of the Presence on the table" before God regularly and enjoy the provision He has given you through His Word, His Spirit, and His people?
4. What are you walking through this week where you need to be encouraged by the reminder that God is dwelling in your midst?
5. What are some promises of God that encourage and remind you of His presence and power with you? Share those in the comments to encourage fellow Journey readers!