The Tabernacle of Moses


4. The golden lampstand

Introduction

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1 John.1:5 God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all. We are enjoined to walk in the light as He is in the light. By this walk we are able to have fellowship together. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” The heavens declare the glory of God and we are able to see these glories because of the light. The rainbow has seven colors made from three. The light of the sun brings life, the moon reflects this light, the stars shine with light.

(Rom 1:20 NRSV) Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse;

Things that are made (created) demonstrate God to us. Similarly, the lampstand that was made at the specific instruction of God also teaches us about Him. It was named the Golden Lampstand and was the only light in the Holy Place.

The Lampstand

(Exod.25:31.) make a lampstand of fine gold.

Construction

i. It was made of one piece of hammered Gold. This construction gives emphasis to the one God as the Word.

(John 1:1 NRSV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

ii. Made exactly to the pattern given by God.

Purpose

To uphold the seven lamps that gave light to the Holy Place. The church is to be upholders of the light.

(Mat 5:14-15 NRSV) “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. [15] No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

This golden lampstand is a symbol of the Word of God in His church, The church is to be fitly framed together, with divine order and government and expressing the ongoing revelation of the Word by the Holy Spirit. The lampstand shows some of this pattern.

Position

Placed in the Holy Place, it stood opposite the Table of Shewbread.

The Volume of the Book

Heb. 10:7. “Then said I, “Here I am -it is written about me in the scroll –

The lampstand supports this scripture about Jesus in the sum of its parts.

There are :

Three cups, three buds, three blossoms = Nine on each branch.
Four cups, four buds, four blossoms = Twelve on the shaft.
On one side : 3 branches x nine parts = 27 (Books in the N.T.)
On the other side plus the shaft = 27 + 12 = 39 (Books in the O.T.)

Jesus is the Word made flesh.

(John 1:14 NRSV) And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Jesus explained about Himself from the Scriptures. To understand the Lord we must study the VOLUME of the book. No part can be left out.

The Ornamentation

This is similar in pattern to the rod of Aaron the high priest.

(Num 17:8 NRSV) When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.

Aaron’s rod sprang to life, budded, blossomed and brought forth fruit.

The Cup: The Father Beginning, source.
The Bud: The Son Lily of the Valley.
The Blossom: The Holy Spirit. He is the fruitful one.

The Center Shaft

Supports the six branches and is adorned with twelve symbols. Twelve is the number of government and order. The Word of God demands that all things shall conform to His order and government.

The Seven Lamps

Seven is the number of completeness and perfection. Although there are seven lamps they give one light and witness.

(Exo 25:37 NRSV) You shall make the seven lamps for it; and the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.

The Holy Place was totally enclosed so this was the ONLY light. Jesus is the ONLY light. No other religious system has such light.

The light was the product of oil and fire and was supported by the lampstand. This typifies the day of Pentecost. A Word came from the living Word(Jesus). The disciples were to wait until … They obeyed and tongues of fire and the Holy Spirit (oil) came upon them. ONLY THEN could they shed the divine light in the world and birth the church.

The Oil

Olive oil beaten or pressed was to be used.

(Lev 24:2 NIV) “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.

A reminder of how the Saviour suffered at Gethsemane (means olive press.) that we might have the oil of the Holy Spirit’s anointing.

Holiness

(Exo 30:29 NIV) You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.

Those who touched the lamps were to be holy unto the Lord. A need to consider the walk of holiness when “Touching’ the Word. All the lamps (as were the priests) were to be anointed with the sacred anointing oil. (Illustrates the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.)

One Talent

All the lamps, the lampstand and the utensils were made from ONE talent of gold. Oneness, unity.

(Exo 25:39 NIV) A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories.

There is one way, one truth, one life, one faith.

(Eph 4:4-6 NIV) There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
(Deu 6:4 NIV) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God (s), the LORD is one.

In Transit

(Num 4:9-10 NIV) “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the oil used to supply it. [10] Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame.

All the pieces were covered by two coverings.

i. Blue Cloth : the colour of the heavens. A type of the Holy Spirit.
ii. Hides. : (Sea Cow or Badgers?) As they traveled any of the heathen (unregenerate man) could not see the beauty within. It was only visible to His anointed priests in the Holy Place.

Only the priests were allowed to prepare the lampstand for transport.

Summary

Typically we may say that the lampstand and its lamps illustrate the Lord Jesus Christ as the light of the world, and more particularly, as the light of the church both local and universal. He is shown as standing in the tabernacle, as the golden lampstand of God, illuminated by the lamps and glowing with the brilliance of God’s glory.

(Rev 1:12-16 NIV) I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, [13] and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. [14] His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. [15] His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. [16] In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

These lamps are supplied with oil, and this oil is typical of the Holy Spirit.

Sixty-six parts that represent the Logos Words of God. These are the books of the bible. When illuminated by the burning oil of the Holy Spirit, the Golden Lampstand gleams with light revealing itself, the Table of the Lord (communion) and the Altar of Incense (the prayers of the saints.) to the priestly company. i.e. the Spirit filled church.

This Golden Lampstand forever illustrates the need for both the Word and the Holy Spirit to be present in the ministry of the church.

The Word upholds the Spirit, the Spirit reveals the Word

(John 14:26 NIV) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

(John 16:13-14 NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. [14] He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.