Scripture: “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. You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. 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. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.”
Exodus 25:23-30 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the Lord commands Moses to construct the Ark of the Covenant, which will house the “testimony” that Yahweh will provide (the soon-acquired Ten Commandments tablets, Aaron’s budded staff, and a pot of manna). God further directs Moses to construct it of acacia wood and overlay it with gold to measure two and a half cubits in length (3.75 feet) and one and a half cubits in width and height (2.25 feet). Gold rings will be attached to its legs, and Moses will permanently place acacia-wood poles overlayed with gold through its rings.
Moses must construct the mercy seat of pure gold with the same horizontal dimension as the ark. He is to hammer two solid gold cherubims and affix them to the two ends of the mercy seat, each facing the other and their wings spanning to overshadow the mercy seat, all of which goes on top of the ark.
Today’s reading presents the next furniture item for the sanctuary: the table to regularly hold the bread of Presence (v.30). Like the ark, Moses must construct it of acacia wood overlayed with gold—measuring similar dimensions (3 feet long by 1.5 feet wide by 2.25 feet high) to the ark. Moses is to add a molded gold rim to the table’s surface to extend it a hand’s breadth. Also, like the ark, God commands Moses to attach gold rings to its legs and place acacia-wood poles overlayed with gold through the rings. Additionally, Moses must make the table’s utensils of pure gold, which will include plates, incense dishes, pitchers, and drink-offering cups.
Takeaway: With the soon institution of the priests, they will place twelve loaves in two rows of six on the table of Presence each Sabbath to symbolize Israel’s twelve tribes and a priestly fellowship meal with God (Leviticus 24:6-9). The bread would also point to the heavenly manna sustaining Israel in their wilderness wandering. As for the pitchers and cups, the priests will use them for a drink offering (37:16). Lastly, the proper noun “Presence,” cited here and in 1 Samuel 21:6 and 1 Kings 7:48, translates as “face” in Hebrew and stands for the Divine Person (Yahweh). We see this same Hebrew word ascribed to the “angel of Presence” in Isaiah 63:9 (most likely a prefigure of Christ) and to Yahweh (“my presence”) in a later chapter of this book (33:14-15).
Our takeaway? Through the filter of the New Covenant, Jesus, the Son of God, is God’s Presence (face). He alone exhibits the exact likeness of God, and he alone is the new manna, the Bread of Life (John 6:32-38), who brings eternal sustenance to those who put their faith in him. But it cost him dearly, for he suffered humiliation, an excruciating crucifixion, and momentary anguish separated from his beloved Father. Still, as touched on in yesterday’s Daily Focus, for the love of us, he endured the cross, scorned its shame, and ascended to his heavenly office (Hebrews 12:2), where he continues interceding for us (Romans 8:34).
Our part? As Jesus challenges his audience regarding this first of his seven “I am” statements, he declares, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:47-51 ESV). Indeed, we must believe and feast on the bread of Presence and Life by digesting his commands in our willful minds and his promises in our earnest hearts. When we do, we find the strength to persevere the wilderness wanderings and take possession of his Promised Lands.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who feasted his mind and heart on doing your will (John 4:34), even unto death and momentary separation from you to bear our sins in his body. And we thank you that we, too, can find sustenance in obeying his commands and relying on his promises. So please help us to draw near and feast on your Son, our bread of Presence, through our love and obedience to him and you. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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