IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Table for Bread; the Lampstand

Date: Jun. 8, 2021

Passage

Exodus 25:23-40 (ESV)

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 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.

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 of pure gold. 40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 25:30

And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.

1. Table for the bread of the Presence (23-30)

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

Daily Bread

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

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Intro Daily

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references