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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud was 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. The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent[e] of pure gold.
Exodus 37:17-24
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In yesterday’s message of this series where we are appreciating the craftsmanship displayed by the Israelite artisans who constructed the tabernacle and its accessories in accordance with God’s specific instructions, we looked at the building of the table that would hold the showbread and other articles used for the drink offerings. This table was to be placed within The Holy Place section of the tabernacle and twelve fresh loaves of bread would be placed on it every Sabbath day by members of the Kohathite clan of the tribe of Levi.
Now, it’s important to note that there were no windows within The Holy Place and so a source of light would be needed. Thus the necessity of the item we read of in today’s message, the lampstand. Look again at those words here:
They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud was 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. The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent of pure gold. Exodus 37:17-24
Like the tabernacle and all other components up to now, we see where gold was a main material used for the making of the lampstand. We read where “one talent of pure gold” was used and this was equal to anywhere between 75 and 1200 pounds. That’s a lot of pure gold which made this lampstand of high value. Today’s it’s estimated that 75 pounds of gold would be worth just short of two million dollars.
Looking at our passage, we see where the lampstand had very intricate design to it. For there would be one central shaft coming from the base and from that shaft would be three branches on either side, each extending and rising to be parallel to the top of the main shaft. Onto the top of the shaft and the six branches were placed “flowerlike cups” which would hold the oil that would burn and project light into the space. The branches also had almond blossom and bud shapes on them.
Once this lampstand was placed in The Holy Place, it would burn continuously, a command made by God in this passage from Leviticus, chapter 24:
The Lord said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. Outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the Lord from evening till morning, continually. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord must be tended continually.
Here we learn that it was “clear oil of pressed olives” that was provided by the Israelites “so that the lamps” could “be kept burning continually”. We also see where it was Aaron’s responsibility as the high priest to “tend the lamps before the Lord from evening till morning, continually”. This would be a “lasting ordinance” that would be carried on “for the generations to come”.
Of interest, today the menorah, a seven branched candelabrum that is representative of the golden lampstand in the tabernacle’s Most High section, can be found in many synagogues and Jewish homes. While it isn’t lit constantly as the Old Testament mandated the lampstand, the menorah still serves as a reminder of the instrument that lit God’s holy place. A version of the menorah with nine branches is used and lit during the eight day Festival of Lights, also known as Hanukkah. Each day a candle is lit using the candle in the center until all candles are lit at the celebration’s close. This festival commemorates a miraculous even when the second Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated. At that time, there was only enough oil for the lampstand to burn for one day but it stayed burning for eight days which then allowed for more oil to be acquired. These eight days of the lamp remaining burning is at the core of the Hanukkah observance.
I don’t know about you but this has been a fascinating journey so far as we appreciate the work of these Israelite craftsman and some of the other interesting information about these constructed articles. Tomorrow, we’re going to cover the third and final component of The Holy Place, the altar of incense.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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