Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20070328.htm

EXODUS: FUNCTIONING WELL IN A HOPELESS GROUP ASSIGNMENT
Part II: God's Sustainment Of Israel In The Wilderness Amid Humanly Helpless Trials
M. God's Establishment Of The Tabernacle Of Meeting
2. The Focus On The Important Articles Of The Tabernacle
c. The Lampstand: God's Illuminating His People Through Christ
(Exodus 25:31-40 et al.)
  1. Introduction
    1. According to Isaiah 8:19-20, 21-23, if we experience inner unrest, distress, anger and depression, we have looked to evil or godless sources to find errant, deficient spiritual viewpoints that harm our inner man.
    2. Yet, God has supplied the insight Source we need to heal and fulfill as seen in the tabernacle lampstand:
  2. The Lampstand: God's Illuminating His People Through Christ, Exodus 25:31-40 et al.
    1. In contrast to both the ark of the testimony and the table of shewbread, the other important articles of the Tabernacle furniture before described, the third key furnishing, the lampstand, was not made of acacia wood AND gold as they were, but of pure gold ALONE, Ex. 25:31a with 25:10-11, 23-24. This typifies Christ's revelation of God in His life and in Scripture is by divine inspiration, not by human inspiration:
      1. The lampstand gave off light to illumine, a key ministry of Christ in His earthly life, cf. Isaiah 8:19-9:2:
        1. Christ came as God's Great Light to Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2) in reply to the darkness that covered the area as it had turned from Scripture to seek insight from mediums and evil spirits, Isaiah 8:19-20.
        2. So, opposite unrest, distress, anger and gloom from communing with demons (Isa. 8:21-22), Jesus came as Supernatural Counsellor, the Mighty God, The Father of Eternity and Prince of Peace, 9:6!
      2. Yet, Christ so spiritually authored Scripture that it also is personified as Himself in Rev. 19:11-16.
      3. So, where the acacia wood typified the humanity of Christ and the gold His deity in the furnishings of the ark of the covenant and the table of shewbread, the lampstand, being built only of pure gold, reveals Jesus in His life and in Scripture is the divine inspiration of God's truth to man, John 1:1-3, 14.
    2. The number seven represents completeness in Scripture (cf. J. D. Douglas, gen. ed., The New Bible Dictionary, 1973, p. 898), so the seven different lamps rising from the single base stem of the lampstand (cf. Exodus 25:32) represents the completeness of Christ's revelation of the Father in His earthly life and in the written Scriptures, cf. John 1:1-3, 14, 16-17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
    3. The bowls holding the lamp oil that was lit were formed in the shape of almonds, Exodus 25:33. The word, "almond" in Hebrew is shaqed from the word (shaqad), "to watch or wake" (Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1131). This name comes from the fact that the almond tree blossoms in January, the earliest of the trees to do so; the almond-shaped lamp cups then picture the intense motivation of God to watch over His written Word and that of His Son in His earthly life so as to apply and fulfill it for His own, Jer. 1:11-12.
    4. All the parts of the lampstand were to be formed from a single piece of gold, Exodus 25:34-36, signifying the unity and interconnected nature of God's revelation in Scripture's 66 books and in Christ's life; all of it exalts and leads to the glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, cf. Revelation 19:10c with Luke 24:25-27.
    5. The tools used for lighting the lamps were made of pure gold, showing God's full superintendance in the process of producing written Scripture by His use of holy men and Christ, Ex. 25:38 NIV; 2 Pet. 1:20-21.
    6. The lampstand and the utensils were to come from a single talent of gold that weighed around 75 pounds, Exodus 25:39 NIV, ftn. That is $720,000 worth of gold, signifying God's Word is precious, Psa. 19:7-11!
    7. Exodus 27:20a notes the oil for the lamps was to come from beaten olives, a finer oil that would give off less smoke and a brighter flame than were it from crushed olives, Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, 1978, ftn. to 27:20. This depicts the power of the Holy Spirit to clarify (illumine) the truth of Scripture unto us, 1 Cor. 2:4-13.
    8. Exodus 27:20b-21 reveals this lampstand was to be serviced morning and evening to keep it perpetually lit in God's presence through all generations! This signified the sustained witness of God's revealed truth in Christ and in Scripture for use at all times for all generations of God's people, Psalm 119:89-90a!
Lesson: God's revelation in Scripture and Christ exalt Him and fully reveal God and His truth that God always intently seeks to apply for His people; this revelation came by God's superintendance at every step of the process, and it stands ready for all at all times in history in the illuminating power of God!

Application: May we then VALUE, TRUST and ALWAYS APPLY Scripture for BLESSING in life!