B. A Picture of God’s Demands

The key to the TABERNACLE is Christ (Exodus 25-27). It symbolized the dwelling place of God in the midst of His people. As a type of Christ, it symbolized:

The meeting between God and man (Heb. 9:21-24; 2 Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:9; Heb. 10:5; Rev. 21:3; Jn. 1:14 2:13-22).

The tabernacle is a symbol, picture and prophecy of the man in whom God should become incarnate.

It is also a symbol of the Body of Christ, the Church (Col. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 2:21, 22).

• The Tabernacle is a 3 room building. Outer court, Holy Place, Holy of Holies
• Man is a trichotomy – body, soul, spirit. (I Thess. 5:23)
• God is a Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (I John 5:7)

Space is threefold – height, depth, length

Time is threefold – past, present and future

Man’s relation to God is three fold

• Material/Physical – the world around us
• Mental/Psychological – the world within us
• Spiritual – the world above us

When man’s relationship is right:

• Materially/Physically, he is Happy
• Mental/Psychological – he is Healthy
• Spiritually – he is Holy

God calls our body the “outward man”

• 2 Corinthians 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Our OUTWARD MAN – a picture of the OUTER COURT of the Tabernacle.

A place of sacrifice – The Brazen Altar (Romans 12:1 present your bodies a living sacrifice)

A place of sanctification – The Brazen Laver – (1 Thessalonians 4:4  to possess his vessel in sanctification)

 

The Tabernacle, also called the Holy Place pictures the SOUL of man.

This is where ministry is performed.

 

The Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies is a picture of the SPIRIT of man.

This is where real worship and communion is done.

• John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

1. The Dimensions of the Tabernacle

• Approximately 150 feet by 75 feet
• The Tabernacle proper was approximately 15 feet wide, 15 feet high and 45 feet long.
• The Holy of Holies was a perfect cube; 15 wide, 15 long and 15 high.

2. The Division of the Tabernacle

• Made of white linen.
• Boards made of  wood completely covered by wood.
• Each board was 15 feet tall and approximately 27 inches wide.
• There were 20 boards on each long side of the Tabernacle, and 6 for the western wall.
• These boards were set in silver sockets and settled in the dirt and sand of the wilderness floor.
• The wall signifies the separation between man and God.
• The wall’s boards, covered by gold pictures Christ in his humanity and deity.
• The silver sockets speak of redemption.  The gold was situated in silver, and imbedded in the dirt.
• This speaks of the God-man’s purpose for coming to earth – to redeem fallen man.
• The white linen speaks of his purity and holiness – a division that man cannot breach apart from Christ.
• The height speaks of the upright laws that man can never measure up to.
• To the natural man, reaching Christ on his own is impossible.  The wall is to high and too holy.
• The walls of the Tabernacle was both INCLUSIVE and EXCLUSIVE.
• If a man had ONE sin in his life, he was forbidden from entering in except through the door.

3. The Depth – Exodus 26

• Four layers of material made the roof that covered the Tabernacle.
• On the inside – fine white linen embroidered with gold, blue, purple, scarlet.
• Next layer was a cloth made of woven goats hair.
• Next layer was rams skin dyed red.
• The final layer – the layer seen from the outside, was badgers skins.
• A picture of Jesus the man – exposed to the abuse and mistreatment of a harsh and hateful world.
• The practical reason for the four layers was to protect the inside of the Tabernacle from the wind and rain.
• The picture is – from the outside, a stranger cannot see the depth of the beauty of Christ.
• They cannot understand the doctrines of Christ; his atonement, his virgin birth, his deity, his resurrection, his second coming, his character, his attributes, his love.  All they see is the unattractive, patchwork of badger skins.

4. The Door

• On the east side of the Tabernacle, we see the door to the courtyard.
• It is approximately 30 feet wide.
• When you walked through the door, you came face to face with the first piece of furniture – the Brazen Altar.
• John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
• John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
• Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

C. A Place for God to Deliver

• The Tabernacle was a place where man could interact with God about his sin.
• The Tabernacle was provided as a temporary atonement place until the final sacrifice could be paid.
• Man’s sin was acknowledged, confessed and atoned for at the Tabernacle.

II. The Pieces of the Tabernacle

Intro: The Brazen Altar is the largest piece of furniture in the Tabernacle.  The Altar was a place of sacrifice and speaks of the substitutionary death of Christ. The word “altar” means: high place, or that which lifts up.

• John 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
• John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

A. The Brazen Altar

1. The Placement – Exodus 40:6 “…before the door of the tabernacle of the tent…”

Before anybody could enter and enjoy the blessings of the Tabernacle, they had to first come to the Altar.

• Lev. 1:5 …by the door of the tabernacle…

The Altar literally blocked the way into the Tabernacle.  Once you entered the door, you were standing directly at the foot of this altar.  Its placement spoke of both THE PATH to God, and THE PREVENTION to God.  Without following the steps required at the Altar, access to Him was denied.

The problem with many people is they have tried to circumvent the cross, and have gone on unto the laver, the holy place – the whole time, lost and still in their sins.

Salvation is a requirement if you want to dwell with God, and you want Him to dwell with you!

2. The Particulars – Exodus 27:1-8

In the Old Testament, altars had been built of many different types of material.

• Exodus 20:24, 25 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.  And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

• This altar was the first altar in the Bible that was this nice, this expensive, this elaborate and this rigid in its specifications.
• The two materials were WOOD and BRASS.
• The WOOD speaks of His humanity; the BRASS of his ability to withstand the judgment of God.
• The dimensions; 5x5x3 is also significant.  Five is the number of grace, and three the Trinity.
• His grace is demonstrated in the LENGTH OF THE ALTAR.  His grace has been extended since before the foundation of the world – Rev. 13:8
• His grace is demonstrated in the BREADTH OF THE ALTAR. His grace has been extended to all men.
• Revelation 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
• The height of the altar reveals the will of the Godhead; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
• The altar was four-square; this pictures the availability to every man; no matter where they are from.
• The top of the Altar had four horns – one on each corner.  These horns were used to bind the sacrifice to the altar before and during the sacrificing process.
• Psalms 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
• These horns symbolize the power, strength and protection of Christ’s sacrifice.
• Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• They point North, East, West, and South = NEWS
• The Altar was carried by 2 staves thrust through 4 rings. Exodus 27:6, 7
• This is symbolic of the fact that the Cross of Christ should be carried throughout the wilderness of the world.
• The 2 staves provided a balanced Cross – the death and the resurrection.  One without the other wouldn’t work.
• The 4 rings through which the staves were thrust could symbolize the 4 gospels which hold the 2 staves in place.

3. The Picture

The picture obviously is of Jesus Christ – the ultimate sacrifice. Leviticus chapter 1-6 give great details as to the proper procedures for offering sacrifices for sin, etc.

NOTICE: the altar was made of wood overlaid with brass.  Picturing the humanity of Christ and the judgment of God.

The wood was not consumed because of the brass.  It was able to withstand the harsh punishment of the heat.

• 1 Peter 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
• Isaiah 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The sacrifices that were offered upon the Altar:

a. Were Brought – only the best; the spotless, the sacrifice without blemish – Heb. 7:25-28

b. Were Bled – poured out at the foot of the altar

c. Were Bound – tied to the four horns of the altar

d. Were Burned – the fire came from God and burned continually – Lev. 9:24; 6:12, 13

e. Were Buried – the ashes of the sacrifice were carried without the camp and buried – Lev. 6:11

The process took about 6 hours – 3 hours to prepare the sacrifice, and 3 for it to be completely consumed.

Conclusion: The Old Testament Altar could NOT forgive sins; it could only postpone the wrath of God.  Jesus paid the FINAL sacrifice for sin on Calvary.

• Hebrews 4: 1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
• 2  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
• 3  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
• 4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
• 10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• 11  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
• 12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
• 13  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
• 14  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

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The Brazen Laver

Exodus 30:17-21

Intro:  This series has brought us around the perimeter of the Outer Court where we have examined the curtains, the coverings and the front door.  We’ve learned that we must enter in through the door, Christ, and that we must come face to face with our sin at the Brazen Altar.  We learned that the Altar is a type of Christ on the Cross, and that the blood must be applied to our life in order to be saved.  This morning, we are going to move to the next piece of furniture in the Tabernacle – the Brazen Laver.

I. The Purpose of the Laver

A. To Reveal – the brass is a picture of the pure judgments of God that show us our sin.

• Exodus 38:8 – the laver was made of the looking glasses of the women; highly polished brass.
• James 1:23-25 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Arguing with the mirror is futile.  It NEVER lies!  If God’s Word reveals a problem – don’t deny it – deal with it!

B. To Remove – the water in the Brazen Laver is a picture of the Word of God

• Exodus 30:18 – …to wash withal

The washing of the hands and feet signifies not a salvation cleansing, but a sanctified cleansing.

• Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
• John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

II. The Placement of the Laver

Exodus 30:18 – between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar

That signifies two major points:

A. Notice that Sanctification comes AFTER salvation.

After a visit to the Brazen Altar, immediately the saint of God must encounter the Brazen Laver.

When someone tries to circumvent the Altar, and is gets preoccupied with the Laver, there’s a problem.

ILLUSTRATION: The New Testament Pharisees were guilty of attempting sanctification without salvation.

• Matthew 23:25-28  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

There are THREE types of sanctification:

Positional Sanctification

• Hebrews 10:10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Progressive Sanctification

• 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Practical Sanctification

• John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

B. Notice that Sanctification comes BEFORE service

God cannot and will not use a dirty vessel for the work of the ministry!

• 2 Timothy 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

ILLUSTRATION: One recent Thursday night I had the opportunity to ride with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s
Department TAC Team; a team that enforces underage drinking laws and alcohol sales to minors.  From 11:30 PM until nearly 4:00 AM, we wrote around 30 tickets for kids under 21 that had been partying and drinking.  Nearly every one of them insisted to me when I tried to witness to them that they were good, dedicated Baptist church members.  One young woman that had been dancing and partying and drinking all night even went so far as to tell me, “I’m right with God!”

After salvation, God begins a sanctifying process.  However, we should also sanctify ourselves!

III. The Power of the Laver

A. The Dimensions for Cleansing

There were no dimensions given for the Brazen Laver.  None at all.

This signifies the fact that the washing of the word of God can handle anything that we face in the world.

There is no sin or fault or mistake or deed that the child of God can’t get forgiveness for at the Brazen Laver.

NOTE: Some believe that the child of God can lose his or her salvation.  The Brazen Laver had an infinite power to wash the dust and dirt of the world from the feet and hands of a believer.

We don’t know how big it was; we don’t know how much water it held; we don’t know how far off of the earth is sat on its pedestal – all we know is this – it could get the job done!

• 1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

B. The Distinction of Cleansing

The Brazen Laver was for a daily, personal sanctification; not salvation.

They didn’t bathe their whole bodies in this laver; they just washed the dirt off of their hands and feet.

• Exodus 30:19  For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

In Exodus 29:4, Aaron and his sons experienced an initial cleansing and washing in the door of the Tabernacle that never had to be repeated again.  After this, their sanctification was a daily process – but only their hands and feet.

ILLUSTRATION:  At the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of the disciples.  Peter refused at first, insisting that he wanted Christ to wash his whole body.

• John 13:5-11  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

Jesus informed him that he had ALREADY been made clean; he just needed the practical sanctification of the daily cleansing of the word.

Conclusion:  This morning, you need to decide for yourself; do you need the washing of the blood that only the Altar can provide, or do you need the washing of the Laver – a daily necessity for the believer.

If you have never been saved by the blood of Jesus, the Brazen Laver cannot help you!  The Brazen Laver cannot wash away the sin of the unbeliever – only the dirt and dust of the world that clings to the child of God.

Get honest with God this morning, and leave cleansed; either by the way of the Altar or the way of the Laver.

 

The Table of Shewbread

Exodus 25:23-30

Intro: The main emphasis that is found with this piece of furniture is that of FELLOWSHIP.

This fellowship is both with God and with the believer.  Only the priest could enter into the Tabernacle.

This speaks of a ministry – an activity – an opportunity afforded only to those that have been saved

We see Christ in the Table of Shewbread throughout every aspect of it.

I. Christ is seen in the Situation of the Table

A. We see where it was Found

It was placed INSIDE and on the NORTH side.

• Exodus 26:35  And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

When you entered the Sanctuary, the first thing you encountered was the Table of Shewbread on your right hand side.  This reminds me of when Paul and Barnabas met with the church at Jerusalem –

• Galatians 2:9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

B. We see what it Follows

Salvation – The Brazen Altar was the Price for Fellowship

• Ephesians 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Sanctification – The Brazen Laver was the Preparation for Fellowship

• II Corinthians 7: 17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

II. Christ is seen in the Specifications of the Table

A. We see His Person

The table was made of wood (his humanity) overlaid with gold (his deity)

Christ’s nature reveals a two-dimensional perspective on our fellowship with Him.

Paul stated in Philippians 3:10 – “That I may know him…”  This was Paul’s desire for fellowship.

• “and the power of his resurrection” -  this was Paul’s desire to relate to Christ’s Sovereign Power
• “and the fellowship of his suffering” – this was Paul’s desire to relate to Christ’s Suffering Pain

FACT: We can’t fellowship with Christ without understanding his Deity, as well as his Humanity.

• 1 Corinthians 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
• 2 Timothy 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:

B. We see His Protection

The Table of Shewbread had 2 distinct pieces of “crown” around it.

One was on the Table itself – Ex. 25:24 – This crown speaks of Eternal Salvation.

One was on the top of the Table around the border – vs. 25 – This crown speaks of Eternal Security.

The purpose of these crowns were to protect the bread from falling to the ground, as well as the vessels.

The vessels found in verse 29 were the instruments used in preparing, distributing and serving the bread.

These vessels are a picture of the believer. Utensils are almost always a picture of the individual believer in the Bible.

These vessels were merely a mode of transportation and preparation – not the main attraction!

NOTE:

• The main factor in the Brazen Altar is the BLOOD.
• The main factor in the Brazen Laver is the WATER.
• The main factor in the Candlestick is the OIL
• The main factor in the Table of Shewbread is the BREAD.

Don’t get your eyes on man – the vessels – keep your eyes on the MAIN ATTRACTION – Christ!!

C. We see His Presence

The Table was to be carried by staves placed within the rings on the four corners.

The Table was to be with them everywhere they went – they took it every time they moved.

God desires fellowship with the believer at all times – no matter our position or place.

Never put yourself in a place where you are apart from the fellowship with Him and other believers.

• Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

NOTE: His continual presence depended on it being carried from place to place, much like the Brazen Altar.

It requires a BALANCED approach – not a one-sided, unbalanced perspective.

Fellowship with God and other believers is not an ecumenical concept – it requires Biblical balance!

• Amos 3:3  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
• Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

               D. We see His Preeminence

The basis for the priests fellowship was centered around the BREAD.

They weren’t allowed to bring in anything else.  It wasn’t a smorgasbord of ideas and concepts – just BREAD!

Many churches today are not content to just have HIM as the main attraction.

He must be preeminent in our lives if we are going to enjoy sweet communion and fellowship with Him.

This brings us to our last point – the Substance of the Table.

III. Christ is seen in the Substance of the Table

The Table was a place for BREAD.

• John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;

Bread has to be grown, cultivated, cut, sifted, ground, and then placed through the fire.

The fire doesn’t change the flour – it just makes it that more valuable.

A. It was Plentiful – Lev. 24:5 – 12 cakes – for each of the 12 tribes – a picture of “whosoever will”

NOTE: The Hebrew word for “shewbread” is lechem – also translated provision, fruit, feast and food.

B. It was Pure – Lev. 24:5, 6 “fine flour” upon the “pure table”. This speaks of his sinless perfection and holiness.

C. It was Pierced – Lev. 24:5 uses the word “cakes”. Hebrew “challoth” meaning pierced or perforated.

• John 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
• John 19:37  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

D. It was Pleasant – Lev. 24:7 “pure frankincense” a pleasant incense. Wise men brought it to Jesus in Matthew.

E. It was Prompt – Lev. 24:8 Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the Lord continually…

It was always fresh and always on time. Never stale, never old, never out of date. Always relevant and helpful.

F. It was Perpetual – Ex. 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

• Matthew 28:20  …, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Conclusion: This morning, if you have not tasted of the Bread of Life, today you can.  As a believer, sweet fellowship with Christ is available to you if you want it.

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The Golden Candlestick

Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24

I. The Purpose of the Candlestick – vs. 37

A. Revelation

NOTE: There were NO OTHER light sources within the Tabernacle.

No windows; no skylights; no outside light AT ALL was within the Tabernacle.

God’s light needs no supplement – His light is ALL we need as believers!

• We don’t need the light of MAN’S RELIGION. – his works, his sacraments, his additions to God’s mandates.
• We don’t need the light of MAN’S REASONING. – man’s logic and his ideas and distorted definitions of truth
• We don’t need the light of MAN’S RESOURCES. – books, DVD’s, seminars, lectures, psychology, programs…

B. Illumination

The Ministry of the Table of Shewbread – Our Communion with others

The Altar of Incense must be performed in the LIGHT. – Our communion with God

God is a God of REVELATION and ILLUMINATION.  He sets the guidelines for our relationship with others and Him.

II. The Picture of the Candlestick

A. It is a Picture of the Savior – the gold, the shaft, the beating, the oil, the light – all of it!

• John 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

B. It is a Picture of the Saint – the 6 branches attached to the shaft; made perfect in Christ (7) the light;

• Matthew 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

C. It is a Picture of the Scripture – the light (39 + 27 = 66)

• Psalms 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
• Psalms 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

III. The Pattern of the Candlestick – vs. 40

A. The Brilliance of the Candlestick – speaks of His Pricelessness

• Made of solid gold – no wood overlaid with gold. His Word is Divine.
• The most expensive piece of furniture – one talent of pure gold; 125 lbs. or 2,000 ounces – currently worth $3,534,000.00 at the current price of gold $1,657 per ounce.
• The size is undefined. This speaks to the limitless influence and power of the light.
• There is no limit to the value of Christ and of His Word
• The word of God is priceless.

B. The Beating of the Candlestick­ – speaks of Pain

• Beaten gold – the result of much persecution, much suffering, much pain, much purifying.
• Beaten olive oil – Leviticus 24:2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

C. The Branches of the Candlestick – speaks of Peace

• The Candlestick had one main shaft, and three branches attached on the right side and three branches on the left.
• John 15:5; I Cor. 12:20

D. The Bowls of the Candlestick– speaks of Power

• The bowls that held the lamp oil were shaped like almonds.
• Almonds are a picture of the resurrection power of Christ. Remember Aaron’s rod that budded.
• Numbers 17: 7, 8  And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

E. The Bulbs of the Candlestick– speaks of Productivity

• The word “knop” signifies a decorative, ornamental element; probably a pomegranate (found also along with bells on the hem of the priests garment – Exodus 28:34)
• also translated “lentil” twice – as in the top of the door where the blood of the Passover was applied

F. The Blossoms of the Candlestick – speaks of Purity

• Jesus is called the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.
• Tradition tells us that the flower was a lily – a picture of holiness and purity

G. The Brightness of the Candlestick – speaks of Perpetuity

• The light was lit from the Brazen Altar – directly from God.
• The light was to never go out.
• Psalms 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
• 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
• The wick had to be trimmed and maintained in order to keep the light bright as possible. Ex. 25:38

ILLUSTRATION: Matt. 25:7 the wise virgins trimmed their lamps – a picture of the alert, sober, righteous believer

• They trimmed one wick at the time – in order to keep the light burning.