Exodus 25:31-40
“And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.” (Exodus 25:31)
With two layers of thick cloth and two layers of leather for a covering, the tabernacle would be very dark. A lighting system was required and God again provided to meet the need. The menorah widely used in celebrating Jewish rituals today is loosely based on the pattern of the candlestick in an attempt to preserve as much of their tradition as possible.
“And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.” (Exodus 25:32-33)
Each of the six branches was to have three almond shaped bowls with an enlarged or knob like section with a flower design on it, and the branches were to be arranged in opposing pairs with each one connecting to the main column.
“And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.” (Exodus 25:34-36)
The main column was to have four bowls with the enlarged sections with a flower design. These were to be arranged so there was a bowl and the flower motif supporting each pair of branches with a single bowl and knob and flower at the top.
“And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.” (Exodus 25:37)
There were to be seven lamps or liquid candles to sit on the terminal knobs of the candle stick. They were to be filled, cleaned and trimmed every morning, and lighted every evening so there was always light in the tabernacle.
“And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.” (Exodus 25:38-40)
Along with the lamps, there were tongs for changing the wicks and dishes for placing the expended smoldering and oil saturated wicks in while new ones were installed. The talent was a large measure weighing several pounds for weighing bulk gold or silver. At different times in history the talent seems to have varied somewhat. An entire talent was to be used in making the golden candlestick and the lamps and accessories. Everything was to be built to the exact design God showed Moses.
The Golden Candlestick portrays Christ in several aspects, with the most obvious being as the light. John 8:12 is one reference to him as such.. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” The light was produced in individual lamps illustrating how Christ is shown to the world through the lives of individual Christians on individual branches or churches, supported and unified by the main trunk which is Christ. Matthew 5:14-16 describes the Christian’s part. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
The lamp does not produce the light, but provides a place for it to be produced. The fire of God produces the light as we see in II Corinthians 4:6-7. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” The oil, representing the Holy Spirit provides the fuel for the fire to burn. It will be examined in greater detail later.
One of the most exciting motivational sermons I ever heard was about Christians as the wicks in the Candlestick, burning out for the Lord. According to the speaker, they were kept and carefully preserved. Unfortunately, the message was as unscriptural as it was exciting. The wicks are never mentioned, although when the ten virgins trimmed their lamps in Matthew 25, they were adjusting the wicks to give more light and smoke less. The wick only burns when it isn’t conducting enough oil to feed the flame. Christians burn out because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit and are depending on the flesh.
“And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.” (Exodus 25:31)
With two layers of thick cloth and two layers of leather for a covering, the tabernacle would be very dark. A lighting system was required and God again provided to meet the need. The menorah widely used in celebrating Jewish rituals today is loosely based on the pattern of the candlestick in an attempt to preserve as much of their tradition as possible.
“And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.” (Exodus 25:32-33)
Each of the six branches was to have three almond shaped bowls with an enlarged or knob like section with a flower design on it, and the branches were to be arranged in opposing pairs with each one connecting to the main column.
“And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.” (Exodus 25:34-36)
The main column was to have four bowls with the enlarged sections with a flower design. These were to be arranged so there was a bowl and the flower motif supporting each pair of branches with a single bowl and knob and flower at the top.
“And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.” (Exodus 25:37)
There were to be seven lamps or liquid candles to sit on the terminal knobs of the candle stick. They were to be filled, cleaned and trimmed every morning, and lighted every evening so there was always light in the tabernacle.
“And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.” (Exodus 25:38-40)
Along with the lamps, there were tongs for changing the wicks and dishes for placing the expended smoldering and oil saturated wicks in while new ones were installed. The talent was a large measure weighing several pounds for weighing bulk gold or silver. At different times in history the talent seems to have varied somewhat. An entire talent was to be used in making the golden candlestick and the lamps and accessories. Everything was to be built to the exact design God showed Moses.
The Golden Candlestick portrays Christ in several aspects, with the most obvious being as the light. John 8:12 is one reference to him as such.. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” The light was produced in individual lamps illustrating how Christ is shown to the world through the lives of individual Christians on individual branches or churches, supported and unified by the main trunk which is Christ. Matthew 5:14-16 describes the Christian’s part. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
The lamp does not produce the light, but provides a place for it to be produced. The fire of God produces the light as we see in II Corinthians 4:6-7. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” The oil, representing the Holy Spirit provides the fuel for the fire to burn. It will be examined in greater detail later.
One of the most exciting motivational sermons I ever heard was about Christians as the wicks in the Candlestick, burning out for the Lord. According to the speaker, they were kept and carefully preserved. Unfortunately, the message was as unscriptural as it was exciting. The wicks are never mentioned, although when the ten virgins trimmed their lamps in Matthew 25, they were adjusting the wicks to give more light and smoke less. The wick only burns when it isn’t conducting enough oil to feed the flame. Christians burn out because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit and are depending on the flesh.
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