The Burning of the Light of Israel Before Yahweh (Exodus 27:20-21).
The account of the making of the Dwellingplace finishes with a description of how the common people can have their part in the worship of the inner Sanctuary. Regularly they are to provide the oil for the feeding of the lamp which burns continually in the Holy Place. This compares with their free and liberal giving in the beginning (Exodus 25:1-9).
We can analyse this as follows:
a The children of Israel were to be commanded to bring to Moses pure olive oil, beaten, for the lamp, so as to cause a light to burn continually (Exodus 20:20).
o In the tent of meeting, outside the veil, but in front of the Testimony (hidden behind the veil) Aaron and his sons were to order the maintenance of the lamp from evening to morning before Yahweh (Exodus 20:21 a).
o This was to be a continual statute through their generations for ever on behalf of the children of Israel (Exodus 20:21 b).
o In ‘a' ‘the children of Israel' were to bring the oil for the lamp so that it would burn continually, and in the parallel ‘the children of Israel' were to fulfil this ministry as a continual statute. Inside the Holy Place it would be Aaron and his sons who on behalf of the whole people maintained the light of the lamp. This central stress on Aaron and his sons now lead on to the next chapter.
“And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. In the Tent of Meeting outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons will order it from evening to morning before Yahweh. It shall be a statute for ever throughout their generations from the children of Israel.”
The type of olive oil described, beaten but not crushed, gave a clear, pure light. This was to be provided by the people and prepared with great care which confirms that this light shone on their behalf. They would feel that they had a real part in what went on in the Sanctuary. This was probably the light on one branch (or more) of the lampstand. Whether ‘continually' meant that it never went out, or that it shone continually through the night only is open to question. The fact that it was ‘ordered' from evening to morning seems to suggest the latter (compare Exodus 30:8; 1 Samuel 3:3). It would seem to be intended to be seen as a reminder to Yahweh of His people as dependent on Him for light and life.
Note that here the Dwellingplace is called the Tent of Meeting which was the name of the ancient tent that it had replaced. The meeting was at the tent rather than in it. The reference to Aaron and his sons presupposes what is to follow, and in its central position in the analysis prepares for the following two Chapter s.
“ It shall be a statute for ever throughout their generations from the children of Israel.” This statement is used when great stress is laid on something. Clearly this act of providing the oil was seen as very important. It was a direct link between the people and Yahweh. It explains why this command was placed at the end of the instructions for the Dwellingplace in order to emphasise it. The whole description of the Tabernacle and its main contents closes with the order for all Israel to continually burn a light there before Yahweh, and this final solemn injunction.
Notes for Christians.
In the brazen altar we have a type of Christ Who provided in Himself both altar and sacrifice for us (Hebrews 13:10). Always if we would approach God it must be through Christ, and while we come without fear we must come reverently. For He is of heaven and we are of the earth. Indeed the only reason that we can even dare approach Him is because Christ is our altar and our sacrifice. It is foursquare because He was perfect and full balanced. It is made of acacia wood, symbolic of His true and perfect manhood, and of brazen copper (which to them was a precious metal) symbolic of His heavenly nature which was yet hidden while He was among us (Mark 9:1-11), but will be revealed as pure gold. But we cannot experience the gold until we enter the Sanctuary, for it is through our knowledge of Him that the gold become apparent.
The court is a reminder that we are welcome to approach Him and to fellowship with Him. It too contains the purple which reminds us that we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), the red which reminds us that we are constantly cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7), the pure linen cloth which is indicative of the righteousnesses of His people (Revelation 19:8). And the intricate details also are a reminder of God's perfect work which indicate that all has been wrought that it might be for us a perfect place to meet with Him. The very detail of the description is a reminder of the care with which He has provided for us to come to Him. And while the screen may seem to prevent access to the Sanctuary it is only in order to remind us of the care with which we should approach. It is not now there in order to prevent access but in order to remind us that holy things must not be treated lightly.
And finally we are reminded that it is our responsibility to feed the lampstand so that its light continues to shine out brightly. In our daily worship of Him and our praising of Him before the world the light burns more brightly, but never more so than when our lives reveal the fruit of he Spirit. This is an important part of the ministry of God's people, for the shining of that light to the world is our privilege and responsibility and it is only as we feed on God and His word that we will be able to enable it to do so.
End of note.