Chapter 8 Yahweh's Further Response.
The One represented by the Voice now set aside three things in order to manifest Himself to His people, the lampstand, the Levites and the Passover. The lampstand would manifest His glory, a permanent reminder that while they were faithful His light would shine on them continually, the Levites would be a permanent living reminder of His activity on their behalf, the Passover a permanent annual reminder that He was the Great Deliverer.
Analysis.
· The lamps on the lampstand were to be lit in order to give light in front of the lampstand (Numbers 8:1-2).
· Aaron did this. He did exactly as Yahweh commanded Moses. He lighted the lamps to give light in front of the lampstand (Numbers 8:3).
· The description of the lampstand (Numbers 8:4 a).
· The lampstand was made in accordance with the pattern shown in the Mount (Numbers 8:4 b).
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,'
Again we have reference to the fact that we have here the words of Yahweh spoken through Moses, but here with the added significance that it is made clear that they came through the Voice.
‘Speak to Aaron, and say to him, “When you light (or ‘set up') the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” '
When Aaron lit or set up the lamps in the evening (Exodus 30:7-8) he was to ensure that they gave light in front of the lampstand. This was so as to ensure that it shone on the table of showbread which represented Israel in the Dwellingplace. The light of His face was to shine on them (Numbers 6:25), His glory was to rise upon them (Isaiah 60:1). They could ever be aware of His watch over them (Exodus 13:21), and His desire to bless them. As the pillar of fire had gone with them, so would His fire burn continually in the Sanctuary. Yahweh was ever their light when they would receive it, watching over them, shining on them, pouring out blessing on them, and revealing to them the truth through His prophets and through His word directly into their hearts (Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:130).
The thought of Yahweh as the light of His people is a constant one in Scripture. He is the light that leads them and illuminates them (Exodus 13:21); He is the light which brings them salvation (Psalms 27:1); through that light they see light for He is the fountain of life (Psalms 36:9); it is His light and His truth that leads men (Psalms 43:3); it is the light of His countenance shining on them that will give them the land (Psalms 44:3), and illuminate them in their walk (Psalms 89:15), and reveal their secret sins (Psalms 90:8). His light will ensure their holiness. Thus His people are to walk in that light (Isaiah 2:5), and when He comes to them they will see great light (Isaiah 9:2); it will shine on them and reveal to them the glory of God (Isaiah 60:1).
But the lamp on the lampstand was a burning flame. Thus the light was a symbol of what they had seen on Mount Sinai when the mountain had appeared to be on fire as the glory of Yahweh was revealed on it (Exodus 19:18; Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 5:4; Deuteronomy 5:23; Deuteronomy 9:15 etc.). It was a light that revealed the holiness and glory of Yahweh. For God is often pictured as a burning fire (Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 33:14; Ezekiel 1:27-28; Ezekiel 8:2; Malachi 3:2).
It is interesting that the light follows the voice here. First the voice, then the light. The same is made clear in John's Gospel. First John the Baptiser, the voice crying in the wilderness, and then the Word. Finally the Word was revealed, the creative Word Who gave life, and that life was the light of men (John 1:1-4). For He was the light coming into the world that the world might believe through Him. As His only Son He revealed God's glory, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). He came as the light of the world, God's lampstand among men, giving true light (John 8:12), that men might not walk in darkness but have the light of life (John 8:12; John 12:46). He is the sevenfold lampstand, and that is why His people in whom He lives are also called on to be His sevenfold lampstands as representing Him (Revelation 1:13; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 2:1).
‘And Aaron did so. He lighted its lamps so as to give light in front of the lampstand, as Yahweh commanded Moses.'
And Aaron did as he was commanded. Daily he trimmed the lamps so as to shine in front of the lampstand illuminating what symbolised His people. Thereby they could know that the light of His face shone on them. It was the sign of the fulfilment of the priests' blessing on Israel (Numbers 6:22-27). By His light shining on them He was putting His name on them and blessing them (Numbers 6:27).
For two things were to be kept burning continually, and to be fed daily by the priests, the fire from the lampstand (Leviticus 24:2-4) and the fire of the altar (Leviticus 6:8-13), for both spoke of the permanent presence of Yahweh, the one giving continual blessing and the other continual atonement.
‘And this was the working of the lampstand, beaten work of gold. To its base, and to its flowers, it was beaten work, according to the pattern which Yahweh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.'
The lamp was now described. It was made of gold, cleverly hammered out and fashioned, in accordance with God's pattern shown to Moses in the Mount (compare Exodus 25:31-40). Like a flowering tree it symbolised life and fruitfulness, the very life-giving power of Yahweh. In shape it corresponded to late bronze age lamps of 15th to 13th centuries BC