MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 25:28-30
THE TABLE OF SHEW BREAD
This table, with its burden and furniture, must be regarded in a two-fold sense. It teaches—
I. That all life springs from God. These loaves on the golden table certainly signify the fact that out of the love of God comes the sustenance of man.
1. God is the supporter of our natural life. The golden table reminds us of the golden harvest which God gives for the preservation of the world. As the loaves were continually renewed, so from year to year does God give us rain and fruitful seasons, filling the heart of man with food and gladness. But,
2. God is the giver of spiritual nourishment to the world of souls. Man lives not by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God. This is the heavenly bread which is given in Jesus Christ.
(1.) The shewbread was made of the finest of the flour, and in Christ we have the pure spiritual truth for which the soul longs (Isaiah 55:2).
(2.) The number of the loaves, twelve, indicate the fulness of the provision that there is in Christ for the soul. It satisfies the intellect, the affections, the conscience. He “satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalms 107:9).
(3.) The continued renewal of the bread signifies the everlasting power and grace of Christ. It always satisfies—it satisfies for ever (John 6:35; John 6:51). In Christ we have not a hollow shape of old history, not a phantom shape of the imagination, but food for the heart and life—a living, loving, personal, strengthening Saviour. “Whoso eats His flesh and drinks His blood hath eternal life.”
II. That all life must be consecrated to God. These loaves were to lie before the face of Jehovah as a meat-offering presented by the children of Israel (Leviticus 24:8). The frankincense sprinkled upon the bread, or consumed over it, indicated that it was offered up to God, and thus all life must be consecrated to God. It comes from Him, and it must be yielded up to Him. Fully given to Him—constantly given up. To Him must ever go up the offering of our love, the incense of our worship, the sacrifices of our obedience. The table of pure gold on which the loaves stood may well suggest the pure heart, without which all our gifts and services are rejected. The cans, cups, dishes, &c, of the table, all of pure gold, remind us that we must keep our members as instruments of righteousness unto God, and that all our gifts and possessions, all the associations and details of life, must be holy and undefiled.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Exodus 25:23 to Exodus 30:1. Fine flour was to form the ingredient of the bread, and even this was to pass through a fiery ordeal in its preparation: thus the very purest bread must furnish the table of the holy place. See we not here the impressive import of the words, My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven? The bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (John 6:32-33). Inconceivably fine and free from all impurity is this bread. Still, it pleased the Lord to bruise Him (Isaiah 53:10). The Son of God passes through most appalling trial in order to the demonstration of His glorious perfection (Hebrews 2:10); and, blessedly to observe, every succeeding humiliation and sorrow, though deepening in agony and increasing in intensity at every step, endured by Jesus Christ, does but leave Him more triumphant in righteousness and glorious in holiness.—W. Mudge.
We observe another direction which God gave with regard to the table of shewbread. God said to Moses, “Thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread”—not mixed up with it, but “on the bread, for a memorial.” The “pure frankincense” was to be placed on the “pure table.” The sweetness of that provision which God has made for His people is here set before us. We want this idea to be fastened on our minds, dear brethren, that Jehovah is as much delighted with that which is the food and nourishment of His people, as they themselves can be, when they find their wants satisfied to the very utmost. There is such communion, such oneness between God and His Church, that the very thing His people want is the very thing in which He Himself takes de light. So that when the believing soul feeds upon Jesus, the bread of life, this, like sweet incense, comes up with acceptance before the Lord.
Observe the two ideas suggested by this continual placing of bread before the Lord. First, it was the very food which God provided for His people; it was abundantly good food for them, and it was always the same. Just as it is said of the manna, “The children of Israel did eat manna forty years”—all the time of their wilderness history. A spiritual appetite will always like the same food, even the Lord Jesus Christ.
But there is a second idea suggested by the continual placing of this bread before the Lord. You mark there was provision made for all the tribes. Not one of the Lord’s people shall want the spiritual food that is best for them. God is bound, by everlasting covenant engagements, to nourish and to feed all His people. Not one of them shall ever complain that good food has not been provided for him. According to the greatness of our wants, the Lord will abundantly satisfy our necessities. This is a truth which the Lord’s people are very slow to receive. We look at others, and we say, Oh, if I had the faith, the love, the diligence of such or such an individual in the family of God, all would be well. Depend upon it, brethren, the Lord knows how to satisfy all His people with the food that is best for them.—W. Krause.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Typology! Exodus 25:1-40. If you hold up your hand between the candle and the wall, what do you see? That shadow of your hand is not, however, of the same size and colour. It is only an outline. Holding up some beautiful object which we have never seen before, its shadow would give but a feeble impression of itself. So Hebrews 10:1 says, that the Law had a shadow of good things to come. Those good things have come; and
“Man has gazed on heavenly secrets,
Sunned himself in heavenly glow;
Seen the glory, heard the music,—
We are wiser than we know.”
—Mackay.
Shewbread! Exodus 25:30.
1. Literally it means “bread of faces,” or “bread of presence,” from being always set before the face and presence of God. This bread was composed of twelve unleavened loaves, which were sprinkled over with frankincense, and, it is stated in the Alexandria version, with salt likewise. Jahn says that they were placed in two piles, one above another, and were changed every Sunday by the priests.
2. Law says that faith knows this emblem well, having often sat at the feet of Jesus with rapture, and heard Him say, “I am the Bread of Life.” The numbered bread is a clear picture of the numbered Church, whose members sit together with Christ in heavenly places, on whom rests the constant fragrance of His infinite merits. The ministers of Christ every Sunday place Christ before their flocks,—ever the same, yet ever new.
3. Gray sees in this presence-bread the tribute of Christian hearts; the outflow of our gratitude. As flowers carry dewdrops, trembling on the edges of the petals, and ready to fall at the first waft of wind, or brush of bird; so the heart should carry its beaded words of thanksgiving, and at the first breath of heavenly flavour let down the shower, perfumed with the heart’s gratitude.
“Angels, help us to adore Him,
To behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space,
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise with us the GOD OF GRACE.”
—Lyte.