Exodus 37:10-29 - Our Heavenly Pattern for Worship

Exodus 37:10-29

Making the Table for the Showbread (Exodus 25:23–30)

10 He made the table of acacia wood; two cubits was its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold all around it. 12 Also he made a frame of a handbreadth all around it, and made a molding of gold for the frame all around it. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that were at its four legs. 14 The rings were close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 15 And he made the poles of acacia wood to bear the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 He made of pure gold the utensils which were on the table: its dishes, its cups, its bowls, and its pitchers for pouring.

Making the Gold Lampstand (Exodus 25:31–40)

17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece. 18 And six branches came out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 19 There were three bowls made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 21 There was a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches extending from it. 22 Their knobs and their branches were of one piece; all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold. 23 And he made its seven lamps, its wick-trimmers, and its trays of pure gold. 24 Of a talent of pure gold he made it, with all its utensils.

Making the Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1–5)

25 He made the incense altar of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit and its width a cubit—it was square—and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides all around, and its horns. He also made for it a molding of gold all around it. 27 He made two rings of gold for it under its molding, by its two corners on both sides, as holders for the poles with which to bear it. 28 And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

Making the Anointing Oil and the Incense (Exodus 30:22–38)

29 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer.

The bread of presence, showbread, consisted of twelve loaves, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, continually on the table and eaten by the priests on the Sabbath.  New loaves were put in their place (Leviticus 24:5–9) when they were eaten by the priests.  These loaves lay before God's presence in the tabernacle, with some saying that the twelve loaves constituted a perpetual thank offering to God from the twelve tribes for the blessings that they received from Him day by day and others like Edersheim adding that Jewish and Christians regarded 'the bread of the Presence' as an emblem of the Messiah to come.  The table displaying these flat breads was described here along with the utensils which were also to be arranged on the table that had rings for poles to carry this part of the mobile tabernacle tent-temple.  Likewise, the golden lampstand, the menorah, was carefully crafted to be kept lit perpetually to symbolize and remind the people of the necessity of continuing worship and sacrifices for atonement of their sins.  The incense altar (Exodus 30:1-5) for burning the specially-crafted substance made only for holy use to the LORD indicated the essence of morning and even prayers (Psalm 55:16-17, Revelation 5:8) lifted up as well in their worship in this temple of the LORD.  These physical constructions were symbolic of true worship and were commanded as a tutor like the Law (Galatians 3:24-25) to point towards the coming Messiah, the Christ named Jesus whose name means God is salvation (Matthew 1:21), making the physical representation of the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2, 5, 9:2, 11-12) no longer (Acts 7:44, 48) required.  This passage then is for our understanding of the pattern made real in Christ alone for us to accept Him as the fulfillment of the heavenly design that we might continually worship the Lord who tore the veil to gain access to the Father through His all-atoning sacrifice of His flesh for us that we may worship continually with Him as our eternal and great High Priest in our prayers as living sacrifices ourselves (Romans 12:1) in His presence, eating the showbread of the Lord’s provision before His face as priests to our Lord God.  This is our heavenly pattern for ministry and worship.