Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle - The Showbread Table & Lampstand in Exodus 25

        The bread that was on the showbread table is a lot like the manna. In chapter 90 of the Life-Study of Exodus Witness Lee compares the bread of the Presence with the manna that the children of Israel ate for 40 years in the wilderness.  He pointed out that although the manna was given to everyone in an open way, the bread on the showbread table was only available for the priests to eat inside the tabernacle.  

While the manna gave food for the Israelites' daily supply for their journey, the  bread on the showbread table strengthened the priests to serve God. 

And you shall put upon the table bread of the Presence before Me continually. Exodus 25:30

Like the ark, the showbread table was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold.  All the furniture except the lampstand had rings and poles so they could be carried on their journeys. It’s fascinating that the ark and the showbread table both have the same height.  I learned that this means that our enjoyment of Christ must match the level of God’s testimony signified by the ark.  In chapter 91 on pages 1062-1064, Witness Lee explains the spiritual significance of this showbread:

According to Leviticus 24:9 the bread of the Presence was the most holy of the people’s offerings to Jehovah by fire….This means that the bread of the Presence was God’s food. It was offered to God by His people to be His food. God, however, caused certain loaves to be spared, brought into the Holy Place, and arranged and displayed on the table. Eventually, the priests who served in the Holy Place ate of this bread.…The bread of the Presence on the table signifies a corporate feasting…To be sure, we can have some enjoyment of Christ when we are alone. But this enjoyment cannot compare with feasting with Christ corporately in God’s dwelling place (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Exodus. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1981, Print).  

After revealing the showbread table God describes to Moses how to make the lampstand. It was made of pure gold and it had seven lamps.  In chapter 92 Witness Lee says that this lampstand symbolizes Christ as the light of life. In John 8:12 it says, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." He also shared how the showbread table and the lampstand connect to each other.  After we enjoy Christ as our life supply, we receive spiritual sight.  I know this is true because many times when I've read the Bible I've received light on situations in my life.

You can listen to excerpts of this life training and some outstanding commentary by listening to Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee on Exodus.

Other Posts on the Life-Study of Exodus:

Why Did God Use So Many Women in Exodus 1 & 2?
Taking a Closer Look at the Conflict Between God and Pharaoh in Exodus 5
What Does the Name Jehovah Mean in Exodus 6:2?
Why Did God Really Send the Manna in Exodus 6?
What is the Meaning of the Bitter Waters at Marah in Exodus 15:23?
How are the 10 Commandments Like God's Engagement Covenant in Exodus 20?
How Can You Keep the 10 Commandments?
Why Did the Israelites Build a Tabernacle in Exodus 25:8?
Taking Another Look at the Priesthood of the Believers in Exodus 19:6
Seeing God's Spiritual Building in Exodus 26 - Part 1 of 1
Seeing God's Spiritual Building in Exodus 26 - Part 2 of 2
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus 25 - The Ark
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus 25 - The Showbread Table & the Lampstand
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus 27 & 30 - The Bronze Altar & Laver
Taking a Closer Look at the Tabernacle in Exodus - The Golden Incense Altar