Do you recall where we were in Lesson 10 when we were studying the Golden Lampstand? Inside the tabernacle proper, in the holy place – but not in the most holy section of the tabernacle. The light from the golden lampstand illuminated the rather small table of shewbread over on the right side of the room. As you perhaps can tell from the name of the table, there are two components to study – the table itself and then the twelve loaves of bread displayed on the table. This week we will just look at the table.

Here are the instructions the highly skilled, actually – Spirit-filled (Exodus 31:3) craftsman was given:

“Then make a table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. Overlay it with pure gold and run a gold molding around the edge. Decorate it with a [handbreadth] 3-inch border all around, and run a gold molding along the border. Make four gold rings for the table and attach them at the four corners next to the four legs. Attach the rings near the border to hold the poles that are used to carry the table. Make these poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. Make special containers of pure gold for the table–bowls, pans, pitchers, and jars–to be used in pouring out liquid offerings. Place the Bread of the Presence on the table to remain before Me at all times.” Exodus 25:23-31 NLT

“Then make a table….” Then implies there was something made before this table. As we noticed in one of the first lessons, we are progressing through this tabernacle study from an outside-in perspective. However, when God gave the instructions, He started from the inside and worked outwards. God started with the ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat inside the Holy of Holies, and then we read – “then make a table.”

The table speaks to us of fellowship, but the very basis of our fellowship with God is what the ark and mercy seat represented – the place where the righteous demands of a Holy God were fully met and satisfied. We will definitely study this more when we move into the Holy of Holies. But remember this: before a sinful people could have fellowship with a Holy God – He must be satisfied that the sin issue has been settled.

“Then make a table….” F.E.L.L.O.W.S.H.I.P

Right from the get-go and before the get-go – it was always God’s desire to enjoy fellowship with humans. The fact that ‘the table’ immediately follows what would become the blood-splashed mercy seat down through the centuries before Christ emphasizes to our hearts – the value and high price tag God places on having a ‘family of priests’ with whom He could enjoy fellowship.

All that we enjoy at His Table as believer-priests – can be traced back to the Cross and the precious shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Calvary is the basis for it all.

To get technical for a moment – the height of the table was 27 inches high – the exact height of the Ark in the holy of Holies.

Dr. A.J. Higgins says: “God is showing us that the measure of our fellowship is directly related to the measure of our appreciation of the ark and the mercy seat. There is no fellowship with God without the ark and the mercy seat; but also, there is no fellowship that can rise higher than the ark and mercy seat.” (1)

Where have you read the word ‘table’ before in your Bible? Nowhere. There’s usually a very significant point to understand in the context of where a word is mentioned for the first time in the Bible. Yes, your mind is going to Joseph’s brothers and the meal they enjoyed together. But again – the actual word ‘table’ isn’t mentioned. Here, in Exodus 25, it makes its debut in Scripture.

“God reserves it for this occasion to again teach us that all true fellowship with Him is based on the ark and the mercy seat and the shewbread which will be upon this table. First mentions always carry significant teaching. The shewbread will serve as the ‘food’ for fellowship, but the table itself is the ‘fact’ of fellowship established. “And truly, our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 (2)

Before we close the study on the table, consider its construction of acacia wood plated with gold. The structure was made out of that hard, incorruptible and indestructible wood that grows in the Sinai Desert. It typifies the humanity of Christ, who came as a ‘root out of a dry ground’ (Isaiah 53:2) and was sinless in His human nature (Hebrews 4:15; 7:26) The humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, “the bread which came down,” and linked with His deity, “from Heaven,” is the True Bread upon which believers feed. He has made fellowship with God possible.

The table of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, typified the union of Jesus’ divine and human natures – truly God and truly human in one person. (Philippians 2:6-11) Theologically, the term is called the ‘hypostatic union’ – and this truth is fundamental to the Christian faith.

One final thing about the design and construction of the table: it had a double crown of gold. On the top of the table, there was an outer ‘perimeter’ gold-border-molding, and then, inside that, there was an additional crown or rim of gold to secure the loaves of bread in place.  Notice the reference, in most translations, to the handbreadth width. Can you think of any other hands that remind us of our eternal security in Christ? John 10:27-29

Dr. A.J. Higgins asks for our deeper consideration: “Does [the double crown] suggest that the Lord Jesus, who is crowned with glory and honour (Hebrews 2:9) at God’s right hand, is the means of our fellowship with God? Or does it suggest the absolute security of that fellowship – guarded by a double crown?” (3)

Don’t overlook the reference to the four rings on the table for transport and the carrying poles. This table would be with them in all their wilderness wanderings and at each step of their journey. They would enjoy this place of fellowship wherever the cloud would lead them.

Am I enjoying that vertical fellowship with the Lord today?

Sources:

1. Dr. A. J. Higgins, Monday Meditations, The Table.
2. ibid.
3. ibid.