Friday, April 20, 2007

Tabernacle Experience - The Lampstand

This was one of Tyler's favorite parts of the Tabernacle Experience we visited just prior to Easter. She liked the fact that after we listened to the recording for that station, she was able to extinguish one of the branches and then re-light it.

The Lampstand stood inside the Tabernacle proper. It consisted of six branches and a center stand, seven lamps in all. These lamps were oil lamps containing pure olive oil. Exodus 25:31-40, gives instructions regarding the lampstand. It was made of pure gold and the entire stand (flowerlike cups, buds, blossoms, base, and shaft) were hammered from one piece.

Exodus 27:20-21 gives instructions regarding the oil. It was to be the clear oil of pressed olives. Aaron and his sons were to "keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning." This was the only light provided in the Holy Place.

Light is symbolic of the presence of God. He gives grace (light) to his people to keep us from stumbling in the darkness of this world.

Here are just a few verses regarding God being the light for us in this world.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;" Numbers 6:24-25

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." Psalm
43:3


"In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness, has not understood it." John 1:4-5

"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:5

"The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." John 1:9

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of the darkness', made his light shine in our hearts to give us light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

As the lampstand was the only light in the Tabernacle, Jesus Christ is the true pure light in this world. He shines through our spiritual blindness so we can see God's glory and experience it in our lives.

To read other posts regarding the Tabernacle Experience click here.

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