Understanding The Bible |
W. W. Rugh,
Bible Institute of Philadelphia
40 Page Printed Devotional Guide
1st Edition 1912
The Candlestick.
Exodus 25:31-40.
The first thing needed for priestly ministry in the Holy Place was light, for
all natural light was shut out of that sacred place.
To give this light a candlestick was beaten out of a talent of pure gold,
estimated to have been worth from $25,000 to $50,000.
Of one piece with the main stem were the six branches.
Golden ornaments of knops, flowers, and fruit like almonds adorned the
stem and branches, and made a bowl on the ends of the stem and branches for the
seven golden lamps.
Pure olive oil, beaten for the light, was burned in the lamps
continually. Leviticus 24:1-4.
The trimming of the wicks with the golden snuffers, and the refilling of
the lamps with oil was a ministry performed by the high priest every morning,
when he burned incense on the Golden Altar. Exodus 30:8.
To reveal the beauty and glory of the Candlestick was one particular use
of the lamps. Exodus 25:37.
A blue cloth and a badger's skin covering protected the Candlestick on
the march. Numbers 4:9, 10.
All was to be made according to the heavenly pattern, and was a pattern of
heavenly things. Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5.
For us, the typical meaning of the Candlestick is easily discovered
through Hebrews 9:24.
The Holy Places, from which all natural light was excluded, are typical of the
glorious places, where "they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the
Lord God giveth them light." Revelation 22:5.
The Candlestick is, therefore, a dim shadow of our glorious Lord, who is the
light and glory of heaven, as well as the light of the world. Revelation 21:22,
23; John 8:12.
"The beating" of the gold suggests to us the suffering which preceded the glory,
for "the Lamb is the light thereof." Revelation 21:23; Romans 8:17.
But the Candlestick is not a type of Christ alone, but of "the Christ," or
Christ and His Church, for the lamps which revealed the beauty of the
Candlestick pre-figure those who "show forth the praise of Him who called us out
of darkness into His marvelous light," those who show forth the praise of His
glory. 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14.
The Church, as the witness of Christ, the company of redeemed ones
through whom the fullness of His glory is to be revealed in heaven, as well as
now, is what the lamps typify. Revelation 1:20; 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15.
Our oneness with Christ in glory, as light bearers, is typified by the
branches. They were one with the main stem, and were beaten out of the same
piece of pure gold.
We were crucified together with Christ, and we were also raised and seated
together with Him, or glorified with Him. Romans 6:6; 8:30; Eph. 2:5, 6.
This is our standing before God, and reveals in a wonderful way the grace and
glory manifest toward us in Christ, that the Church of Christ should be one with
Him now and throughout all the ages to come, to reveal the grace and glory of
God. John 17:22; Ephesians 2:7; 3:8-10, 21.
"The power of His resurrection," manifest "in newness of life," are the
ornaments which adorn us as one with Him in glory, as light bearers. Philippians
3:10; Romans 6:4.
This is the typical significance of the knops (probably buds), flowers, and
bowls like almonds, for the almond is the first tree to manifest new life in the
spring.
The oil for the light, or for anointing priests and kings, is always a
type of the Holy Spirit, the great Illuminator, who reveals Christ to us, and
empowers us for service that Christ may be revealed through us. 1 Sam. 16:13;
John 16:14; Acts 1:8; 10:38; Matthew 25:4; I John 2:27.
The light of the lamps was dependent upon the faithful ministry of the high
priest, in refilling them with oil and in trimming the wicks each morning with
the golden snuffers, while he burned incense on the Golden Altar.
What a picture of Christ, our faithful High Priest, keeping His Church filled
with the Holy Spirit, and putting away all our past experiences, as He ever
lives to make Intercession for us. John 16:7; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25.
Most of His children understand how absolutely necessary it Is to be filled, and
refilled by the Holy Spirit, If we would behold Christ in His word and manifest
Him in our lives, but very few seem to apprehend the truth foreshadowed by the
trimming of the wicks. As the wicks were burned, in order to illuminate the Holy
Place and reveal the glorious Candlestick, a crust formed on the ends of the
wicks, which, if not trimmed off, would soon cause a bad odor instead of a
bright light.
The blessed experiences, which are ours as we are filled with the Holy Spirit
and used as witnesses of Christ, must be forgotten, if we would continue to
behold Him and reveal Him. It is not the work of the Holy Spirit to keep our
hearts and minds occupied with our feelings, however blessed they may be.
Imagine a wife thinking only of the feelings of joy and delight which she finds
in doing kind things for her husband. If her heart and mind are not occupied
with him, she will not have any feeling of joy in serving him.
The Holy Spirit keeps those who are living by faith in the heavenly places so
occupied with our glorious Lord that feelings are not thought of, though peace
that passeth all understanding guards our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus,
and joy unspeakable fills our hearts to overflowing. Philippians 4:6, 7; 1 Peter
1:8; Philippians 3:13.
An eye single to the glory of Christ will be ours if we are enjoying our
place in glory as revealed in the Candlestick. Matthew 6:22; 1 Corinthians
10:31; I Peter 4:11. Then we will know what it is to be separated from the
defiling things of the world, while as citizens of heaven we humbly serve as
bond-slaves here. Philippians 3:20, 21. This is the typical meaning of the
coverings of blue and badgers' skins which protected the Candlestick on the
march.
By W. W. RUGH, Associate
Dean, Bible Institute of Pennsylvania
1418 N. 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
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