The Table of Shewbread
Exodus 25:23-30
"And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was she wed thee in the mount".

THERE were only three items of furniture in the 3O feet x l5 feet x l5 feet high Holy Place. They were the Table of Shewbread, the Seven-branched Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense. Each of the articles and their several symbolic lessons will be considered separately.

It was made of Shittim wood, covered with gold, and measured 2 cubits long by 1 cubit wide by 1-1/2 cubits high (i.e. 3 feet long by 18 inches wide by 2 feet 3 inches high). It had a gold crown (Heb. "Zare" - Moulding of wreathen work for holding together) surrounding its upper surface, beneath which was a gold border. It was carried by means of Shittim wood, gold-covered staves that were inserted into gold rings located on the two sides (or the 4 feet or legs) that were at the four corners of the Table (v.26).

Elsewhere in the Tabernacle, crowns are mentioned in relation to the Alter of Incense and Mercy Seat (Exod. 37:26; 25:11; 37:2). There would be some relationship between them.

The idea of the wreathen work (Sept. version says twisted wreath) is to suggest the double strength (Col. 2:19) provided for holding together those who are used by Yahweh in His Ecclesia.

Upon the Table were placed two rows or piles of unleavened bread. (Lev. 24:5-9 where "row" in v.6 is maraketh in Heb. meaning "piles"). Each pile consisted of 6 cakes of unleavened bread, twelve in all, twelve representing the twelve tribes. Each pile was topped with a bowl of pure frankincense placed there for a memorial (v.9).

The Children of Israel, at weekly intervals, provided the ingredients for the unleavened loaves; they brought them as a memorial sacrifice or meal offering (Lev. 24:5) symbolizing the dedication by the whole nation of the fruits of their labor. There were implicit instructions given as to the making of the loaves (v.5; Lev. 2:5), or "cakes", which were baked with oil. "Cake" in Heb. is Kawlan or "to be punctured or wounded". The flour was "fine flour", the result of the work of the Israelites - offered freely as an offering, then subjected to fire.

This procedure was followed each week when the cakes were changed (i.e. removed) upon each seventh day (Lev. 24:8), the day which was the sign of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel (Exod. 31:16,17). This regular changing reminded Israel that Yahweh was shewing them that His covenant needed to be remembered and to be renewed on their part with such regularity. Through their priests, Israel thus also confessed their obligation to total dedication to God's service, in the place and after the pattern which He showed them through Moses when he was on the Mount. They gave their weekly labor to Him and dedicated to Him the fruit of their labors.

The old shewbread cakes were eaten by the priests in the Holy Place (Lev. 24:9). They were God's representatives to Israel and in turn represented Israel before God in their acts of service in the Holy Place. In this manner Yahweh shewed His acceptance of them by fellowshipping them. This was the Table of Yahweh and it was His food (Lev. 21:6). Of all the offerings that were made by fire, this, to the priests, was the "most holy".

The pure frankincense was placed in two of the golden vessels that belonged to the Table of shewbread (Lev. 24:7), and then placed upon the top of the two piles of cakes. Frankincense was a white fragrant gum - it was obtained by cutting the frankincense tree. From the cut there emerged tear-shaped drops of the liquid. It became a very important and valuable feature of the Tabernacle, and restrictions were placed upon its use.

Many features of the Table of Shewbread and of the unleavened cakes foreshadowed the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The following describes some of them:

1. The Loaves were made from flour, a product of the earth; an ingredient brought as an offering by the Israelites (Lev. 24:5,6; Lev. 2:5,6). So the Lord partook of Adamic nature (Luke 1:32).

2. Having been finely ground, the flour was baked with fire and subjected to "the fiery trial" of Divinely-allowed testing. The word "cake" in Lev. 24:5 is from the Hebrew Kawlan which means to be "punctured" or "wounded". How the life and experiences of the Lord fulfilled these significant expressions! Isaiah 53:5-7 foretold the same things of him. The thorns, nails and spear left just those kind of physical marks.

3. They were baked with oil (Lev. 2:5,6). Oil is the Scriptural symbol of the Spirit-Word. it was the education by his Father's Word and his absorption of it into his mind and life that contributed so much to the acceptance of the offering he made. Oil is also the symbol of anointed dedication an evident characteristic in his life and service offered to his Father.

4. The loaves were unleavened. Leaven is the Scriptural symbol of sin and error. But Jesus did no sin (T Pet. 2:22); he knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21); in him is no sin (1 John 3:5) so that he developed a character which was truly unleavened in the sight of his Father.

The symbol is not a reference to the actual flesh or body of Christ of which we do not literally partake. Rather it is the symbol of the food of Yahweh which He has provided in His son. This is the "truth which is in Christ Jesus", because he was "The Word made flesh" (John 1:l4). As we partake, in faith and belief, of the Father's doctrines that were taught by him, so we partake of him.

He was provided as the "bread of life" (John 6:48) or the "life giving bread". He elaborated this doctrine in life-giving principles in John 6:31-58 and, in v.63, lie explains how we may "eat" of him - "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit (pneuma - breathings or declarations) and they are life."

In verse 27 the Lord showed that being the food of Yahweh, the bread of Cod (Lev. 21:6; 24:5-6) for the fellowship of others, required an energetic application. He warns and encourages that it requires work. "Labor" (Gk. Ergazomai) - to work, to energize. "Meat" (Gk. Brosis is a verb, not a noun) -eating or partaking. He is saying, in effect, "l)t)n't put work or effort into taking part in that which perishes or destroys. Rather put effort into taking part in that which will cause your survival unto eternal life which the son of man will give."

5. There were twelve unleavened loaves placed upon the Table, each one representing a tribe in Israel. In this way Israel was represented in the Holy Place. The record of the character and life of the Lord has been made for us and shown to us by twelve disciples. The number twelve represents Israel and signifies to us the Hope of Israel. Israel's hope for the restoration of the Kingdom (Acts 1:6) is centered upon their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. So also is our hope in him. When the hope of Israel is fulfilled it will be seen to operate under twelve thrones (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30). Divine fellowship in the Ecclesia is based upon an Israelitish foundation. Our salvation is Jewish in character (John 4:22; Rom. 9:4; Acts 28:20; 26:7).

6. The bread was closely associated with the frankincense that was placed on top of each of the two piles. Associated with the teachings of the Lord which gives life to those who believe them, was his life-offering in dedication and service that rose up daily before his Father as a sweet-smelling savour (Eph. 5:2). It was also a symbol of prayer, as we shall see a little later. The son was daily in touch with his Father in this way, spending many of his nights in the mountain-top in close seclusion with Yahweh.

We too, are called to dedicate our lives and service to Yahweh in a similar fashion. Paul, in Romans 12:1-2, calls upon us to "present our bodies as living sacrifices... our reasonable service", so that we, like our Lord, will be "a sweet-smelling savour" (Eph. 5:2) - a fragrant reminder to God of His own son_ as He sees us in the Holy Place Ecclesia partaking of His food of truth.

The frankincense was placed upon the loaves "for a memorial" (Lev. 24:7) "An offering made by fire unto Yahweh".

In addition to this use, it was employed elsewhere in the terms of the Law of Moses. For example, as holy perfume before the Mercy Seat (Exod. 30:34-36); as a perfume (v.37); it was added to certain offerings (the sin and jealousy offerings excluded it - Lev. 5:11; Num. 5:15). The perfume was strictly forbidden to be used for personal reasons (Exod. 30:37); i.e. for fleshly motives.

The fragrance that the Father enjoyed in His own Son was to be seen in the purity of mind, life and character - "an offering made by fire" indeed - produced by affliction (Eph. 5:2).

We are to be imitators of the Lord; so that, as the Father sees us He is reminded of His only begotten Son (2 Cor. 2:15,17). Our close association with the "Bread of Life" and our partaking of him, helps to reproduce similar characteristics in us.

7. The unleavened loaves were replaced each Sabbath (Lev. 24:8). The replaced loaves were eaten by priests (v.9) in the Holy Place. Of all the sacrifices offered, this weekly meal was the most holy and the most important to the priests. The reason for this can be readily understood when it is remembered that the priests were holy unto God (Lev. 21:6), because they offered by fire unto Yahweh, and also because it was the "bread of God" that they offered.

Therefore, on this one special occasion in each week, the priests gathered around the Table of Yahweh and He fellowshipped them by their partaking of His bread. They represented the twelve tribes (through the twelve loaves) before Yahweh for this purpose. And it took place on the Sabbath - the symbol of the Covenant (Exod. 31:16,17) made with Israel.

The weekly renewal of the unleavened bread represented a constant renewal of that covenant with Yahweh by the priests who acted on behalf of the people who had declared at Mt. Sinai, "all that Yahweh hath said, we will do". In response, He declared: "Ye are My people".

Yahweh has provided us with life-giving bread (John 6:35-51): God's only begotten Son. We partake of that bread when we masticate the "Truth which is in Christ Jesus". He is the basis of our fellowship with his Father. Of all the offerings and sacrifices we may make to Yahweh, none areas important, or as holy, as partaking of this Christ-bread i.e. his teachings and his character. But the "eating of the Truth" in him can only be done with labor and toil, with care and diligence, just as Israel ground the seed-grain into fine flour.

The apostle John (1 John ~:1-3; 2:24) perceived the holiness and importance of true fellowship between the Father or His son with His other children. The week-by-week memorial in bread partaken, is a symbol of that, as well as a renewal on our part of the covenant into which we entered in Christ at our baptism. And we keep the feast in sincerity and in truth; not only the weekly breaking of bread, but the constant partaking of the truth in Christ.

8. The Table of Shewbread not only comprised the Table of the Lord; but also acted as an altar in the Ecclesia upon which was placed constantly a burnt offering (the bread) for fellowship. It was a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ who provided, in the days of his flesh (shittim wood) the spiritual food (unleavened bread) necessary for fellowship and spiritual offering by his priests. Associated with it was a manifestation of his Father's character and glory (gold) which culminated in him being granted (or covered) with the pure gold of the Divine nature.

The staves told Israel that this table in the wilderness tabernacle was a temporary arrangement by which they were expected to learn certain lessons which directed them to the one through whom they could have Divine fellowship. Later their children refused the spiritual food and crucified the "Table": i.e. the one who brought the food to them. They perished as a consequence.

In these "shittim-days" of our wilderness sojourn, we are to be, in certain respects, as the table of the Lord, for we are to bear the Divine spiritual food of unleavened truth. In that regard, we are to remember that we are ever in His presence, and are to manifest His glory and character: the gold of our faith in Him. Nevertheless, this present-day essential arrangement is but a temporary one, and wilt be superseded later by the more perfect revelation of full glory in Him.