His Table

DEVOTION

EXODUS

HIS TABLE

Ex 25:23-30

23 "Make a table of acacia wood — two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.   24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. 25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 26 Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. 27 The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 28 Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. 29 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. 30 Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.

NIV

Having the tabernacle representing the physical presence of God dwelling among the people while they were dwelling in tents brings us to the furniture within. We have seen the ark and now we take a look at this table. What was the purpose of this table if it was never to be used to eat at? It had plates and dishes, pitchers and bowls. We could see this as a house well suited for royalty, as all the fixtures were gold covered or pure gold, as with the things on the table. But the table also was to have the twelve loaves of bread upon it at all times. Some say that represented the twelve tribes of Israel, but that may not be the case. Although these loaves were to be presented to the Lord as an offering Sabbath after Sabbath, one from each tribe, as a lasting covenant, Aaron and his sons were to eat the bread. Is there any significance about this table?

Ps 23:5-6

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

NIV

David understood the table to represent the provision of the Lord even in the difficult times in life. It might well be this was the purpose of the table within the tabernacle. To demonstrate to the people the provisions of God. He provided them with bread, with manna from heaven each and every day. Jesus told us that the bread represented his body that he gave for us. Was God showing them Jesus in the showbread, his ultimate provision? Surely it is Jesus who is our provision even in the face of our enemies. David had enemies, but do we?

Matt 5:43-48

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies  and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

NIV

The fact is that we were once enemies of God, but he reconciled himself to us. Is this all in this table, in the table set before the people within the dwelling place of God? His provision, Jesus was the way in which he reconciled himself to us, and how we are now known as a friend of God, rather an enemy. The table with all its fixtures and the bread was a way to show the people he has not only set a table before them in the presence of their enemy, him, but he also provided within the bread the way to reconciliation, so they could be a friend of God. He has shown us that although we were yet sinners, an enemy of God, as we hated him, he still loved us. May we always sit at his table. May we always dwell in the house of the Lord forever.