Read Exodus 29
Highlights:
The rules and sacrifices for the priests; continual Burnt Offering; Altar of Incense; the ransom of souls; the holy anointing oil; Sabbath regulations; Moses receives two tables of stone.
The priests who ministered in the Tabernacle had to be cleansed before entering. The LORD spake unto Moses . . . make a Laver (Basin) of Brass, and his (its) foot (base) also of brass . . . put it between the Tabernacle . . . and the Altar, and . . . put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat (Ex. 30:17-19).
After a priest had washed his hands and feet at the Laver, cleansing himself from the activities of life, he then was qualified to enter the Tabernacle through a heavy linen veil which was the only entrance into the Holy Place.
On the right side of the Holy Place was the Table of Shewbread with its 12 loaves of unleavened bread sprinkled with incense. The name Shewbread suggests more than just bodily nourishment. It provides spiritual insight that is not obtainable anywhere else. The Shewbread is symbolic of Christ, who said: I am that Bread of Life. . . . the Living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever (John 6:48,51; 6:29-38; 12:24). Just as physical food provides nourishment to sustain our physical bodies, so too, as we continue to "read" the Word of God which is the Bread of Life, the Holy Spirit uses His Word to enlighten and then transform our lives. Laying aside all malice, and all guile (deceit), and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere (unadulterated, pure) milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby (I Pet. 2:1-2).
On the left was the seven-branched Candlestick made of solid beaten gold. Its seven lamps burned continually with pure olive oil and provided the only source of light in the Holy Place (Lev. 24: 2-4) and that light fell on the Shewbread. The other item in the Holy Place was the Altar of Incense. There were no windows for outside light from the world.
God has provided just one book — the Holy Bible — as the source of light for understanding His will. It is written: Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. . . . The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple (Ps. 119:105,130; also Prov. 6:23).
Christ declared: I am The Light of the World: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have The Light of Life (John 8:12).
Thought for Today:
Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life (John 6:68).
Christ Revealed:
Through the Laver, Christ is revealed as both the container and the dispenser of Living Water (Ex. 30:18; John 4:10). Jesus . . . cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. . . . ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you (John 7:37, 15:3; compare I Cor. 10:4).
Word Studies:
29:22 caul, fatty appendage on the liver; 29:24 wave them, present them with a waving motion; 29:39 even, twilight; 30:25 apothecary, perfumer.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Ilene Wallace • Government Officials: Rep. John L. Mica (FL) and Rep. Bill J. Pascrell, Jr. (NJ) • Country: Pakistan (146.5 million) in southern Asia • Major languages: Urdu and English • There is no freedom to convert Muslims to Christ. Pakistan is an Islamic republic • 72% Sunni Muslim; 20% Shi'a Muslim; 3% Ahmadiya; 2% Christian; 2% Hindu; .1% Other (Baha'i, Animist, Farsi, Buddhist) • Prayer Suggestion: Ask in the name of Jesus for His glory, and your request will be granted (John 14:13-14).
Optional Reading: Matthew 27
Memory Verse for the Week: John 3:17
