Our Only Source Of True Light Series

The Tabernacle in the Wilderness Series

#11 Our Only Source of True Light

The Golden Candlestick

Exodus 25:31-40, "And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount."

In our last lesson we learned how the walls were constructed and the symbolic meaning of the shittim wood board, overlaid with gold, held together by silver sockets, gold plated wooden poles and solid gold rings. Now that we have laid the proper foundation and put the walls in place, and then hung the door, the curtains and the coverings in place; we can take the next step and enter into the Holy Place and draw ever nearer to the Shekinah of God upon the Mercy Seat.

Remember the path – from the only door into the “outer court”, representing Jesus Christ, who is the only “Door” into the Kingdom of God. Then to the Brazen Altar where we see Jesus’ sacrifice as our substitute “Perfect Lamb” who has shed His blood for us. Then we go to the Laver to be washed, cleansed and made ready by the Word of the Lord.

Thus far, everything that we have seen from the time we entered the Door has been on the outside of the Tabernacle. Though we may be within the protective walls of Salvation, we are still in the Outer Court. Sadly, that’s where many of God’s people remain for their whole life. They believe in Jesus. They believe that His blood was shed as a sacrifice for their sin. They believe that the Bible is true, but somehow they just never take their relationship with Jesus to the next level.

We sing that song sometimes that says this:

Take me past the Outer Court, To the Holy Place

Take me past the Brazen Altar, Lord I want to see your face

Take me past the crowds of people, and the priests who sing your praise

I hunger and thirst for your righteousness, but it’s only found One Place

Where is that place? What is it that we are really looking for? What should we be longing for most of all? We should be looking for that place where we can dwell in the very presence of God where we can feel his power and see His glory! We have to pay the price to be there. Entering into the Holy Place requires a lot more commitment than standing in the Outer Court. Every priest was under the Law, and all were careful to fulfill the law in performance of their duties. Any one of them could violate the Law and die instantly, but to enter into the Holy Place more was required. This was a place of honor and privilege and very few of the priests would serve in this capacity.

Are we willing to pay the price to be one of those chosen few who will enter into a deeper walk with the Lord? If you are ready, let’s step inside and see what happens next.

As soon as a priest would step inside the curtain into the Holy Place, he would be dazzled by a bright light that seems to come from everywhere at once. The pure Gold that covered every wall seemed to on fire with light and because of the continual reflection and refraction of light on every board, there was no dark place anywhere in this room. It was as though a “Bright Star” shone forth in the middle of the day inside the Holy Place.