We are in chapter twenty-seven of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל sons of Israel, children of Israel, people of Israel. It is used 639 times in the Old Testament, 123 times in Exodus and twice in our chapter today. Our phrase is used to describe the direct descendants of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. Genesis 32:32 The בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל people of Israel do not eat the tendon of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the tendon of the thigh. Genesis 46:8 Now these are the names of the בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Our phrase later became used to identify the vast nation that came from the descendants of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. Exodus 1:7, 9 וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.  There are several references to the people during their harsh slavery in Egypt and deliverance. Exodus 3:9-10 The cry of the בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל children of Israel, out of Egypt. Exodus 12:51 The Lord brought the בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. We also see uses of our phrase during the setting up of the tabernacle worship. This is how our word is used both times in our chapter for today. Exodus 27:20-21 You shall command the בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל people of Israel. Another part of the tabernacle worship that was to be set up was the breast plate that Aaron the priest was to wear. Exodus 28:29-30 So Aaron shall bear the names of the בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord ... Aaron shall bear the judgment of the בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly. Did you catch the reasoning for all of this? So that the people will be on his heart. We will look more into this in the days to come when we get into the next chapter of Exodus. But I find it interesting that God wants the people close to the heart. God is all about close connection with himself and with each other. A good example of God’s heart drawing his people to himself is in Hosea. Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” Here we see how God faithfully fulfilled his promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the sand of the sea. And God’s love to bring his people back to himself. We know this is possible because of Jesus saving work on the cross. Everyone who is in Christ is now also one of these descendants of Jacob or Israel as God promised Abraham. Our connect is one of faith. I’ll close with how the Holy Spirit ties this all together Galatians 3:25-29 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. 

We are in chapter twenty-seven of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible. שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת olive oil. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at the uses starting with our chapter since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 27:20 You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. We also see this instruction repeated in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 24:1-2 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִתoil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. This oil was the fuel what would allow God’s lamp to stay burning consistently as he commanded for the early tabernacle worship.

Our phrase is also used to describe one of the main ingredients in making of the anointing oil used to anoint the tent of meeting and the other items of the tabernacle worship. Exodus 30:22-25 The Lord said to Moses, “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of וְשֶׁ֥מֶן זַ֖יִת olive oil. And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. What is interesting with our phrase is both the concepts of holy as an ingredient of the holy anointing oil and the fact that it is the fuel that allows light to continue to stay on. These concepts remind me of Jesus parable of the ten virgins who had lamps that needed to stay lit while they were waiting. Jesus calls us to stay holy as we wait for his return. I’ll close with his parable as a great reminder to be ready and stay ready. Matthew 25:1-13 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

We are in chapter twenty-seven of Exodus with our word for today. חָצֵר enclosure, court, settlement, yard without walls, courtyard. It is used 192 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of a courtyard of people’s houses. Exodus 8:13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses. The frogs died out in the houses, הַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת the courtyards, and the fields. 2 Samuel 17:18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man ... who had a well בַּחֲצֵר֖וֹ in his courtyard. And they went down into it. Solomon’s house had a courtyard. 1 Kings 7:8 His own house where he was to dwell, in the other חָצֵ֣ר court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. King Ahasuerus of Persia also had a court in his palace. Esther 1:5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days בַּחֲצַ֕ר in the court of the garden of the king's palace. Most of the uses of our word refer to the courtyard of God’s tabernacle. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 27:9, 12-13, 16-19 You shall make the חֲצַ֣ר court of the tabernacle. On the south side the לֶחָצֵ֜ר court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side … And for the breadth of הֶֽחָצֵר֙ the court on the west side there shall be hangings for fifty cubits, with ten pillars and ten bases. The breadth of הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר the court on the front to the east shall be fifty cubits … For the gate of הֶֽחָצֵ֜ר the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. It shall have four pillars and with them four bases. All the pillars around הֶֽחָצֵ֤ר the court shall be filleted with silver. Their hooks shall be of silver, and their bases of bronze. The length of הֶֽחָצֵר֩ the court shall be a hundred cubits, the breadth fifty, and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twined linen and bases of bronze. All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs and all the pegs of הֶחָצֵ֖ר the court, shall be of bronze. Solomon built temple court with more substantial material because it didn’t have to be mobile like the first one. 1 Kings 6:36 He built the inner הֶחָצֵ֣ר court with three courses of cut stone and one course of cedar beams. Jesus was betrayed by Peter in the temple courtyard. Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. The good news is that Jesus forgives and restores Peter as he does all of us who have accepted his grace and salvation. I’ll close with these great Psalms that remind us how great it is to be close to where God is. Psalm 84:1-2, 10 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints לְחַצְר֪וֹת for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God … For a day בַּחֲצֵרֶ֗יךָ in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and חֲצֵרֹתָ֥יו his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

We are rolling into chapter twenty-seven of Exodus with our word for today. מִזְבֵּחַ altar. It is used 401 times in the Old Testament, six times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made. Our word is used to describe the worship of false gods or idols. Deuteronomy 12:3 You shall tear down מִזְבּחֹתָ֗ם their altars ... You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. 2 Kings 21:3, 5 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected מִזְבְּחֹ֜ת altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them … And he built מִזְבְּח֖וֹת altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. Our word is used most of the time as part of the worship to the true living, reality God, YHWH. We see Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Saul, David, and Solomon all building altars to worship God (Genesis 8:20; Genesis 12:7-8; Genesis 35:1; Exodus 17:15; Joshua 8:3; Judges 6:24; 1 Samuel 7:17; 1 Samuel 14:35; 2 Samuel 24:25; 1 Kings 7:48). This is also how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 27:1-8 You shall make הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַthe altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַThe altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze … And you shall set it under the ledge of הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַthe altar so that the net extends halfway down הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַthe altar. And you shall make poles for לַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. And the poles shall be put through the rings, so that the poles are on the two sides of הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ the altar when it is carried. We see blood associated with our word as part of the worship of the true God. Exodus 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ the altar. Deuteronomy 12:27 Offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the מִזְבַּ֖ח altar of the Lord your God. We also see forgiveness of sin associated with our word as part of worship of the true God. Leviticus 4:34-35 The priest shall burn it on הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָהthe altar ... the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven. Leviticus 9:7 Draw near to הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded. The great news is that Jesus came to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Because of Jesus blood we have this forgiveness of sins that these Old Testament sacrifices were foreshadowing. Hebrews 12:24 Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 13:10-12, 20 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood … Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant. I’ll close with this great passage. Psalm 43:4-5 Then I will go to the מִזְבַּ֬ח altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

We are in chapter twenty-six of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים The holy place of holy places or the most holy place. It is used 22 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Our phrase is used to describe special items used in early tabernacle worship of God. Leviticus 21:22 He may eat the bread of his God, both of מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים the most holy and of הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים the holy things. Numbers 4:4, 19 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: קֹ֖דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים the most holy things … deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to קֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden. Ezekiel 44:13 They shall not come near to me, to serve me as priest, nor come near any of קָ֣דָשַׁ֔י my holy things and the things that are קָדְשֵׁ֖י הַקְּדָשִׁ֑ים most holy, but they shall bear their shame and the abominations that they have committed. Our phrase is also used to identify special offerings. Ezekiel 42:13 The north chambers and the south chambers opposite the yard are the holy chambers, where the priests who approach the Lord shall eat קָדְשֵׁ֣י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים the most holy offerings. There they shall put קָדְשֵׁ֣י הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים the most holy offerings—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering—for the place is holy. 2 Chronicles 31:14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution reserved for the Lord וְקָדְשֵׁ֖י הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים and the most holy offerings. We also see a reference to special food. Ezra 2:63 The governor told them that they were not to partake מִקֹּ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim. We also see this in Nehemiah 7:64-65. Most of the uses of our phrase have it referring to a very special place. Now this most special separated place is the place where our word is used in our chapter for today. Exodus 26:33 And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony בְּקֹ֖דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים in the Most Holy Place. As we saw yesterday there were two holy or set apart places. Both of these were special and set apart from ordinary spaces in the camp of the Israelites. But even in these holy separated places there was one that was literally the holy place of holy places or most holy place. In this area God instructed the ark and the mercy seat to be kept so that they would be the most separated of all. But Christ changed all of this. I’ll close with these great passages. Hebrews 9:2-3, 6-7, 9, 11-12, 14 It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place … These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people … gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper … But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come … he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption … how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

We are in chapter twenty-six of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. פָּרֹ֫כֶת curtain, veil. It is used 25 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Let’s start with our chapter since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 26:31-35 And you shall make a פָרֹ֗כֶת veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang הַפָּרֹכֶת֮ the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there לַפָּרֹ֔כֶת within the veil. And הַפָּרֹ֙כֶת֙ the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. And you shall set the table outside לַפָּרֹ֔כֶת the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side. Did you notice the purpose of the veil or curtain was to make a separation? The place where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat are to be in one part and the table and the lampstand are to be in the other part. We find this referenced again when the actual work was being done to make all of these items for the tabernacle worship (Exodus 40:3, 21-23). We will look at these phrases the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place tomorrow. For today let’s focus on the veil itself. It was made out of very fine material and had angels embroidered on it (Exodus 36:35). We see the blood of the sacrifice being brought inside the veil for the sin offering. Leviticus 16:15 Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. This relationship with the sin of the people and death reminds us of what Jesus did for us and how this changed the curtain’s purpose of separation. Matthew 27:50-51 The curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. God made it clear in a real visible way that our sin that was separating us from him was now paid for by Jesus and taken away. Notice how the Holy Spirit interprets Jesus death in our place as giving us access to God himself through our relationship with his son. I’ll close with this great passages. Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever. Hebrews 9:1-5, 11-12 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat … But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come … he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Hebrews 10:19-22 We have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 

We are moving into chapter twenty-six of Exodus with our word for today. מִשְׁכָּן abode, dwelling, tent, tabernacle. It is used 139 times in the Old Testament, 16 times in our chapter for today. Our word is used in the sense of a portable sanctuary which the Israelites carried in the wilderness after the Exodus. We’ll start in our chapter where it is used the most as it describes in detail how this special tent where God made himself known in a special way was to be made. Here are some of the uses in our chapter. Exodus 26:1, 6-7, 12-13, 15, 17, 30, 35 Moreover, you shall make הַמִּשְׁכָּ֥ן the tabernacle with ten curtains … and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן the tabernacle may be a single whole. You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן the tabernacle … the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן the tabernacle … the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, shall hang over the sides of הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it … You shall make upright frames לַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן for the tabernacle of acacia wood … There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together. So shall you do for all the frames of הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן the tabernacle … Then you shall erect הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain … And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side. The Levites were put in charge of the tabernacle which involved packing, unpacking, and setting it up for use. Numbers 1:50-51 But appoint the Levites over מִשְׁכַּ֨ןthe tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around לַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ןthe tabernacle. When הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ןthe tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ןthe tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. We see that not only was all the contents housed in this special tent was consecrated but the tabernacle itself before it was used. Exodus 40:9 Take the anointing oil and anoint הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. Leviticus 8:10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. We see God’s glory fill the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן the tabernacle. Exodus 40:38 So the cloud of the Lord was over הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. God also directed the people when it was time to pack up and move based on the cloud over the tabernacle (Exodus 40:36). Because our word is so closely associated with a tent, which is a different word than our word for today, we can forget that the basic meaning of the word is dwelling, abode, or habitation. God doesn’t live in a tent. He is everywhere but he makes his presence known in this tent for the people’s benefit. The point of this special tent is not the tent itself but the one who is making his presence known inside of it in a special way. I’ll close with these great references that makes this very point. Psalm 84:1 How lovely is מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶ֗יךָ your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! Psalm 132:7 Let us go לְמִשְׁכְּנוֹתָ֑יו to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool. Psalm 26:8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory מִשְׁכַּ֥ן dwells.

We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. נֵר light, lamp. It is used 44 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a small container with a wick extending from it typically burned oil in order to give light to a room. We see the use of oil in these passages. Exodus 27:20 You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a נֵ֖ר lamp may regularly be set up to burn. Leviticus 24:1-2 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the נֵ֖ר lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. We also see one of Aaron’s jobs as priest was to light the lamps in the tent in the evening. Exodus 30:7-8 Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses הַנֵּרֹ֖תthe lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up הַנֵּרֹ֛תthe lamps at twilight. This is how our word is used in our chapter which is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 25:31, 37 You shall make a lampstand of pure gold … You shall make seven נֵרֹתֶ֖יהָ lamps for it. And the נֵ֣רֹתֶ֔יהָ lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. I find it interesting that the first time our word is used in the Bible God has this light focused in front of where it is set on the lampstand. We also see this when it was being built. Numbers 8:2 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up הַנֵּרֹ֔ת the lamps, the seven הַנֵּרֽוֹת lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” We also see our word used in a figurative way to symbolize one being alive as opposed to dead. Job 18:5-6 Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine. The light is dark in his tent, וְ֝נֵר֗וֹ and his lamp above him is put out. Job 21:17 How often is it that the נֵר lamp of the wicked is put out? Proverbs 13:9 The light of the righteous rejoices, but the וְנֵ֖ר lamp of the wicked will be put out. 

Another way our word is used in a figurative way is influence, revelation and enlightenment. 1 Samuel 3:1-3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The וְנֵ֤רlamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 2 Samuel 22:29 For you are נֵירִ֖י my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a נֵ֣ר lamp and the teaching a light. God himself is identified with our word because he is our guide and teacher. 2 Samuel 22:29 For you are נֵירִ֖י my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. Job 29:2-3 God watched over me, when נֵ֭רוֹhis lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness. I’ll close with this great psalm that reminds us that God is the one that shines his light in front of us so we know how to live and walk. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a נֵרlamp to my feet and a light to my path.

We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. מְנוֹרָה lampstand. It is used 42 times in the Old Testament, 7 times in our chapter for today. Let’s start with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 25:31-36 You shall make a מְנֹרַ֖ת lampstand of pure gold. הַמְּנוֹרָה֙ The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the מְנֹרָ֗ה lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the מְנֹרָ֔ה lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of הַמְּנֹרָֽה the lampstand. וּבַמְּנֹרָ֖ה And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from הַמְּנֹרָֽה the lampstand. Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. When the lampstand was actually made we find our word used six times in Exodus chapter 37. There is an interesting reference to our word in Chapter 31. God is instructing Moses that Bezalel and others were to do the work of making everything for the early temple worship which included our word. Exodus 31:8 and הַמְּנֹרָ֥ה הַטְּהֹרָ֖ה the pure lampstand with all its utensils. The lampstand was qualified as the pure lampstand which is what this literally says “the lampstand the pure”. We find this reference in two other places Exodus 39:37 and Leviticus 24:4. But notice in both of these an additional word is supplied that is not in the original. The word gold is supplied because of other references to our word along with this qualifier using the actual word for gold. Exodus 37:17 They made הַמְּנֹרָ֖ה זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר the lampstand of pure gold. Numbers 8:4 And this was the workmanship of הַמְּנֹרָה֙ the lampstand, hammered work of זָהָ֔ב gold. So the material that the lampstand was made out of was gold. This is a good example of how translators use other references of bible passages to make sense of the one’s that are just summarizing or not as clear. The point of a lampstand is to hold light so that one can see. We will look more into this concept when we look at our word tomorrow for lamp. But for now I find it interesting that you could make a lampstand out of any material but God chooses to make it out of the most expensive precious material there was. This points to God’s holiness and special importance. When you think about it the place where God meets his people is the most precious and special place there is. Which leads us to how it is used in the beginning of the book of Revelation that ties this idea of meeting with God with the church. Revelation 1:12-13, 20 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man … the seven lampstands are the seven churches. I think God is using the lampstand symbolically to show the churches role of sharing the light of Christ by holding up the light which is what a lampstand does. It is not itself the light but it holds up the light for others to see it. I’ll close with this reference to all the gold these lampstands were made out of which again shows us just how precious this whole concept of people being able to meet with God which is priceless. 1 Chronicles 28:11-12, 15 Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple … the weight of the לִמְנֹר֣וֹת הַזָּהָ֗ב golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each מְנוֹרָ֥ה lampstand and its lamps.

We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. לֶ֥חֶם פָּנִ֖ים bread of presence. It is used 9 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at our uses starting with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 25:23, 30 You shall make a table of acacia wood … And you shall set the לֶ֥חֶם פָּנִ֖ים bread of the Presence on the table לְפָנַ֥י [literally face or in my presence] before me regularly. A good example of this is later in Exodus where it is just translated before instead of presence but it is the same phrase. Exodus 40:23 And arranged the לֶ֖חֶם לִפְנֵ֣י bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Because the purpose of the table was to present this bread to God in his presence the table itself was also called the bread of presence or the table of the bread of presence. We see this with our next use of our phrase. Exodus 35:10-14 Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: the tabernacle ... the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִֽים bread of the Presence; the lampstand also for the light. So from the context we can conclude that the craftsman are not making the bread of presence because that is something that the Levites were to prepare and bake. It is another way to say the table referring to it just as the bread of presence. We see this same thing in the next use that records the table was made as God instructed (Exodus 39:36). Here are a couple of examples that point out the purpose of the table with our phrase. 1 Kings 7:48 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the Lord: the golden altar, the golden table for the לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִ֖ים bread of the Presence. Did you notice the word for? This shows purpose. Also in 2 Chronicles 4:19 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the golden altar, the tables for the לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִֽים bread of the Presence. We know this is bread that is edible because David and his men actually did this. 1 Samuel 21:6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the לֶ֤חֶם הַפָּנִים֙ bread of the Presence, which is removed מִלִּפְנֵ֣י from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. Did you notice that our phrase is also referred to as holy bread? What makes it holy is that it is presented to YWHW at the place where he makes himself know in a special way in the holy of holies. This is interesting that this bread that the priest even refers to as no ordinary bread earlier in 1 Samuel chapter 21 is given to David to eat as common ordinary bread. We see Jesus himself make a reference to this very event. Jesus words are recorded in three out of the four gospels so this is an important point God is making. Let’s look at Marks account. Mark 2:23-28 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” This is a great reminder that because of Jesus everything has changed. Even though our sin has separated us from God because of Jesus work on the cross we can now be in his presence. I’ll close with this great reality as believers in Christ. John 7:38-39 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.