NOTES FROM MOM

Table of Showbread

Greetings!

We are continuing our study of the Tabernacle this month with the Table of Showbread. We find the commandment from God to construct the Table of Showbread in Exodus 25: 23-30. It was placed in the Holy Place across from the Lamp Stand.

The Table of Showbread was 2 cubits long, 1 cubit wide and 1-1/2 cubits high. A cubit is approximately 18 inches. So it was 36 inches long ( 1 yard), 18 inches wide and 27 inches high. It was made of wood overlaid with gold. There was a rim all the way around it made of gold, and rings of gold so it could be carried when they moved.

The Table of Showbread was made to hold 12 loaves of bread that were baked weekly and eaten by the Levites. The loaves of bread were called “The bread of His presence or face.” It was representative of eating the word of God. Strong’s Concordance gives us several definitions: to consume, devour, eat, fruit, loaf, and meat. It also refers to: The face, battle, overcome, beseech, countenance, endure, inquire, favor, and fear.

Putting all of these together we see that it represented the face of God, ever present with us in His word. We are to eat it every day and spend time in His presence every day. As we eat of it, we find the fruit of the Holy Spirit taking root in us. It shows us the meat of God’s word. It is the face of God to help us overcome the battles. We are to beseech Him (pray to Him). It gives us the ability to endure. We can find answers to our questions. It shows us the favor we have with God; and the fear or reverence we are to have for Him.

John 6: 31-35 shows us that Jesus was the bread who came down from heaven. John 1: 1-3 tells us Jesus was the Word of God. He was the word of God who became flesh (verse 14). His word is our bread. It is our strength and our necessary food.

The Word in the Outer Court (the Laver) cleanses us from sin. The word in the Holy Place renews our minds as it is revealed by the Golden Lamp Stand (the Holy Spirit). The Word in the Holy Place is meant to take the place of our old thinking and ways of doing things. It is the truth that sets us free!

The Table of Showbread (the word of God) and the Golden Lamp Stand (The Holy Spirit) are given to us to shine the light on areas in us that need to be changed. They are given to us to help us crucify our flesh and old habits so we can come into the presence of our heavenly Father. The word of God is given to us out of the mouth of our loving Father because He knows what is good for us and what isn’t. He hasn’t given us His word to keep us in bondage, but to free us into His plan for our lives.

Remember, the Holy Place represents our minds, wills and emotions. These must all be submitted to God. Bread is eaten to give us strength. The strength of our soul is our will. Our will is to be submitted to God’s word so we can live a blessed life.

One of the most important parts of man is his will. God didn’t create us like puppets. He gave us a free will to choose. He made each of us uniquely different and has provided a plan for our lives since we were born. The devil can’t touch our will. He can touch our minds and he can touch our emotions, but he can’t penetrate our will. God won’t touch it either!

The will of man belongs to man alone and it has been his to command ever since he was created. We always have a choice! Saying “the devil made me do it” won’t stand in the presence of God. Blaming others for what has happened to us, won’t either. Psalm 36: 1 tells us “Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart. There is no fear of God before his eyes.” God has created each one of us with a little small voice called a conscience. No matter what you think or have been told, that little voice speaks inside you from the time you are born. You may choose not to hear it any more, but it is still speaking. God gave it to us so we could know right from wrong in His eyes.

Our strength is to do the will of God. Each day we build strength when we choose to read and study God’s word. Our strength comes from a submitted will to God as we feed on the bread of life He gave us.

Philippians 2:5 tells us to let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. That means we need to use our will and make the choice to let our mind be renewed and to choose God’s word over what we have been taught or our beliefs that don’t line up with His word.

The battlefield is in our minds. There is a spiritual battle going on all the time to keep you from God’s word and from doing things His way. If we get the mind renewed to God’s word, we win the battle and the devil has to flee. In James 4:7 we are told to “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” We exercise our will to submit to God’s word, resist the devil with God’s word and bring our minds into subjection to His word. Then the devil won’t bother us any more in that area. He has to flee. That is how we overcome him. That is the way to win the battle.

Before we are born again, we go with the flow. The conscience speaks, but we don’t listen. After all, everyone is doing it! We indulge our flesh and eventually we end up in a mess one way or another. Some end up behind bars…others end up physical and emotional wrecks. No matter how much money we have or don’t have, the spirit is dead to God. That is why you can have the whole world, but still lose your soul. Nothing satisfies. Mankind always wants more. There is no peace without the Table of Showbread. The only way to really live on this earth is according to the Word of God.

Think about it. We are all born again because someone has told us what the Word of God says. Without God’s word, we can’t get born again. When we hear it for the first time, something inside of us comes alive. That is the Holy Spirit making it real to us. We may try to resist it at first, but the Holy Spirit won’t leave us alone. He will keep trying to get through to us. He will call upon others to pray for us. He will continue to bring His word to our minds to bring us to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Our thoughts have to be renewed with the Table of Showbread. Thoughts left unchecked by God’s word open doors to the devil. The word of God tells us in Hosea 4:6 “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” How sad it is that we could all have had better lives if we had only known the word of God and followed it. What a great world we would live in. We all need God! We all need to be saved! And it is never too late!

We can choose to read and believe His word to us. Even if you are on death row, you can still choose Jesus. You can live the rest of your life here on earth in His presence. You can bring others into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and do a work for Him right where you are. So exercise your will and renew your mind with the Table of Showbread. It is truly the bread of life to all who will partake of it.

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