THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #212 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #193
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3898
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #212
THE LIFE OF MOSES #193
MOSES AT MT.SINAI#92
THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 51)
THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD IN THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES #5
FURTHER INSIGHTS RE THE SHOWBREAD #2
The Showbread of the tabernacle in the Old Testament, in some respect, foreshadowed the offering of Christ’s body in the New Testament.
Let’s consider some other facts about the bread that may make this picture clearer.
1. The Bread was an Offering
• Leviticus 24:7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Although the Priests would eat this bread each Sabbath day, it was actually an offering to the Lord.
The frankincense which was placed on top of the rows was burned each sabbath on the Altar of Incense beside the Table of Showbread as the old bread was taken away and the new bread was brought in.
This burning of frankincense was accepted by God as a representation of the offering of all the bread.
2. The Bread was Pure
Any representation of the sacrifice of Christ must of necessity be pure. (1 Pet 1:19, Heb 7:26). He is our sinless saviour, our lamb without spot, and our undefiled priest.
How does the table of shewbread picture this?
• Leviticus 24:6-7 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the PURE table before the LORD. And thou shalt put PURE frankinscence upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
3.The Bread was a Continual Provision
God was very clear concerning his desire that the bread be always present upon the table.
Each sabbath day one group of priests would come and remove the rows of bread from the table, as they were removing the old bread another set of priests would immediately replace them with new, hot bread.
This was done in fulfillment of God’s command that it be “set in order before the LORD continually” (Lev 24:8). In Num 4:7 it is called “continual bread”.
God ensured that the picture which the bread painted was one of continual provision.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:12 that Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for ever.
His blood sacrifice is thus an ongoing provision in cleansing us of sin continually.
4. The Bread was to Be Eaten
• Lev 24:9 And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons’; and they will eat in the holy place…
Just like the Christian who eats the communion bread at the Lord’s Supper, the Priest was to take this bread, which was first offered to God, and eat it.
What significance does the eating of the bread show?
It Speaks of Identification
Although only Aaron and his sons could eat the shewbread, all twelve tribes of Israel were represented by the twelve loaves.
In the New Testament we see that fellowship and breaking of bread is often linked together (Acts 2:42, 46).
As the Priests ate the bread in the holy place they were communing with God, and with each other.
This was a holy fellowship in the presence of the Lord. 1 John 1:7 tells us “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another”.
There is a sweet fellowship for Christians who will commune together around the things of the Lord.
Conclusion
The shewbread reminds us that Jesus was given for us, that his sacrifice is forever applied to us, that we now have an intimate relationship with Him, and that when we walk in Him we can have wonderful fellowship with one another.
