(Exodus 26:34-35) And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
So this is the order in which these items would be set: the ark and mercy seat, the table, and the candlestick. The ark and the mercy seat were within the vail. And the table and the candlestick were set without the vail. The candlestick was to to the south, or to your left walking in. And the table was to the north, or to your right. Now, there is another piece that is not mentioned; and that is the altar of incense. However, instructions are not given regarding this until Exodus Chapter 30. So why this is not mentioned until later, I don’t know. Suffice it to say, these three are the only ones that should concern us at the present moment.
There are three things here before the ark and the mercy seat; three things that must be encountered before the presence of the ark; before the presence of God. No man can come unto God, but to go through these three things. (John 14:6) I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. These thoughts are somewhat random, and not developed well, but it is what came to mind.
The Way
Through the vail is the way to God. (Hebrews 10:19-20) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; I’m just going to throw this thought out there. When Christ died, the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom, signifying that the way to God is now open to all; that what was closed shut in Adam, was now made open in Christ. (Romans 5:10) We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son… That veil being rent from top to bottom signified a new covenant. It brings to mind an old covenant; one that God made with Abraham many years ago. God told Abraham to take certain animals for offerings. (Genesis 15:9) And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
Then Abraham divided the animals. He cut them in half. Then the bible says (Genesis 15:17-18) And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram… Now I won’t get into the detail of the covenant, but I noticed that not all the animals were divided in two. (Genesis 15:10) And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. Now I don’t know why Abraham did not cut the birds. Maybe he felt sorry for them. I don’t know.
But to me, this signifies a covenant that was not complete; a covenant that was not perfect. But when Christ died, the veil was rent from the top to the bottom, a complete division. (Isaiah 53:10-11) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied… God is satisfied in the complete work of Christ. It is finished. The work is done. The divided veil of his flesh is a complete covenant.
The Truth
The table held the bread. And we know Jesus said (John 6:35) I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.The veil is access. The table is sustenance. The truth and the bread speak of the sustaining power of the word of God. An old preacher once said, holding up his King James Bible, “The only food that sheep eat is sheep food!” The bible says (John 1:1) the Word was God.
Nobody gets saved but by partaking of the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. When someone gets saved they’re saved forever. And nothing endures forever but the Word of God. (1 Peter 1:24-25) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
When you come to God you must come by the Word of God. (Ephesians 1:12-13) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation… Nothing else will satisfy the hungry soul. The bread of life will not just satisfy the starving, but sustain forever the satisfied. We can dine forever at the king’s table. You will know if you got the bread of life because the bread of life will sustain you all your life.
The Life
(John 1:4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. The candlestick speaks to us of the illuminating power of God. Now Jesus said (John 8:12) I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The first step to Jesus is an illuminating step. Your first step to Jesus is a step into the glorious light of the Lord Jesus Christ. The soul of a sinner must be awakened to the light of the gospel. His understanding must be enlightened; his understanding of himself, his sin, God, His holiness, Christ and His saving power. It seems like a lot to learn. But God can and will turn the light on.
The candlestick also speaks to us of the church. (Revelation 1:12-13) And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man… (Revelation 1:20) The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Can I be so bold as to say this: Nobody’s understanding is illuminated, but by the work of the church. I like that old song by Phillip Bliss, Let the Lower Lights be Burning.
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy,
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Praise God for his church; his faithful servants; the beautiful feet that brought the gospel of peace! If it wasn’t for that lighthouse, my ship would sail no more!
The Veil, the Table, and the Candlestick
You must go through these to get to God. Yes, the veil is rent and the way to the holiest of all is open. But there still remains the holy place with the table and the candlestick that must be trod; and the veil was rent, not taken down. It’s God’s way or it’s no way. I like God’s way. I like the holy place. I like the things of God. I like that these things are set around the presence of God: his blood, his cross, his light, his word, and his church. It’s good company.
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