Exodus 25:23-30 - Homiletics

The symbolism of the table of shew-bread.

Before the holy of holies, within which was the Divine Presence, dwelling in thick darkness behind the veil, was to be set perpetually this golden table, bearing bread and wine and frankincense. The bread and wine and frankincense constituted a perpetual thank-offering, offered by Israel as a nation to the high and holy God. The idea was that of a constant memorial (Le Exodus 24:8 ), a continual acknowledgment of the Divine goodness on the part of the nation. The essence of the offering was the bread—we know of the wine only by implication; the frankincense is distinctly mentioned (Le Exodus 24:7 ), but is altogether subordinate. Israel, grateful to God for maintaining and supporting its life, physical and spiritual, expressed its gratitude by this one and only never ceasing offering. It was intended to teach—

I. THAT GRATITUDE WAS DUE TO GOD FROM HIS PEOPLE PERPETUALLY . Men are so cold by nature, so selfish, so little inclined to real thankfulness, that it was well they should be reminded, as they were by the shew-bread, of thankfulness being a continuous, unending duty, a duty moreover owed by all. No tribe was ever exempt, however reduced in numbers, however little esteemed, however weak and powerless. The twelve loaves were perpetually before the Lord.

II. THAT GRATITUDE MUST BE SHOWN BY OFFERINGS . The best offering is that of a "pure heart;" but no man of a pure heart, who possessed aught, was ever yet content to offer merely "the calves of his lips"—men instinctively give of their best to God. Bread, the staff of life—wine, that maketh glad the heart of man—frankincense, the most precious of spices, are fitting gifts to him. The offering of bread signifies the devotion of our strength—of wine, the devotion of our feelings—of frankincense, the devotion of our most sublimised spiritual aspirations to the eternal. Israel, as a nation, perpetually offered these offerings, and thereby inculcated on each individual of the nation the duty of doing the same, separately and individually, for private, as the nation did for public, benefits.

III. THAT NO OFFERING COULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD , UNLESS ALL ITS SURROUNDINGS WERE PURE AND HOLY . The loaves were to be of the finest flour (Le Exodus 24:5 ). The frankincense was to be "pure frankincense" (Le Exodus 24:7 ). The table was to be overlaid with "pure gold" ( Exodus 26:24 ). All the utensils of the table were to be of the same ( Exodus 26:29 ). Nothing "common or unclean" was to come into contact with the offering, which was "the most holy unto the Lord" of all the offerings made to him (Le Exodus 24:8 ). The purity and perfection of all the material surroundings of the offering suggested the need of equal purity in those who offered it.