THE CANDLESTICK OF THE TABERNACLE
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Exodus 25:31-40
Text: Exodus 25:31
Exodus 25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Introduction: I remind you again that the tabernacle was designed as a portrayal in the Old Testament of salvation through the Lord Jesus
Christ. The tabernacle was MADE, said God, “that I may DWELL among them” (v. 8). The tabernacle was a figure (Heb. 9:9), or type, of the true dwelling of God among men later, in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice the words, MADE and DWELT in the following verse:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
“and dwelt among us.”
The tabernacle was made for God to dwell among men. Jesus Christ was
“made flesh” in John 1:14 “and dwelt among us.”
Jesus said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
I believe the tabernacle testifies of Jesus Christ. Those scriptures Jesus commanded to be searched were specifically Genesis through
Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Bible, for the Lord further stated:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Tonight we are going to look at the CANDLESTICK and look for JESUS.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
I. THE PURITY OF THE CANDLESTICK
Exodus 25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
A. It was made of the best gold – “PURE gold”
B. It was made of beaten work
1. Christ was shaped into the form of a man
2. Christ suffered and was beaten
II. THE PARTS OF THE CANDLESTICK
A. The shaft – V. 31 the center
B. The six branches
1. We are the branches (John 15:5)
2. Christ is THE Branch (Zechariah 3:8) and a righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5)
3. 6 + 1 = 7 – completion or perfection
C. The shape of almonds
1. Bowls
2. A bowl, a knop (a knob or swelling), and a flower seem to be together in verse 33.
3. The shaft had 4 of them, according to Exodus 37:19-20.
4. The almond points to Christ’s resurrection, as we remembered Aaron’s rod that budded
5. Numbers 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
D. The seven lamps (V. 37)
1. Probably the wicks and oil
2. The seven churches of Revelation 2-3
E. The snippers
1. Tongs – Exodus 25:38
F. The snuffdishes (V. 38)
1. Leftover ashes
2. Dumping of waste
G. The snuffers (V. 38)
1. Exodus 37:23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.
2. Got the wicks trimmed
III. THE PURPOSE OF THE CANDLESTICK
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
There were no windows in the tabernacle. The candlestick was the only light.
A. For direction
1. 1 John 1:7 walking in the light
2. Psalm 119:105
B. For digestion
1. Eating the shewbread
C. For devotion
1. Going to the most holy place
IV. THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE CANDLESTICK
Exodus 25:36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
A. In design
1. We are one with Christ
B. In duty
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Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church |