Caring for the Lamps (Num. 8:1-4)

12/15/2008 8:23 PM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  Caring for the lamps

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Numbers 8:1-4

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2  "Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in the front of the lampstand.’"  3  Aaron therefore did so; he mounted its lamps at the front of the lampstand, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  4  Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.”

           

            This SD begins a new chapter in Dr. Wiersbe’s book, “Be Counted,” and also in the book of Numbers.  These first four verses speak of the lampstand that is pictured above, and also was in the Holy Place of the tabernacle.  Since there were no windows in the tabernacle this lampstand was the only source of light for the priests to do their work by.  “This is one of the three articles that was in the Holy Place, along with the table of showbread, and the golden altar of incense.  Most of the instructions for making this lampstand were in the book of Exodus and one thing is added here in Numbers eight.  Aaron had to turn the lamps “forward on the lampstand, (See verse three), so that the light would shine on the table of showbread and be diffused throughout the holy place.”

            The meaning of all of the articles in the Tabernacle and the tabernacle itself are a picture of Jesus Christ and in the case of the lampstand it pictures that Jesus is the light of the world.  Israel was suppose to be a light to the gentile nations:  “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”  (Isa. 42:6 & 49:6 AV) 

            Israel only had one lampstand, but each local church has a lampstand of it’s own as seen in Revelations 1, and the Lord Jesus Christ said that it was possible for an individual church to loose it’s lampstand, in other words the church would stop being an effective wittiness for the Lord.  “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.”  Jesus said this to the church at Ephesus.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Dr. Wiersbe writes this statement in his commentary on these verses, “A church that is filled with the Spirit can face opposition and continue to bear witness courageously to Jesus Christ (Acts 4:23-33).  The oil that burned in the lampstand represents the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is in me since I became a believer and He is the Holy Fuel to empower me to do the work of the Lord. 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Trust that the Holy Spirit will fill me and empower me for the work that is to be done at GBC.