Day 7: The Table of Showbread part 1

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Matthew 26:26

Siting to the immediate right is the ‘Table of Showbread’. It was acacia wood overlaid with gold and measured about 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide and slightly over 2 feet tall. It had upon it the golden plates and utensils, jars and bowls probably to hold the drink offerings. The primary purpose, was to hold the showbread.

The ‘bread of the presence’ (literally the ‘bread of the face’) was set by God to be presented as a ‘covenant forever’ as recorded in Leviticus 24:8. And as everything with God, He gave specific instructions for it: each made from unleaven finely ground flour of about 3 cups each, 2 piles of 6 each with frankincense placed on top, replaced fresh every week. The number coincided with the number of tribes, but the reason for the bread itself is much more intimate.

In Biblical times to share a mean was an intimate affair. It symbolized a connection and close fellowship with others, especially in connection with a covenant. Abraham had a meal with God in Genesis 18 and  after receiving the Law, Moses, Aaron and 70 elders went and ate a meal with Him. (Exodus 24:9-11). It showed how God was both closely tied to Israel to the point that even there sustenance was dependent on Him.

Today we see this as a foreshadowing of the ‘Last Supper’, what we do in our churches as ‘communion’. It demonstrates the close, intimate connection we get to have whenever we draw close to Jesus and consider just how much we owe Him. Not only of His suffering, death and resurrection but of the very life He supplies. And that, itself is but a foreshadowing of the great banquet to come, that ‘Wedding Feast of the Lamb’ where we eat not in remembrance, but with the actual risen Savior.

Scripture reading for today:

 John 6:32-33
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Revelation 19:6-9
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.