Exodus 37:17-24 – God is our life and our light

Exodus 37:17-23 describe for us the Golden Lampstand in the Holy Place. It was lit to provide light for the otherwise darkened place. It provided the illumination for the Table of Shewbread. These verses say the lampstand was made of pure gold. It was made of “…hammered work, its base, and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs, and its flowers were of one piece with it. There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it;  three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower in the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.”

It was the light of this lampstand that would light up the Tabernacle. The light on this lampstand would be kept burning perpetually. The priest had to do this by continually replenishing the oil. We need to know that God is said to be the light. Jesus Himself said, “I am the Light of the world.” Light reveals and illumines what could otherwise not be seen. To say that God is light means, He is the revealer and illuminator of our life.  And we all know that God is pure light and in Him, there is no darkness. He provides us light for our direction in life through His Word.

The lampstand was made in the shape of a tree. It had the main shaft and three branches flowing out of each side of the main shaft. The shaft and the branches were covered with buds and the blossoms at regular space making it look like a tree. It is a reflection of the Tree of life. God is being depicted as not just providing life but He is also the light giver. He is our light and our life. Remember it is God who gives us light and life. No wonder John in his gospel tells us that in Christ “was life, and the life was the Light of men. He is the Light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” We are also told that Jesus is the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. We need the life-giving light of God. Thank God through Christ, we have received it. Praise the Lord!