The LORD wants to give His people enduring reminders of everything that Christ is. This revelation includes the tabernacle that Israel was instructed to build shortly after receiving the 10 Commandments. Every element of that structure points to Jesus and His redemptive work.
Let's take a look at one small example...
And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. -- Exodus 27:20 [NKJV]
This lamp stands just outside the Most Holy Place, in room called the Holy Place. It was not visible outside of this room, and yet it was to be lit at all times. In other passages (See Leviticus 16), God commands that the lamp shall be lit using embers taken from the altar... and from nowhere else.
What does this tell us about Christ?
- The Spirit of God is often represented as olive oil throughout the Bible. The fire and passion generated by the Holy Spirit is accurately recognized only by God's people. The world will ridicule it and call it fanaticism. But the Spirit inside of me will recognize the Spirit inside of you.
- The flame cannot burn continually without the intervention of Almighty God. Even the constant attention of men and women will, at some point, fail. But God never fails. So from this, we learn that God commands and God accomplishes. We have a responsibility to obey and respond, but God is the One who makes all things possible. Even the lighting of the lamp is accomplished by the LORD, for the fire under the altar was ignited by God (see Leviticus 9>.
- And, of course, the continual burning of the fire speaks directly to Christ's everlasting presence and reign.
Hopefully, this one symbol will remind each one of us that God's light shines within each of us, and that ... no matter is going on ... He will cause it to shine forever.
Be encouraged,
Jose
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