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TTNABS 2 : LESSON 21 – THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD (PAGE 1/21)

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TTNABS 2 : LESSON 21

THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

The next element in our study is the Table of Showbread

EXODUS 25:23-30 (NKJV) 23 “You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height 24 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around

25 You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. 27 The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table 28 And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them



29 You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring.

You shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always LEVITICUS 24:5-9 (NKJV) 5 ‘And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake 6 You shall set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the LORD 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, an offering made by fire to the LORD 8 Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant 9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him from the offerings of the LORD made by fire, by a perpetual statute’

1. WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE TABLE OF

SHOWBREAD?

• Its height was 1.5 cubits (68 centimeters)

• The table was made of imperfect Shittim (Acacia) wood

• The wood was covered with gold

• It had 4 corners and 4 feet with 4 rings

• It had 2 staves that fitted into the rings

• In transit it was covered with scarlet and blue cloth and badgers skin

• It was situated in line with the Candlestick (North)

• There were 12 loaves of pierced bread in 2 rows of 6 on the Table

• The loaves were sprinkled with frankincense

• The bowls on the table contained wine



2. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TABLE OF

SHOWBREAD?

We now proceed to consider the significance of: - Jesus Christ as the Bread, and - The Church as the Table

AS WELL AS - The Church as the Bread, and - Jesus Christ as the Table

2.1 IT IS A PICTURE OF JESUS CHRIST AS THE BREAD AND THE CHURCH AS THE TABLE

2.1.1 JESUS CHRIST AS THE BREAD

The Bread represents His Body broken for us (John 6:33-35)

Wine represents His blood shed for us (Matthew 26:26-28) For the purpose of this lesson, our focus is drawn primarily to Jesus Christ as the Bread

We are the priests that partake of His Table

If the priest did not cleanse himself at the Brazen Laver, he

would be struck dead in the Holy Place

1 CORINTHIANS 11:27-31 (NKJV) 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body



30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged

Paul states that participation of the Lord's Table in an unworthy manner results in sickness and premature death

JOHN 6:35 (NKJV) 35 And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst’

Consider the following in the making of bread:

2.1.1.1 WHEAT IS CUT, CRUSHED TO FINE FLOUR

AND BAKED

This points to Christ’s sufferings

ISAIAH 50:6 (NKJV) 6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting ISAIAH 53:3-5 (NKJV)

3 He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed



2.1.1.2 FINE FLOUR

Fine flour speaks of Christ’s sinlessness

JOHN 19:4 (NKJV) 4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, ‘Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him’ HEBREWS 7:26 (NKJV) 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 1 PETER 2:22 (NKJV) 22 ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’;

2.1.1.3 PIERCED BREAD

Jesus was pierced

JOHN 19:34 (NKJV) 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out

2.1.1.4 THE BREAD WAS COATED WITH

FRANKINCENSE

This speaks of Christ's life of prayer and intercession

LUKE 6:12 (NKJV) 12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God



LUKE 22:41-42 (NKJV) 41 And He was withdrawn from them

about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done’

2.1.1.5 THE BREAD WAS CALLED "SHOWBREAD"

DEF : SHOW = to declare, or proclaim publicly

1 CORINTHIANS 11:26 (NKJV) 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes

Our partaking of Jesus Christ as Bread (communion) declares our memory of the Lord's death

AS WELL AS Our proclaiming that we are re-membering His Body

THAT IS

Discerning His Body accurately and ‘putting Him’ together again through our recognition of Him in and through us as a Body

2.1.1.6 THE BREAD HAD TO BE EATEN - NOT JUST

TASTED

Bread that is eaten is digested to become a part of our bodies

As we "eat Him" we become like Him



2 PETER 1:4 (NKJV) 4 by which have been given to us

exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust JOHN 6:48-51 (NKJV) 48 I am the bread of life 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world JOHN 6:55-56 (NKJV) 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him

2.1.1.7 THE BREAD HAD NO LEAVEN

Pointing again to Christ's sinlessness

2.1.1.8 THE BREAD LAY IN THE MIDST OF THE

TABLE BETWEEN THE 2 STAVES

MATTHEW 18:20 (NKJV) 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them



2.1.2 THE CHURCH AS THE TABLE

2.1.2.1 THE TABLE WAS SHAPED FROM IMPERFECT (WARPED) SHITTIM (ACACIA) WOOD

The Church is a place of largely "imperfect" people

THAT IS Saints who are perfected in Christ, but whose minds may still be warped in some areas The Shittim (Acacia) tree is known for its twisted (crooked and warped) growth

HOWEVER It was used by God (irrespective of its shape) to build the furniture in the tabernacle, and, in this instance, specifically the Table for the Showbread The wood was straightened (planed) by the carpenters for the use of the Table In like manner, the true church is made up of those who allow the ‘straightening’ work of the Lord in their lives, to change warped mindsets into the newness of the image and life of Christ

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 (NKJV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new

The Church, as Table, is the NEW recreated Corporate Son in Christ

The Church, as the Table made from "Shittim/Acacia"

wood, is also the CORPORATE WOOD, as a large amount of the warped wood was required to make a straight Table



2.1.2.2 THE TABLE WAS COVERED WITH GOLD

The true Church does not reflect wood but the gold which is symbolic of Jesus Christ

JOHN 17:10 (NKJV) 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them

2.1.2.3 THE TABLE HAD 4 CORNERS

Jesus must be "showed" (declared) to the 4 corners of the world as the One whose body was broken and whose blood was shed for all humanity in all nations

ACTS 1:8 (NKJV) 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth

2.1.2.4 THE 4 FEET

EPHESIANS 6:15 (NKJV) 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

There are 4 important elements in the Gospel:

• Believe in the Bread of life

• Repent for rejecting the Bread of life

• Receive the Bread of life

• Confess the Bread of life



2.1.2.5 THE DOUBLE CROWN

We are kings and priests in His kingdom

1 PETER 2:9 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

REVELATION 1:6 (NKJV) 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

2.2 THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD IS ALSO A PICTURE OF BELIEVERS AS THE BREAD AND CHRIST AS THE TABLE

2.2.1 BELIEVERS AS THE BREAD

Just as with our reference to Jesus Christ as the Bread, and the processes He endured to become the Bread of Life for us, consider also the following as steps in the life of the believer to process the believer to become part of the Bread

2.2.1.1 WHEAT IS CUT OFF FROM THE GROUND –

WHICH SIGNIFIES A LIFE THAT IS NOT LINKED TO THE EARTH ANYMORE

JOHN 17:11 (NKJV) 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are JOHN 17:14 (NKJV) 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world



The believer is in the world but not a part of this world

2.2.1.2 THE WHEAT IS CRUSHED - COARSE FLOUR REMOVED AND THE FINE THE FLOUR THAT REMAINS IS BAKED

This is the purifying work of the Holy Spirit, called the baptism of fire

This is a sifting process

God will use satan, and any other means He deems fit, to sift the believer

LUKE 22:31 (NKJV) 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat

Trials and tribulations are an intrinsic part of a Christian's life

ACTS 14:22 (NKJV) 22 … ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God’ 1 PETER 4:12 (NKJV) 12 Beloved, do not think it strange

concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; PHILIPPIANS 1:29 (NKJV) 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake

2.2.1.3 THE BREAD WAS COATED WITH FRANKINCENSE

This is a symbolic reference to prayers and intercession in the life of the believer



2.2.1.4 BREAD IS SYMBOLIC OF LIFE AND STRENGTH

At the Brazen Laver, we become clean to approach God At the Candlestick, we become light to the world At the Table of Showbread, we become bread giving life and strength to others Elijah went for 40 days on the strength of bread David and his men (the Set man and his sons/believers in him) ate showbread when they fled from Saul

2.2.1.5 THE BREAD WAS CHANGED EVERY WEEK SO AS

NOT TO BECOME STALE

Bread gets stale quickly You cannot strengthen others if you are "stale", old or mundane

ROMANS 12:2 (NKJV) 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God

2.2.1.6 BREAD WAS LAID IN 2 ROWS OF 6

The frankincense that coated the bread touched each other

Prayer holds us together

JOHN 17:20-21 (NKJV) 20 ‘I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;



21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they

also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me’

2.2.1.7 BREAD LOOKS THE SAME

The believer loses his personal identity in order to strengthen others - no titles or distinctions

1 CORINTHIANS 10:17 (NKJV) 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread

COLOSSIANS 3:11 (NKJV) 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all

2.2.1.8 BREAD WAS ALWAYS BROKEN - NEVER CUT (ONLY

THE WICKED SHALL BE CUT)

God breaks us so that in brokenness we can strengthen others

LUKE 22:31-32 (NKJV)

31 And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’

2.2.2 CHRIST AS THE TABLE

The "SHITTIM wood" of the Table is rendered "INCORRUPTIBLE wood" in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament)



This speaks of our King's SINLESS and DEATHLESS HUMANITY (Hebrews 2:14; 4:15; 7:26-27).

Jesus Christ is the "incorruptible Word" (1 Peter 1:23)

His life is the only perfect life lived on earth

He planted incorruptibility and indestructibility into us from new birth (1 Peter 1:23)

Jesus died on a WOODEN Cross

The Tree of Life was stretched out upon the tree of death

Like Isaac, the only begotten of the Old Testament who carried the wood for his own sacrifice, Jesus carried His own cross (Genesis 22:6-8)

The wooden cross was His altar and is our altar (Hebrews 13:10)

2.2.2.1 THE TABLE WAS MADE OF GOLD AND WOOD AND HAD TWO CROWNS

The gold and wood points to the dual nature of Jesus Christ, as fully God and fully man

The two crowns point to Jesus as King of kings, and Priest of priests

HEBREWS 6:20 (NKJV) 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek REVELATION 19:16 (NKJV) 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

The crowns also prevented the bread from falling from the table of grace



JUDE 1:24 (NKJV) 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you

from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

2.2.2.2 THE TABLE HAD 4 RINGS

The 4 rings point to the 4 pictures of Jesus Christ found throughout the Scriptures:

MATTHEW - LION - KING MARK - OX - SERVANT LUKE - MAN - SON OF MAN JOHN - EAGLE - SON OF GOD

REVELATION 4:7 (NKJV) 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle

2.2.2.3 THE TABLE DISPLAYED THE BREAD AS THE WORD

OF GOD

Bread and wine was on the table

Bread is a symbol of the Word of God

MATTHEW 4:4 (NKJV) 4 But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’

Wine is a symbol of the Blood of Jesus Christ, but also of the Holy Spirit

EPHESIANS 5:18 (NKJV) 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,



The Word (Bread) can only strengthen through the Holy Spirit

2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 (NKJV) 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life

JOHN 6:63 (NKJV) 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life

2.3 FALSE TABLES

Where the true exists, the false will always contend against it

The following are false tables to be aware of and avoid: 2.3.1 TABLE OF DEVILS

1 CORINTHIANS 10:21 (NKJV) 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons

This refers to idolatry in the fellowship 2.3.2 TABLE OF MERCHANDISE

JOHN 2:15-17 (NKJV) 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables 16 And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’



17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has

eaten Me up’

This is the use of the Table, and the House of the Lord, for merchandise

2.3.3 TABLE OF SAUL

1 SAMUEL 20:32-34 (NKJV) 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, ‘Why should he be killed? What has he done?’ 33 Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully

This points to jealousy in the fellowship 2.3.4 THE TABLE OF JEZEBEL

1 KINGS 18:19 (NKJV) 19 Now therefore, send and gather all

Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table

Points to a fellowship of powerless men ruled and manipulated by sexual power

This is a fellowship based on manipulation and illegitimate authority



2.3.5 THE TABLE OF LIES

DANIEL 11:27 (NKJV) 27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time

This is fellowship based on lies

2.3.6 THE TABLE OF STUMBLING

ROMANS 11:9 (NKJV) 9 And David says: ‘Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them’

This is fellowship that destroys

PSALM 69:22-23 (NKJV) 22 Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; and make their loins shake continually

2.3.7 THE TABLE OF BETRAYAL

ISAIAH 65:11-12 (NKJV) 11 ‘But you are those who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare a table for Gad, and who furnish a drink offering for Meni. 12 Therefore I will number you for the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear, but did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight’

Fellowship that rejects God for foreign gods



2.3.8 TABLE OF PREJUDICE

GALATIANS 2:11-13 (NKJV) 11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy

Fellowship with racial prejudice

2.3.9 TABLE WITHOUT LEGS

All 4 legs are needed to uphold the table and the bread

Those with 2 or 3 legs cannot effectively uphold the bread

They represent believers with an invalid or incomplete salvation

EXAMPLE :

Belief and confession without repentance / receiving Christ

PROVERBS 11:1 (NKJV) 1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight

2.4 TRUE TABLES 2.4.1 THE TABLE OF WORSHIP

SONG OF SOLOMON 1:12 (NKJV) 12 While the king is at his table, My spikenard sends forth its fragrance



2.4.2 THE TABLE OF WARFARE

EZEKIEL 39:20-21 (NKJV) 20 ‘You shall be filled at My table With horses and riders, with mighty men and with all the men of war,’ says the Lord GOD 21 ‘I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them’

This is the Table of God's vengeance

God brings the enemy together for destruction

2.4.3 THE TABLE OF SOLOMON

2 CHRONICLES 9:4 (NKJV) 4 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers and their apparel,

This is fellowship with excellence

2.4.4 THE TABLE OF PROVISION

PSALM 78:19 (NKJV) 19 Yes, they spoke against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? PSALM 23:5 (NKJV) 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over

This is the providential care of the Lord



2.4.5 THE TABLE OF SONSHIP

2 SAMUEL 9:7, 11, 13 (NKJV) 7 David said to him, Fear not, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father [grandfather], and you shall eat at my table always. 11 So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table, [even though] he was lame in both feet.

True tables are tables based on sonship, which:

- Eliminate all fear; - Is characterized by grace, and kindness; - Bring restoration to one’s life; - Establishes you in sonship; and - Even covers your defects as a son

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