The Sustainer and The Sustenance

Well, if you will take out your Bible, make your way once again to the book of Exodus, as we continue looking at the epic historical recounting of the journey of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and the events that surround it.

The overarching purpose that the writer of the epistle of Hebrews was after was to help immature Jewish believers by strengthening their faith, grounding them in truth, and then helping them to be reminded and reassured that Christ was the mediator of the new and better covenant and that he once and for all, for all the elect, paid the price for their sins.

This Christ that Hebrews 1 .3 describes as being the radiance of his, being God's glory and the exact representation of his nature, who upholds all things by the word of his power, who having accomplished cleansing for sin, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.

The purpose was to, in fact, help those early Jewish believers understand as they begin to face severe persecution, not only from the Romans who had been oppressing them, but also continued and increased persecution from the Jewish leaders.

The point and the goal was to help them see that Christ was, in fact, greater than the angels, that he was the one true mediator, greater than Moses, that he was the great high priest and the only one who was able to save forever those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them, according to Hebrews 7 and verse 25.

The reason that the writer of Hebrews is able to make these amazing arguments, that he is able to come to this early group of believers and take these truths and lay them out for them so wonderfully, that is because of the things that are written in the Old Testament are signs and types and shadows of the things which ultimately find their fulfillment in Christ.

Hebrews 9 and the Heavenly Meaning of the Tabernacle

Now, as you read through the book of Hebrews, you're encountering an amazing set of scriptures and rich theological truths that can be unpacked and literally you could spend years. For the sake of time this morning, however, we're going to jump over to the ninth chapter for just a minute.

We're going to take a look briefly at what happens as we get to this ninth chapter when the writer draws out this connected tissue and gives us this magnificent picture linking the Old Covenant with the New Covenant and how the Old Covenant and the tabernacle foreshadows and speaks of promises that will become real in the New Covenant.

Beginning in the first verse of Hebrews 9, we read, now even the first covenant had requirements of divine worship in the earthly sanctuary for there was a tabernacle prepared. The first part in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread which is called the holy place and behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the holy of holies.

Having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold in which was a golden jar holding the manna and Aaron's rod which read it in the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the first part of the tabernacle in performing the divine worship but into the second only the high priest enters and then only once a year not without taking bread which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

The Holy Spirit is indicating this that the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first part of the tabernacle is standing because Christ has not yet come which is a symbol for the present time because Christ has now come.

Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worship a perfect in conscience since they relate only to food and drink and various washings requirements for the body imposed until a time of reformation in that time of reformation of which the writer of Hebrews speaks is when Christ is born lives is sacrificed on Calvary's cross and then raised defeating death and hell.

But the description that we have here the particular text focuses on a description actually of the temple but the temple was moderned or a pattern after the tabernacle in the wilderness which was the pattern that God had given the people and so it talks about two specific places.

First of all, it talks about the holy place and then it talks about the sanctuary or as it is termed here and as we would refer to it more often the Holy of Holies. Now last week our discussion our conversation centered around the construction of the Ark of the Covenant and in the tabernacle the Ark of the Covenant was the only piece of furniture that rested within the Holy of Holies.

Now this passage of scripture in Hebrews refers to a incense altar this was more of a censure which is a pot on a chain if you will where the the incense would be burned and then offered before God and so if you remember as we studied through the Ark it was this picture painted for us of how the priest would enter and the first step that he would take would be to burn incense before God and then as the incense was offered up to God he was able then to enter and to sprinkle the mercy seat and it was this mercy seat this blood-sprinkled mercy seat that spoke of Christ and reminds us that he and he alone is the basis of fellowship with God which is in essence what God desiring to dwell with his people was really and truly all about remember as we as we work through the tabernacle all of the imagery that we will see all of the things that we will see the ultimate fulfillment of all of this is is God dwelling amongst his people.

And so in Exodus as we have moved now out of the Holy of Holies we have completed the conversation regarding the Ark of the Covenant we now move into what verse two calls the holy place and it describes as containing the lamp stand the table and the sacred grid.

And what you need to understand here as we as we prepare to go into this area is that this is the spot of daily ministry the Holy of Holies was absolutely the holiest place the ultimate where God resided where his presence was in the most foremost in the tabernacle.

But then as we step into the Holy of Holies or to the holy place we enter into the place where it's near it's close to the presence of God. So we are still in a holy place. In fact later when Solomon would build the temple he would literally line the walls floors the ceilings with gold in both the Holy of Holies and the holy place simply because of a reminder of the presence of God and the purity of God and the holiness of God that was within this place it would have been a magnificent vision.

And so as we move into this place it's important to remember that again this is a daily place of ministry and service for the priests of the Levitical priesthood. Now in this particular section our conversation for today will focus on two elements that is the table and the bread referred to in Hebrews 9 verse 2 as the sacred bread.

And as we come to those and as we look at this we we need to remember first and and be just continually kind of recall to mind that the mercy seat that the blood-sprinkled mercy seat points us forward towards Christ and the fact that he is the basis of our fellowship with God.

And then what we will see this morning is that the table and the bread point to Christ as the sustainer of our fellowship and the sustenance or substance of our fellowship. What what makes it up. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians in first Corinthians chapter 10 verses 20 and 21 it was symbolic the the table of the Lord is is symbolic of fellowship with Christ as opposed to the those who would fellowship with the enemy.

He says no but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice may sacrifice to demons and not to God. And I do not want you to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.

You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. And so just as David would later welcome Mephibosheth to his table demonstrating that he had been welcomed into the most intimate place of fellowship God through Christ welcomes his elect into this same most intimate place of fellowship with him.

And so let us turn to our text for this morning and look at the table and the bread which it held and what it symbolizes to believers today if you will stand in reverence for the reading of God's holy word beginning in verse of the 25th chapter of the book of Exodus reading down through the 30th verse we read.

You shall make a table of acacia wood two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high. You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it. You shall make for it a rim of a hand breadth around it and you shall make a gold border for the rim around it.

You shall make four gold rings for it and put rings on the four corners which are on its four feet. The ring shall be close to the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table. You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold so that with them the table may be carried.

You shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its offering bowls with which to pour drink offerings. You shall make them of pure gold. You shall set the bread of the presence on the table before me at all times.

Father we thank you for this holy word for its principles promises promises directions and light. In this word may we learn more of christ being able to retain his truth and have grace have the grace and strength to follow it.

Father we pray that your words be written upon our hearts and inscribed on our lips so that so shall all glory be to you as we study your word together in this place today i mean you may be seated as a note.

Our prayer this morning was adapted from the valley of vision which is a book of puritan prayers and devotions. And so as we come out of our discussion from last week regarding the ark of the covenant the next item on the list of watch construction list for moses was a table.

Now if you look at the instructions for the construction of the table and the specifications that god gives to moses for the fabrication you will see that it is built in a very similar fashion to the ark.

In fact it would have rested the exact same height but it would have been smaller in width and length like the ark it was also fashioned out of dual materials acacia wood and then gold uh covering the outside of it.

And then it was to have a border around it. Now one of the things we didn't talk about a whole lot last week as we talked about the ark was this border that was supposed to be around it and part of the reason we truly don't understand exactly what this looked like.

But the best guess is if you know anything about the construction of a table it would be what is called the apron in today's terminology around table construction which is that band that sits right up under the the table structure that runs around between the the legs to give it more strength.

Again we don't know that for sure but we also do know that both the the table and the ark were given this particular feature but the table is given an additional feature it actually was given a rim that was to extend a hand breadth up from the border.

Now although it is not specifically stated that that this would actually form a tray on the table top what we do have is the Hebrew language here which indicates or literally is translated as meaning to close up and it was used to describe the side panels of a building or even a stronghold.

And so the picture that it would draw in the minds of a Hebrew person or an Israelite person or someone who spoke the Hebrew language would be of a table with a flat top and an edge that went all the way around that actually protruded up from the top of the table.

Now this is something that we'll come back to in a few minutes. So keep in mind that picture of the description as we continue with what it looked like we also see that the ark the table like the ark was to have four legs and on each of those legs it was to have a golden ring and and the golden ring was there for the purposes of sticking the staves through in order to or the poles out of acacia wood through to carry and move the table from location to location.

Now as the they moved around if you remember the instruction that was given to them regarding the ark of the covenant was that the poles were not to be removed. We're not given that instruction here and so the picture is is that these poles were removed signifying to us that although this is a holy implement that it is something that is set apart for the purpose of worshiping and serving god it is not as holy as the ark which is the actual throne and footstool of god.

As we look at the ark and the mercy seat together as a reminder as we look at the construction instructions contained in exodus we we will move out from uh the the from god uh to the profane we we see that this movement that but as we move outward the holiness of the objects contained within diminish in fact you would notice that if you enter the holy place that all of the implements were created or built or covered in gold these items were near to the presence of god and as such were covered in something that reminds us of the magnificence purity and holiness of god.

Now as far as the descriptory things go we we have two final items that there's a quick description of items that will be to be placed on the table and then there's a quick description of the bread that is also placed on the table.

Now as we look at the instructions given to moses there is very little detail contained regarding the jars the dishes the pans or the offering bowls. What we do know though is we may not can draw you one we may not know the exact shape of it.

We have guesses. We can look at the language that was there and and kind of try to figure out what it looked like. But one of the things that we do know is that these words were only ever used to describe dishes pans jars and bowls that were used for the express purpose of worshiping god.

In other words this was a different word than what would have been used in the household to speak of these items. So these were not your normal everyday things. It is likely that the dishes the pans the bowls were related to the bread and to the frankincense which we'll get to in just a few moments and how they were placed on the table and where they were placed on the table.

But the jars however were a little bit different. The jars were actually more like pictures or pictures and they were used in the observance of a drink offering. Now we would have to go through a whole lot to really unpack all of this.

But what you need to understand about the drink offering is is it was a thanks offering that was not done inside the holy place. In fact it was taken outside and then poured out as a symbol of thanksgiving to god.

And this has led some theologians unfortunately to speculate that it was a merely a convenient storage place. However i think as we study the word of god we come to a quick understanding god doesn't put anything in this word because it's out of convenience and i think here one of the things that we see is this this continual thanks that we are to have in the presence of god.

We'll deal with that more again in a few moments. This brings us to the final item that's mentioned here in connection with the table and that is the bread. Now many of us have heard this bread referred to in the past as showbread.

The word showbread is actually an english translation for a german word which literally means display bread. Arn luther translated the original hebrew into this term and then tyndall picked it up and came up with the hebrew english of it hebrew english the english word showbread coming out of this.

However if you look at the hebrew the more literal translation of the hebrew would be as it is rendered here and in some places the bread of faces or here in the lsb as the bread of presence and the reason being is because it was always before the face or in the presence or displayed before god.

Now before we go into looking at the shadows and types that we see here it is also important for us to understand that there are many theologians there are many people who will argue that these implements and items that we find within this description within these instructions are are simply taken from surrounding cultures and religions specifically and especially the egyptians and therefore have no real significance to us today.

However i would argue from the standpoint of paul in second timothy chapter three beginning verse 16 all scripture is god breathed and profitable for teaching for reproof for correction for training and righteousness so that the man of god may be equipped and having thoroughly been equipped for every good work.

And because all of these things is profitable because all of these things has something in them that is a prophet to the people of god. It is our responsibility to seek along with the work of the spirit within our lives and understand the truths and find an application within our lives that helps us in our growth and our walk with christ.

However we still must be cautious in our desire and in our efforts to seek and to apply. We must realize and recognize when things are in actual and a factual and a backed up from scripture application and understanding and when things are purely one of those things which we cannot link to something else.

For example later when we get to the actual construction of the tent you will see that the beams form a cross. This is not a point to the cross. It was nearly the best structure to hold the tent up now does it mean that there aren't implications about other pieces of that.

We'll get to all that later. But as we walk through these things it is imperative to keep in mind for example i ran across a one author who was using the measurements of the ark and the measurements of the table to indicate certain things.

Sometimes that's a stretch finding basis for that in scripture is a little bit difficult. So we must do our due diligence. We must seek and we must understand. We must allow the spirit to work in our lives through the reading of the word of god.

But we also must take caution. Now i say all of this because there are some theologians who argue that there is zero significance to the piece of furniture called the table and they have they put all of the emphasis on the bread.

I feel i believe that this is a misunderstanding of the text and i believe so because of what hebrews says in verse 2 of chapter 9. You notice in verse 2 of chapter 9 it did not simply say that the holy place contained the candle stick or the the the menorah and the bread it said it contained the candlestick it contained the table and it contained the bread.

Which tells us that there is some type of significance that needs to be attributed to the table. Now it's not a magical table. It's not as if it was a table that would sprout legs and grow and walk it.

It had rings it had to be carried it but it serves a purpose both then and now. And so it is necessary to recall for a moment the circumstances surrounding the people of god and the situation in which they find themselves.

These people have been freed from captivity they have been free from bondage in egypt. They have seen terrible and great things that have been done in order to purchase that freedom. They have seen the lord provide deliverance by parting the red sea and then closing it back in on the egyptians.

They have had water provided them both by the sweetening of the waters at mar and from the breaking of the rocket horde not to mention the quail that he provided in order to saints to stain them and then ultimately the continual supply of manna that had fallen in order to continually provide and give provision to the people of god.

And now that they have arrived at the mountain and god has ratified his covenant with them and is taking this time to tell moses all of the things which he is to teach his people the major demonstration of which is to construct a dwelling place for god in the midst of his people that he desires to commune and to fellowship with.

And as hopefully all of you realize and recognize a table is a key element in communing with each other and fellowship is a key element in communion. For the israelites this table would have represented the care and providence of yahweh as they made their journey and then even unbeknownst to them at this point as they would continue on for the next 40 years wandering in the wilderness.

David wrote in psalms 23 of a table being prepared in the presence of his enemies a statement of being sustained even in the face of danger of fear of threat of threat. And for us today this table points towards christ who is the basis the foundation the enabler of us having a fellowship or communion with god.

Without christ none of that happens. Dr mr d hon who was the founder of radio bible class which ultimately produces now the outreally daily bread. Devotionals wrote in his book on the tabernacle the following the table in the tabernacle pointed to the lord jesus our sustainer.

Now that word sustain or sustainer means to hold something up to to support or bear it from below. And so when we speak of christ as our sustainer we are talking about our utter dependence upon him. Now gathering around the table and breaking bread together or having a meal together is a key element in the life of the church.

In fact in the early church from the very beginning in acts we see this being central to who they are. In acts 2 uh verse 46 we read this is just after uh peter delivers his sermon after uh three thousand five thousand were delivered that day he goes.

And a little further down in acts he says. And daily diverting themselves with one accord in their temple and breaking bread from house to house they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.

Now there are two things that are being addressed in this particular uh text. One of those things is a normal meal for the purpose of taking in food. Gathering around the table with those who brothers and sisters in christ gives us an opportunity to grow closer as a family.

It is it is around this table where we get to know each other where we begin to develop deeper more intimate relationships and the knowledge of our lives grows. And and as we do so we also build each other up.

We encourage each other in the lord ultimately strengthening who each of us are as believers. This is a vital part of being in the family of god. The second thing here mentioned in this verse is of absolute paramount importance and that is the partaking of the table of the lord.

This is the table in the tabernacle spoke to the people of god to to the israelites of communion and fellowship with god by reminding them of his sustaining provision. So too does the lord's table speak to us about communion and fellowship with god as we are reminded of the price that christ paid which is the very foundation and entry point for us into that fellowship and communion.

When we partake of the lord's supper we are reminded that not only was christ the entry point the payment that allows us to enter into the presence of god but that he also is the sustainer of us in god's presence.

That christ even now continually intercedes on our behalf is still his blood that secures our future and atones for our sins. In john chapter 10 verses 28 -29 jesus teaching his disciples says that i give eternal life to them and they will never perish ever.

And no one will snatch them out of my hand. My father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the father's hand. And we can spend a lot of time on these verses talking about a lot of different theologies and doctrines.

But we want to focus in on two things. One you are secure in the hand of christ. Two you are secure in the hand of the father. Now i don't know if you caught on a few minutes ago but one of the things that i told you about the table in the tabernacle was that it had a rim around it.

The purpose for that rim is so that as the table was transported from place to place the bread of the presence remained continually in the presence of god. You see as they broke down camp the items were left on the table they would wrap it with cloth.

But even if you wrapped it with cloth it was still the possibility that things would work your way off of the table. And so the rim was there to keep everything contained within the table held secure were kept by the hand breath rim surrounding the table keeping them securely in the face of god.

The reminder of god's sustaining provision for the people of israel is beautiful. It is magnificent it is awe-inspiring. It is wonderful. But it is not complete apart or not complete unless we continue and understand that the sustenance the substance of that very provision and the bread of the presence and the other articles on top of the table help to teach us of that substance and that sustenance.

The jars concerning containing the drink offering remind us and and provide for us a demonstration of a continual giving of thanks. The bowls the dishes the pans serve for holding and preparing the bread.

In leviticus 24 5 through 9 we get more instruction regarding the actual bread itself. And it says. Then you shall take fine flour and bake 12 cakes with it. Two tenths of an effa shall be in each cake and you shall set them in two rows six to a row on the pure gold table before yahweh.

And you shall put pure frankincense on each row that it may be a memorial portion for the bread even an offering by fire to yahweh every sabbath day he shall set in an order before yahweh continually.

It is an everlasting covenant for the sons of israel. And it shall be for aaron and his sons. And they shall eat it in a holy place where it is most holy to him. From the offerings to yahweh by fire his portion forever.

So we get a little greater insight into the most important element. Now bar none the bread of the table is important but the bread is greater still. And it is interesting to note in verse 5 that we have 12 cakes.

Each one is likely representing each of the 12 tribes was to contain two tenths of an effa of flour. Now why that is interesting is because although you may not know anything about an effa there are some who would point out and say that the fine flour itself contain no grit no unevenness that foreshadows the perfections of christ and his moral character.

And while that's certainly plausible we don't have a anything clearly defined for us in scripture but we do talk about an effa. And an effa was comprised or made up of 10 omers. Now you may remember the term omer as we studied back in exodus chapter 16 god uh providing uh manna for the people.

He says in verse 16 of that chapter that this is what yahweh has commanded gather it every man as much as he should eat you shall take an omer one omer a piece according to the number of persons each for you has in his daily in his tent.

So a daily portion an omer of manna was one daily portion. It was the sustenance for one person for one day. Yet each loaf that is built here or that is cooked here that is prepared here and placed in front of the lord contains a double portion.

Now there are a couple things that we could really argue regarding this double portion. And there are many of things one of which being that as it's placed on the sabbath that it is the portion for that day in the next so that there's no work that places on the sabbath.

However i am immediately reminded of all this top lady's uh hymn rock of ages rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself in thee let the water and the blood from my wounded side which flowed be of sin.

The double cure cleans me from its guilt and power. Now that double cure that on this top lady is referring to is the redemption and the sanctification of the people of god which requires the sustaining sustenance of god's grace upon his people daily a dual provision for the people of god.

We also note that each of the bread stacks of bread is to have frankincense poured upon it and we know that we will see in the birth of christ frankincense is one of the three gifts. But frankincense was a a fragrant resin that was used so that the bread would continually be a sweet aroma in the presence of god.

It was then changed out on each sabbath and that it stood as an everlasting covenant. And finally that when it was removed from god's present it was presence it was only to be consumed by the priest and only within the confines of the holy place.

This bread served as a representation to the people of god of the provision of god. It was presented to god it was found acceptable in his sight symbolizing the covenant and the pledge of fidelity that the people of israel made to god to his word to his teachings that they would be obedient.

And it also symbolizes and continually reminds the people of god's provision for them. In his commentary philip reichen writes. The showbreadth symbolized god's constant awareness of their daily needs.

In case they were ever tempted to doubt his providence. It reminded them that their needs were ever before him. God saw what they needed their needs were always on his mind. Along with this it also symbolizes fellowship with god as the table sustained.

As the table sustained served as the sustaining basis for the fellowship. The bread serves as the sustenance of that fellowship an invitation from the creator to his creation to those who are his elect to share in his provision and protection.

Under the hans quote that i began earlier concludes this way. The bread on the table is symbolic of his own body that is the body of christ. And just as the bread on the table and in the presence of the almighty god was the sustenance of the life of the israelites.

So too is christ our sustenance before the father. Listen to the words of christ as he in john 6 encountered the multitudes. Now a little bit of backstory here before we jump into the text. The if you'll remember this is right after jesus feeds the 5 000.

In fact he feeds the 5 000 he leaves. He does a couple of other things. He feeds 4 000 more. We get that record from another gospel. And then he is confronted by the people who want to see him. And this is his words.

He said jesus answered them and said truly truly i say to you you seek me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves. And in other words you came to me because you're hungry and you want some more food.

He says do not work for the food which perishes but for the food which endures to eternal life which the son of man will give to you. For on him the father god set his seal. And for they said to him what should we do so that we may work the works of god.

And jesus answered and said to them this is the work of god that you believe in him who has sent me. How how amazing was. I'm gonna pause here for just a minute because this is just it's one of those things you got to point out every time you read this.

People are running around looking for the will of god. And god's word is very clear. You want to do the work of god. Here's the work of god. Believe that's it. Believe in him who has sent whom he has sent.

So they said to them they said to him what then do you do for a sign so that we may see and believe you. What work do you perform. Now remember this man has just fed five thousand plus because that's just the men we're going to add the women and children.

He has healed. He has fed another four thousand. He just got through walking on water. And they're going to see a sign for proof for evidence. What what can you show us. And they said our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness as he's written.

He gave them bread from heaven to eat. In other words laying down food for us. Show us this same type of sign. Jesus said to them truly truly i say to you moses has not given you the bread from heaven but my father gives you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of god is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Then they said to him lord always give us this bread. Jesus said to them i am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger.

And he who believes in me will never thirst. But i said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the father gives me will come to me. And the one who comes to me i will never cast out.

For i have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. Now this is the will of him who sent me that of all that he has given me i lose nothing but raise it up on the last day.

But this is the will of my father that everyone who sees the son and believes in him will have eternal life. And i myself will raise him up on the last day. Therefore the jews were grumbling about it because he said i am the bread that came down from heaven.

And they were saying is not this jesus the son of joseph whose father and mother we know. How does he now say i have come down from heaven. Jesus answered and said to them stop grumbling among yourselves.

No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and i will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets. And they shall all be taught by god. Everyone who has heard and learned from the father comes to me.

Not that anyone has seen the father except the one who is from god who is from god he has seen the father. Truly truly i say to you he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they die.