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Text: Exodus 25:23-30; 37:10-16; Leviticus 24:5-9; Hebrews 9:2
- Shewbread means: Strongs #6440(the face or presence, that turns) and #3899(food or bread) The table of the bread of the Presence.
- The table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, was 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high. The twelve loaves of the bread of the Presence (Lev 24:5-9) were made of fine flour.
- There were two rows of six loaves.
- Incense was placed along each row.
- Every seven days (Sabbath, Lev 24:8) the loaves were to be replaced with fresh loaves. The old bread was eaten by the priests.
- 1 Cor 15:20-23 Jesus first to be resurrected, first fruits in everything.
- Exodus 29:32-33 Only Priests ate – closed communion.
- The table of Shewbread is a type of Christ and of the Lord’s Supper. It points to Christ as our substance of fellowship with God that we have through His broken body and shed blood.
It is made of shittim wood overlaid with gold
- Represents the Deity and humanity of Christ Gal 4:4 Hebrews 2:9 Matt 28:18
- A crown of gold bordered the table, just as Christ is crowned with glory
- When travelling, was covered like the candlestick and ark, with blue cloth and badger skins over that. Carried by the staves which were made of shittim wood overlaid with gold.
Numbers 4:7-8 V.7 Appears the bread was on the table even while traveling.
There were twelve loaves
A memorial for the twelve tribes of Israel
Lev 24:8 A loaf for each tribe.
The showbread couldn’t slip off the table by reason of the crown or rim of the table.
Ex. 37:11-12
Our salvation can’t be lost by reason of Christ’s power
John 10:28-30; 6:37-40,44
The showbread was replaced every week on the Sabbath
- Leviticus 24:8-9
- 1 Chronicles 9:32 Sons of Kohathites baked the bread for every Sabbath.
- 1 Samuel 21:6 the priests ate the old (hallowed for the priests) bread when the freshly baked replaced it. This is what David ate while on the run from Saul.
The shewbread is typical of Christ (bread of God)
John 6:30-35 Jesus is the bread of life, like that shewbread that was ever present, to give life and nourishment to all.
The bread was continually renewed, as we are by God’s blessings
- Leviticus 26:1-4, 9-10 God’s continual supplying of their needs meant they would never have want, if they were obedient to Him.
- Matthew 13:52 Even the old bread gave nourishment to the Priests as it was replaced by the new. The old testament today still gives us pictures and types into the New Testament as it replaces the old Testament.
The bread was fine flour, ground Lev 24:5
So was Christ ground in the mill of judgment
John 12:24-33
In Jesus we find daily nourishment
- John 6:51-56 The “real” everlasting food is that “bread of life”, Jesus, who gives eternal life.
- Psalm 9:10 Never forsakes us.
- 2 Peter 3:18 Grow daily from the nourishment from God.
It was to be eaten in the holy place, as is the Lord’s Supper today.
The table of Shewbread was placed in the Tabernacle where the priests could commune in the presence of God, in fellowship.
Lord’s Supper was given to the Church,
To be observed inside the Church
- 1 Corinthians 11:18-20 Supper was only in the Church, could only be taken if they were right with each other and God (in fellowship).
- 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 Separation from world is required before observing Supper.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 4:9 If allowed, our flesh will put us in a position unworthy to partake of the Supper, out of fellowship with God.
- Ephesians 3:21 It is in the Church, physically, where God gets glory, meaning we physically gather as a local visible body to observe the Supper, not over the radio or TV. Just as the priests had to physical enter the tabernacle where the table of shewbread was.
- Lev 24:8-9 Not every Levite could partake of the shewbread, only Aaron and his sons. As not every saved person can partake of the Lord’s Supper or even every church member, but those in good standing and in fellowship with God.
- Romans 16:17-18 Those disciplined church members cannot partake in the Supper.
There needs to be a total cleansing before eating
Leviticus 22:1-7 Priests had to be clean before eating
The table demands total separation from the world
- 1 Corinthians 10:21 Cannot be in both.
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-31 Only in church capacity, after self-examination (v.28). Taking unworthily caused God’s judgment on some (v.30). Exodus 30:19-21
A description of those inside the church
- Psalm 15:1-5 Those abiding in the Church should be those walking uprightly in this world based on God’s truth.
- Matthew 16:19 Church has responsibility to keep itself unspotted from the world and its actions (using those keys) can determine rewards and bridal relationship.
- Ephesians 5:27 unspotted Church is the bride.
- Revelation 19:7 Bride should be preparing herself for upcoming wedding.
- Matt 25:1-13 Those ready were in the wedding, oil in lamps or full of spirit, living for God.
