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Study Series

Lesson Nine - The Table Of Showbread - Part Two

 

Exodus 25:30  - And thou shalt set upon the table Showbread before me always. 

 

        Throughout the Bible various names are given to the Showbread that sat on the Table we studied in Lesson Eight.

 

The Names Of The Showbread

 

        The word "Showbread" means to "tell forth" or "declare." It speaks to us of the New Testament Bread of Life who showed Himself to not only His disciples but to the entire world. The bread was also called five other names:

 

·         The Bread of God - Lev. 21:21 - This Bread is on HIS TABLE and through it He offers fellowship to the Priests - i.e. the New Testament Believer

·         The Continual Bread - Numbers 4:7; 2 Chronicles 2:4 and Leviticus 24:8 - This Bread was to be before the Lord continually. Believers find Christ the continual daily Bread. (Matthew 6:11 - give us this day our "DAILY" Bread - speaking of CHRIST)

·         The Bread of the Presence or Presence Bread - The presence of the Lord is with us in the Table of the Lord (Matthew 18:20)

·         The Bread of the Face(s) - In the Bread we see the truth of one God (face) and yet three persons - the tri-unity. In the New Testament we see the glory of God in the FACE of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6.) As believers in the Lord we will await His coming when we shall see His face (Revelation 22:6)

·         The Bread of Order or Arrangement - Just as there was order at the Table in the Old Testament (2 Chr. 13:11), there is to be order concerning the New Testament Table of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:34)

 

2 Chron. 13:11  - And they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the Shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the Lord our God; but ye have forsaken him. 

        All of these various aspects of truth seen in these titles are symbolic of Communion. The Lord communed with His Priests THROUGH THE BREAD. There were partakers of Him. What we eat becomes a part of our being and nature. Believers in Christ are PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE when we partake of His Body.

 

2 Peter 1:4  - Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

And You Shall Take Fine Flour

 

Leviticus 24:5  - And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 


        We see there is a Divine recipe for the loaves of Bread. First they were to take fine flour, which begins, as a whole kernel of wheat. In order to make this wheat useable in bread and other cooking the wheat must be crushed to powder. Thus, fine flour speaks to us of the trials, the testing, temptations of the Lord Jesus Christ as the CORN OF WHEAT, bruised and broken to become BREAD to us. It also speaks of the believers testing, trails and temptations that mold us into the image of the BREAD - JESUS CHRIST! As in fine flour, there was nothing rough or uncouth in His sinless and perfect humanity. It also applies to ALL OF US WHO ARE IN CHRIST!

 

John 12:24  - Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 

Psalm 147:14  - He makes peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. 

Isaiah 28:28  - Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. 

Genesis 3:15  - And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

        From The Christ of God by Robert Clark comes this great analogy of our Lord's character and integrity:

 

"In our Lord there was 

Meekness without weakness

Tenderness without feebleness

Firmness without coarseness

Love without sentimentality

Holiness without sanctimoniousness

Lowliness without lowness

Truth without error

Enthusiasm without fanaticism

Passion without prejudice

Heavenly-mindness without forgetfulness

Care-freeness without carelessness

Service without servility

Self-exaltation without egotism

Judgment without harshness

Seriousness without somberness

Mercy without softness."

 

Bake The Bread

 

 

        In order for the bread to become palatable it must be baked. The FIRE of Calvary here speaks of the intense sufferings of the Son of God. On the CROSS He suffered the fire to become the Bread for us (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Hebrews 12:29 and 9:14) It is also a type of the work of the Holy Spirit as FIRE in the life of the believer to make us palatable in the hands of God.

 

Make 12 Cakes...

 

        There were 12 loaves of Bread on the Table before the Lord, one loaf for each Tribe of Israel. All the Tribes were represented before the Lord. The New Testament fulfillment of this is the Church where we as both JEW AND GENTILE are represented as members of His Body. Every member of the Body of Christ participates in that one Bread spoken of in First Corinthians:

 

1 Cor. 10:17  - For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 

        The unity of the Body is set forth in ONE BREAD. There is also significance in the number 12 here. The number 12 is always symbolic of Government and Apostolic Fullness. This truth is found in the selection of Jesus of TWELVE APOSTLES. It was through these 12 that He gave the miracle supply of Bread to the multitudes (John 6; Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-39). The Church of today is feeding on the revelation of the apostles of the Early Church government. The FULNESS of the WORD (BREAD) is dispensed from the HEAD through the apostles and finally to the priestly Body.

 

Ephes. 2:20  - And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 

Rev. 21:14  - And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

 Two-Tenths Of Fine Flour Will Be In Each Cake

 

        Each of the 12 loaves had 2/10ths deal of fine flour in them. The significance of this is as follows:

 

·         The Manna that was to be gathered on the sixth day of the week was 2/10ths deal (Exodus 16:22, 36). In other words this 2/10ths deal speaks of the DOUBLE PORTION

·         The Meal Offering in the Feast Day of the Sheaf Of Firstfruits was to be made of 2/10ths deal of fine flour (Leviticus 23:13). This speaks of the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the Church after Jesus ascended to heaven and sent back the Promise of the Father.

·         The Two Wave Loaves in the Feast of Pentecost were also to be made of 2/10ths deal of fine flour (Leviticus 23:17)

·         Here, in the 12 loaves of Shewbread, we have 2/10ths deal per cake. In this we see a double portion of Life and Health in the Bread for the Lord's People. Jesus said "greater" works shall you do!

·         The two Tables of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God find their fulfillment in the Two Commandments given by Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 22:34-40)

 

Set The Loaves in Six Rows On The Table Before the Lord

 

        Various diagrams show how the Bread was set on the Table. The logistics of the Table would indicate that there were two rows of six loaves each. Six always refers to man in scripture. The Bread being put in two rows speaks to us that Jesus came for HUMANITY to feed us, not for a cause, creed, doctrine or organization. The Bread of Life identified with the nature of Abraham to secure our eternal redemption.

 

You Shall Put Frankincense Upon Each Row As Bread For A Memorial

 

        Pure frankincense speaks of Christ's perfect life of prayer and intercession. The fragrance of His Life was and is pleasing in the nostrils of the Father. The Gospels reveal the Divine frankincense in His life. Jesus accomplished this through the prayer life He had while on earth.

 

Song 4:6  - Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. 

 

        The Bread was the Bread of Memorial. This calls to mind what Jesus says in regard to the New Testament Table from which we partake of the Lord's Supper. Jesus said we are to do it in REMEMBRANCE of Him. (Luke 22:19-20)

 

Luke 22:19-20  - And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. [20] Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 

Even An Offering Made By Fire Unto The Lord...

 

        This corresponds to the thought of the Bread being baked. Jesus went through the baking process of Calvary to become the Bread of Life for us. It is God that puts His people through the fires so we may come forth as pure gold.

 

Hebrews 12:29  - For our God is a consuming fire. 

Set The Bread Before the Lord Every Sabbath… Everlasting Covenant

 

        The Bread was to be set in order every SEVENTH day. The Lord Jesus Christ is the divinely complete Bread of Life. He is all in all. In Him is the true Sabbath-rest, for He is the giver of Baptizer with the Holy Ghost, which is based upon His finished work at Calvary. The disciples met together and broke bread once a week on the first day of the week.

 

John 19:30  - When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 

Matthew 11:28-30  - Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

2 Chron. 2:4  - Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual Shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. 

Acts 20:7  - And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 

        The Bread was to be an EVERLASTING COVENANT, which was foreshadowing the NEW COVENANT in the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

And It Shall Be Aaron's And His Sons

 

Leviticus 24:9  - And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute. 

 



        The Bread was to be eaten by the Priests only. In the New Covenant ALL BELIEVERS are called to Spiritual Priesthood and only those who belong to this Spiritual House are entitled to partake of the Table. The Table was the "Most Holy" just as the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ is the "Most Holy Thing" upon which to feed. Those that partake of the Table must be holy also. After the believers experience Calvary (The Brazen Altar) we are able to approach the Table worthily! What a picture of Grace!

 

1 Peter 2:9  - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 

1 Cor. 11:23-24  - For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 


You Shall Eat It In The Holy Place

 

        The Bread was to be eaten in the Holy Place. It was never eaten in the Outer Court. The Holy Place measured 10 x 10 x 20 cubits. When this is multiplied we find the cubical content of 2000. This is prophetic of the Age of the Holy Spirit that has lasted now close to 2,000 years since Christ ascended.  Christ came the first time as the Corn of Wheat, to be broken for us, to endure the fire of Calvary and to be raised from the dead as the perfect and complete Bread of Life for this Dispensation.

 

Now we may partake of the fullness of what He became for us by His death and His resurrection. In the Bread we have LIFE, Healing, DIVINE HEALTH, Spiritual Nourishment, Fellowship and Communion. Just as Israel found all these benefits in the Manna for 40 years in the wilderness, when sickness was taken away from their midst, even to the Church of this Age is to experience the same benefits because we have been made partakers of THE BREAD - the Lord Jesus. Just as God gave Himself to them in the Bread that ate, so does Christ give Himself to all who will eat and receive from Him. This is Children's Bread:

 

Psalm 78:19  - Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 

Mark 7:27  - But Jesus said unto her, let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. 

Matthew 4:3-4  - And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. [4] But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

Matthew 15:26-27  - But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. [27] And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs, which fall from their masters' table. 

Job 23:12  - Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 

 The Offering Is Holy, Made By Fire, An Everlasting Statue To The Lord

 

        The Believer-Priest is to feed upon the HOLY OFFERING (CHRIST) which in turn produces HIS HOLINESS in us When we partake we are made like Jesus and all His perfections, graces, virtues and character until He becomes our very life and nature.

 

 

The Tables In Solomon's Temple

 

1 Kings 7:48  - And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the Shewbread was, 

1 Chron. 28:16  - And by weight he gave gold for the tables of Shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver: 


 

In the Temple of Solomon (which we will study later in detail) there were TEN tables of Shewbread. This means that there were 120 loaves of Bread in all. This number speaks to us of the FULNESS OF THE BREAD in the life of the CHURCH. We are the temple of the LIVING GOD by the HOLY SPIRIT (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:20-22)

 

The Singers At The Table In Solomon's Temple

 

        The Singers in the Temple of Solomon had the joy of preparing the Table of Shewbread. Song and singing was always connected with the Table of the Lord. This is also to be true when we partake of the Lord's Table under the New Covenant (Matthew 26:26)

 

Matthew 26:26  - And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 

 The Importance of Bread In Natural Israel

 

        Bread was the staff of life throughout the Old Covenant to the people of God. All throughout the history of the nation of Israel we are given many prophetic pictures of the significance of the Life in this Bread. The following are some examples of this importance of Bread in Natural Israel, which foreshadows Christ as the Bread and Staff of Life in the Church, which is Spiritual Israel:

 

·         Unleavened BREAD was used in the Feast of Passover - (Exodus 12:14-20;34)

·         Manna was Israel's BREAD for 40 years in the wilderness (Exodus 16)

·         There were twelve loaves of BREAD for the Priests at the Table of Shewbread (Leviticus 24:5-9 and Exodus 25:23-30)

·         The Meal Offering of fine flour was a type of BREAD (Leviticus 2)

·         There was BREAD in connection with the FEAST OF PENTECOST in the Two Wave Loaves

·         The Ark of the Covenant contained BREAD in the Golden Pot of Manna (Hebrews 9:4 and Revelation 2:17)

·         Abraham gave BREAD (three measures of meal) to the Lord (Genesis 18:1-6 and Luke 11:5)

·         Abraham received BREAD and WINE from Melchisedec, King-Priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18)

·         Elijah went to the strength of the BREAD (cake) and water that the angel ministered to him forty days' journey (1 Kings 19:8)

·         David received strength from the Shewbread (1 Samuel 21:6, Matthew 12:1-4)

·         Mephibosheth is made to sit at the King's Table (Bread) and as one of the King's sons (2 Samuel 9:1; 7-13)

·         Hezekiah restores the ORDER OF THE TABLE under his reformation (2 Chron. 29:18)

·         The Shewbread is again restored after the Babylonian Captivity under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:33)

·         Jesus fed the 5,000 people with the five loaves and two fish (MIRACLE BREAD) (Matthew 14:15-21)

·         The 4,000 people were fed with MIRACLE BREAD and fish also (Matthew 15:32-38)

 

 

        All of these are an evident foreshadowing of the True Communion. They all point to the Table of the Lord and the saints feeding upon CHRIST, who is the Bread of Life. He is the TRUE MANNA. The Table of Shewbread finds fulfillment in Christ and His Church both personally and collectively. In Him is our SPIRITUAL MEAT and DRINK (1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 15-21) which is the full and satisfying portion, communion and fellowship, healing and truth and health.

 

Acts 2:44-47  - And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.