1694. The Shewbread–christ Our Food–The Place of Strength

The Shewbread–christ Our Food–The Place of Strength

"I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (Joh_6:35).

The table of Shewbread is described in Exo_25:23-30.

1. The Altar itself. The Altar was made of cassia wood, covered with gold. Jesus Christ was the Son of Man, but He was also Son of God. Jesus Christ became flesh; but He was God manifest in flesh. He was made of a woman, made under the Law; but He came forth from the Father and came into the world. He was the God-man.

2. The bread upon the Altar. Jesus Christ was the manna which came down from Heaven. The manna signifies the fact that we have life, by eating the Heavenly bread.

Jesus Christ was the twelve loaves upon the Altar; there is a wider meaning in this than in the manna.

The bread was made from the wheat, and the planting, the grinding and the baking all signifies the death of Christ.

(1) The planting. The Bible says: "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (Joh_12:24). These words referred to His death.

(2) The grinding. Not only did the grain of wheat die; but the wheat was ground between the upper and nether millstones. This signifies that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered upon the Cross under the determinate council and foreknowledge of God on the one hand; and under the wrath of wicked and cruel men, on the other hand.

(3) The baking. The bread also was baked after it was ground; this again tells us of the sufferings of the Cross.

Thus the loaves upon the table of Shewbread, speak of Christ and His anguish.

Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, is Jesus Christ with His body broken for us.

3. The bread our strength. The believer needs to eat of Christ, the Bread of Life.

The Lord Himself said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Mat_4:4).

It is no marvel that many Christians have a starved and hungry look; that they are thin of face, and weak of body–they are eating nothing but the husks. They know nothing of what it is to feast on the Heavenly manna; they never eat, that they may become strong.

"Break Thou the Bread of Life, dear Lord, to me,

As Thou didst break the loaves, beside the sea;

Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;

My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word!

"Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,

As Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;

Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall,

And I shall find my peace, my all in all."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR