1695. The Candlesticks–christ Our Light–The Place of Testimony

The Candlesticks–christ Our Light–The Place of Testimony

"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (Joh_1:4).

The story of the candlesticks is told in Exo_25:31-40. A few lessons which we will note, are as follows:

1. The candlesticks described. The candlesticks were of wrought gold.

Jesus Christ is set forth here, as Deity in all perfection.

There were seven candlesticks.

This, again, is the number of perfection. It shows the sevenfold perfection of the Holy Spirit as He rested upon Christ: the Spirit of the Lord; the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of council and might; the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord (see Isa_11:1-2).

The oil is the type of the Holy Spirit indwelling the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The candlesticks were the exclusive light in the Holy Place.

In the Holy of Holies, the glory of the Lord was present–there was no other light. In the Holy Place, the Lord Jesus, in union with the Holy Spirit, was the light–there was no other light.

If any one failed to walk in the light of the candlesticks, they would be in total darkness, but he who had the candlesticks had light, even as Christ said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Joh_8:12). What folly for any one to seek to lighten the things of God with human wisdom and human research! There was nothing in the Holy Place to permit the light of human reasonings.

The first chapter of I Corinthians shows that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God" (1Co_1:21).

When the wisdom of man stands forth in the pulpit and preaches, the Cross of Christ is made of none effect.

The Apostle Paul plainly says, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (1Co_3:18-19).

When we open the Bible we need to ask that God may give us light.

"Ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him" (1Jn_2:27).

3. The Candlesticks shed light in the Holy Place. We are not decrying the fact that there are other lights in the world, but there are no other lights in the things of God.

An eminent philosopher recently gave testimony to this very thing. He acknowledged that the realm of philosophy was exclusively the things of men, and not the things of God. He said that philosophy did not understand, nor could it understand, Divine things.

The candlesticks threw light over on the table of shewbread, and revealed Christ as the strength of His people.

The candlesticks threw light upon the Altar of Incense and revealed Christ as intercessor.

How often have we been to the Lord's Table and have eaten the bread without the candlesticks shining upon it.

How often have we sought the altar of prayer without the light of the candlesticks.

We know not how to pray as we ought; the Holy Spirit must help our infirmities (see Rom_8:26).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR