Title: Examine Yourself (Lampstand)
Exodus (73) Examine yourself (the lampstand) (Ex 25:31-40)
< Lessons from the lampstand >
The lampstand is opposite the table of bread, that is, to the left as you enter the sanctuary. The lampstand was made of pure gold (verse 31). That is why it is also called ‘golden candlestick’. The other utensils of the tabernacle were usually gilded wood, but only the lampstand was made of pure gold. There is one ‘central candlestick’ in the center of the lampstand, and there are six ‘branch candlesticks’, three on each side like branches. So it was made up of 7 candlesticks in total. And there are 18 apricot flower shaped cups, 3 for each of the 6 branches, and there are 4 apricot flower shaped cups in the central candlestick, making a total of 22 apricot flower shaped cups.
These seven golden candlesticks symbolize Christ as the light and also the work of the Holy Spirit. It can also be said to be a symbol of the church that shines light in the world. John saw a vision of Jesus walking between the seven golden candlesticks (Rev 1:12-14; 2:1), and in that scene, the seven candlesticks testify to the seven churches (Rev 1:20). What is the lesson of this lampstand?
1. Follow only the Lord who is light
What role does the lampstand play in the sanctuary? The light of the lampstand is the only light that shines in the sanctuary. Especially since there are no windows in the sanctuary, the priests can only work in the sanctuary through the light of the candlestick. According to the principles of architecture, the lack of windows in the sanctuary is a big design problem, but God designed it that way. After all, the fact that the sanctuary had no windows means that God wanted to act as the light of the lampstand in the sanctuary, not the light of the world. After all, it symbolizes that only Jesus is the true light.
Some people refer to the saints as 'Jews'. That is a derogatory statement, but in fact, believers should be the real ‘masters’ in believing in Jesus. The word 'jang' originally refers to artisan (匠人). A craftsman is a person who has a clear sense of calling for his work and puts his heart, soul, and sweat into it. Be a real Jesuit by living every moment of your life in the spirit of Jesus.
2. Desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit
If there is a lampstand, the light does not come out by itself. To light the lampstand, you need olive oil. So oil is just as important as a lampstand. The oil put into the lampstand is olive oil, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit. This means that a successful life of faith cannot be achieved only by human will. Most people who lead a religious life have the will to do well in their religious life, but regardless of that will, they expose a lot of what they lack. Even Peter himself said he would never betray the Lord, but in the end he humbly denied the Lord even in front of his maid.
Peter did not fall because he did not have firm resolve and resolve, nor did he fall because he loved the Lord less, nor did he fall because he did not know the foundation of faith. Peter had a strong determination and determination, loved the Lord, and received strong discipleship from the Lord for three years, so the foundation of his faith was clear, but in the end he fell. That means there is always a risk of falling. Ultimately, what matters is the grace of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. Introspect yourself
At that time, priests always inspected the lampstand for oil and saw that the wick was functioning properly to absorb the oil. We need to check whether we are receiving the Word well in our church life. The priests also saw that the wick wasn't too full. That means we need to see if anyone in the church is living too alone and withdrawn. I also noticed that the wick wasn't too much and there was no soot. It means that you should not throw ashes out too much in your church life.
The most important thing in life of faith is self-examination. Occasionally, I see people who pursue justice and are good at speaking the right words. Sometimes that kind of image is necessary, but what is more important is the reflection on “Am I pursuing justice in the right way?” while pursuing justice, and self-reflection on “Am I really speaking the right words?” when criticizing others.
Joshua 1 is a chapter in which several lessons are given to prepare the Israelites for the final preparation for their entry into the land of Canaan. At that time, one of the most emphasized words of God was not to be biased. Just as a person does not fully act as a person just because he is sincere, if you focus on one thing and think, “That’s all!”, it is difficult to play the role of a full-fledged saint. Always be harmonious and have a holistic view of the whole. God will give grace and blessings to the soul that does not lean to the left or to the right.