WEDNESDAY 23rd
Exodus 27:20-21
NIV (vv20-21) – ‘Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.’
ESV (vv20-21) – ‘You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn.
In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.’
I have chosen not to include anything in these devotions on the subject of the plans, preparation, building and dedication of the tabernacle simply because it is a big subject on its own, but while looking through the chapters these two verses captured my attention, they speak of a constantly burning lamp.
Today with our instant use of electricity it is easy for us to have a light switched on permanently, once the lamp is fitted and the electricity supply is in place all we have to do is switch it on. But for the people of Israel, to keep a lamp permanently burning would have required constant attention, someone would have had to produce and provide the oil, it would have had to be continually topped up and then the wick would have to have been regularly trimmed and replaced.
It reminded me of the New Testament Scriptures that speak of light and lamps, the first being the moment when Jesus told his listeners that they were to be the light of the world in Matthew 5:14 and later in the same gospel, he talks about the need to have our lamps trimmed and burning in readiness for his coming again. (Matthew 25:1-13) There are some who when they come to faith, treat it like a quick fix, come to Jesus, be saved and everything is going to work out, you have a ticket for heaven. It is a little like us putting the light on today, flick a switch and that’s all there is to it. But, when it comes to genuine repentance and salvation, there is far more to it, it isn’t a quick fix, it is more like the verses for our text today, where although we are saved by grace we need to keep working out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12 ‘Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, . . .’)
We have to put effort into our ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, for if we genuinely want to be his disciples today, it isn’t always easy being light in the darkness, it isn’t always easy to make sure that are lamps are trimmed and burning. So much can affect us in our daily routine, there are many things the devil will put in place to hinder us and attempt to snuff the light out, our peers (especially for the younger generation) will try to divert us and cause the lamp to flicker and burn out. Therefore, it behoves us to make sure we get a regular supply of fresh oil, that we constantly trim our wick and ensure that we burn as brightly as we can as lights in our generation.
In verse 20, the oil that they were to use is described as ‘pure beaten olive oil’ I see this as representing the holiness of God, as revealed firstly through the beaten and smitten holy Son at Calvary, the sinless one, who became sin on our behalf and secondly I see it as a picture of the Holy Spirit. We need first to accept the holy Son as our Lord and Saviour and then we need constantly to be being filled with the Holy Spirit, a replenishing oil supply, and as we do there is an ongoing work of sanctification that takes place which is trimming our wick and causing us to burn more brightly.
In verse 21 it says that the burning light will be a statute forever to be observed throughout the generations by the people of Israel. In the New Testament we read that we too, as burning lights need to be observed, look at what it says in
Matthew 5:16 ‘In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’