Sharper Iron & The Saga of Salvation: The Table of God’s Presence

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Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Exodus 25:23-30 and Exodus 37:10-16.

At first glance, the furnishings of the tabernacle may seem quite ordinary. The Ark of the Covenant was a small box. The second item, described in today’s text, was even smaller and a mere table, an object found in rooms all around the world. Yet this seemingly insignificant object was truly a wonderful gift from the LORD; it was the Table of His Presence. The readily-available and quality materials the LORD commanded for use testified to the Table’s importance, just as all that we do and say ought to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Bread of the Presence, which was regularly placed upon the Table and eaten by the priests, preached a similar sermon. The LORD is no idol demanding us to feed Him; He is the one true God who provides for every need of His people. That’s why Jesus tells us that He has come not to be served, but to serve us. He is our Bread of Life, caring for our daily needs, even inviting us to sit down and eat a meal with Him, the meal of His own Body and Blood. “Come,” He says, “for everything is now ready.”

“The Saga of Salvation” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that takes a step-by-step walk through the book of Exodus. This premier account of salvation in the Old Testament proclaims that the LORD is the one true God, the Creator and Redeemer, who alone is worthy of our worship and faith, all the while pointing us forward to the ultimate deliverance He gives through the exodus accomplished by Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Exodus 25:23-30

The Table for Bread

23 “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. 25 And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth[a] wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 27 Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. 29 And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.

Footnotes:

Exodus 25:25 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters

Exodus 37:10-16

Making the Table

10 He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. 12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth[a] wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim. 13 He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 14 Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.

Footnotes:

Exodus 37:12 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters