Holy Candlestick

A description of the candlestick that was placed in the holy place of the tabernacle in the wilderness is described for us in Ex. 25:31 40. We are not made to guess concerning the typical significance of the candlestick as we are told in Rev. 1:20, "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.  The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." Thus the candlestick is a "type" of the church.

In Ex. 25:31 we are told that the candlestick is made of pure gold.  Gold is used in the scriptures to represent kings and their kingdoms.  We read of the golden crowns of kings and the golden scepter. We read of golden thrones and the king's shields of gold. We also read of the golden lions on the steps leading up to the king's palace. Yes, gold is associated with the king and his kingdom. We also read in Rev. 1:6 where God has made us kings and that we are to live and reign with him in his kingdom (church).

Also in verse 31 we are told the tabernacle is of "beaten work" which speaks of forcible molding. The scriptures teach us that we must thru much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. The Lord said, "They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Also in the old testament we read where the Lord said, "And I leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord." Moreover, Peter wrote that "the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, may be found unto praise, honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." God's people in the church are an afflicted and poor people. They are tried in the furnace of trials, afflictions, and persecutions and when the Lord has sufficiently tried them thy shine forth as gold.

Next, the candlestick had knops, flowers, and bowls made like almonds. Knops, flowers, and almonds speak of the growth process. The Lord's people are to grow spiritually in the church. We are told to desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby. Also we are to speak the truth in love that we may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Furthermore, the body increases and edifies itself in love. Also we are told to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Son of God. Thus the members of the church are to grow spiritually in grace, knowledge, understanding, faith, and good works. In addition, almonds speak of fruitfulness. The Lord said, "Herein is my father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit."

When the word was sown in the good ground (an honest and good heart) it brought forth much fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty fold, and some an hundred fold.  Paul wrote that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk therein. The fruit we are to bring forth is the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  When we are fruitful in these things we glorify God.

There were a total of 22 bowls in the candlestick. Twenty two is the bible number associated with the word of God. God's people as bowls are to be filled with the word of God. We should, as Job, desire the word more than our necessary food. We should, as David, hide it in our hearts, that we might not sin against God. We are to live, not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Moreover, the candlestick is said to be of "one beaten work." Romans chapter 12 and I Corinthians chapter 12 speak of the church as being the body of Christ. In Rom. 12:4, 5 we read, "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." In 1 Cor. 12:18 20 we read, "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body." Since we are members one of another in the church we are to have the same care, one for another. We are not to be selfish individuals in the church, but as members of a body we are to function as members of the body for the good of the body.

Additionally, the candlestick is a lamp stand and there are to be lamps thereon. For no man lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel, but put it on a candlestick that it may give light unto all that are in the house. The Lord, in the new birth, lights spiritually everyone that comes into this spiritual world. We re told to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father.

Furthermore, the church is the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill that cannot be hid. There is a proper place for a candle and that is on the candlestick. God's people are to be lights in the world and they are to do that as members of the Lord's church. The candlestick had tongs and snuff dishes as associated vessels to clear away the refuse of the burning lamps. God's word and, subsequently, the preaching of God's word is not only designed to feed us and prepare us for doing good works, but it also reproves and corrects us according to II Tim. 3:16, 17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." When we consider that we have a two fold nature and the flesh nature has nothing good dwelling therein, and that we are daily plagued with the desire to sin, then we can see the need for the tongs and dishes of God's word to reprove and correct us that we may walk closer to the teaching of God's word and that our light shine brighter each day that we live.

Furthermore, the candlestick was costly: it was made of a talent of pure gold. The Lord's church is even more costly than the type. The Lord's church was purchased with the shed blood of Jesus and that is more than all the gold and silver in the world. As members of the Lord's church we should ever remember the cost of our salvation from sin.

Finally, there was a pattern to the candlestick and it was to be built according to the patter God showed Moses in the mount. Likewise, there is a pattern to the church: it is to be ordered according to the new testament pattern and the government is to be according to that new testament pattern. We are not to deviate from that pattern. We are not to add our own design or desires to that pattern, but to maintain her as the Lord gave her to us.