Symbolization: Breaking Down the Tabernacle Part 2 – The Table of Bread

3/29/2021: This is the second entry where we will take a deeper look into the Spiritual truths that are represented by the design of God’s Holy Dwelling, the Tabernacle.

It’s a good idea to review the original Intro Post I made to start this off. In it is a list of the items needed for building the Tabernacle and the symbolic meaning of each. This is God’s design so you know there’s a deeper meaning. Here is the link to the intro: Symbolization: The Tabernacle and The Body of Christ Intro

I will refer back to some of the information that is listed in that post. Today, we will take a look at The Table of Bread.

Exodus 25:23-30 AMP: ^{23 “You shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high. 24 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a border of gold around the top of it. 25 You shall make a rim of a hand width around it; you shall make a gold border for the rim around it. 26 You shall make four gold rings for it and fasten them at the four corners that are on the table’s four legs. 27 The rings shall be close against the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table. 28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them. 29 You shall make its plates [for the showbread] and its cups [for incense] and its pitchers and bowls for sacrificial drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30 You shall set the bread of the Presence (showbread) on the table before Me at all times.}

The table (along with its poles for transport) is described almost identically as the Ark; both being made of Acacia Wood (symbol of mankind, human nature) and overlaid with gold (Symbol of the Divine nature). Just as the Ark, the table represents Christ in the flesh, being of human nature and at the same time being arrayed with His Divine Heavenly Nature. Both the Ark and Table had a golden rim or border around the top which symbolizes the crown of Christ; Christ is King of all.

I found it very interesting that the word translated for “Presence,” as in the  Bread of the Presence and “Before,” as in before me at all times, in verse 30 is the same word which means “Face.” It can mean a literal face or to be before someone or something; in front of. What comes to mind when thinking of this is to be Face to Face, in communion with God. Just how the priests would lay the bread out every week before God on the table; they would sit and eat the leftover bread, sitting in His Presence before Him, face to face.

This was only made possible through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus which is representative of the Table: Jesus is the Table who holds the Bread and the utensils up so it is possible to be in communion with God, face to face.

Also, in regards to the Bread of the Presence being before God: Bread represents Christ, Himself as the Bread of Life (our spiritual manna) and He is our High Priest, representing His Holy people before God in Heaven.

There is SO Much symbolic meaning behind the Table of Bread. I am going to leave this link to an article I found VERY interesting. Enjoy! https://www.messianicgoodnews.org/part-4-the-bread-of-the-presence/