Assembled

This week's Sabbath reading is titled Va-yakheil, which in English is "and he assembled". In Exodus 35, Moses assembled or gathered the elders and the congregation of Israel to give them the Word that the LORD had given to him on the mountain. It involved the construction of the tabernacle. The instructions ordained all of the materials, spices, metals, and so on, that would be needed in order to make the outer and inner curtains of the tabernacle, the furniture, utensils, and priestly robes that would be used within it. The LORD had already told Moses to be suure to follow the pattern of the tabernacle shown to him on the mountain, and we read in scripture that the pattern given to Moses by God was a copy and likeness of the tabernacle in heaven (Heb. 8:5). We know that the furnishings of the tabernacle represent the sacrifice of Christ. There is an additional meaning to consider in this Sabbath's reading, which we will look at. In any case, Moses was not to come up with his own design, or change the design of the tabernacle given to him by God. There was also an important condition in the building of the tabernacle that the LORD insisted upon: "Take from among you an offering to the LORD, Whoever is of a willing (nadib - "willing, noble, generous, princely, ready; to offer willingly and freely") heart (leb/labab - "mind, heart, understanding, wisdom; inner part, soul; 'ravished my heart', to make cakes or bread"), let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet thread, fine linen and goats' hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins and acacia (thorn tree) wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate...Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments." (Ex. 35:5-9, 21). Other offerings are brought to the LORD by commandment, but the things concerning the tabernacle were to be offered only by free will and a generous heart, a heart that has been inspired to do so, even a ravished heart. This reminds us of Jesus who said that His life was not taken (by force) from Him, but He offered it freely (Jn. 10:11, 15, 18, 1 Jn. 3:16). Notice also the great variety of items that went into the assembly of the tabernacle: from small colored threads and stones to gold and bronze. None of the items were considered of lesser importance in the construction of the tabernacle, but were necessary to it. Moses was instructed to use certain artisans (see Ex. 35:30, 34) who had been gifted by God with design and crafting skills named Bezalel ("in the shadow of God"), the son of Uri ("fiery, light of fire; shine"), and Aholiab ("Father's Tent/Tabernacle/Dwelling"), the son of Ahisamach ("My brethren are sustained/established/standfast"). One of these craftsmen, Bazalel, had also been gifted by God in the wisdom to teach others. Others, like women, who were gifted, "whose hearts stirred (nasa - "stir up, lift up, forgive, pardon, exalt, armorbearer, marry, be carried off") with wisdom" spun yarns with their hands out of goats' hair, and brought it for the tabernacle (v. 25-26). God gave the special gifts or talents to those who were to build and contribute to His house. No detail was overlooked, no need of the tabernacle went unmet. Let's apply these same truths to the living tabernacle made for the indwelling of God. Addressing the Church of believers in Christ, Paul wrote: "You are God's building...Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?...and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price..." (1 Cor. 3:9, 16, 6:19-20). Peter wrote: "Coming to Him (Jesus) as to a living stone...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:4-5). Paul wrote about the building of this spiritual house: "...members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22). We can see that this living spiritual temple or tabernacle is something being built. The various pieces must be fitted together according to the pattern established by God for His dwelling place. The instructions or pattern has come from God through the prophets and apostles (as He did with Moses), who are still necessary and continuing to minister to the church until the building is finished according to plan, which is the equipping of the saints to do the work of ministry, the unity of faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, the perfect man, and the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13). This is the very pattern of the tabernacle. In fact, The Lord gave the gifts (Eph. 4:11) for the purpose of this living building project, as He gave ones among the children of Israel to not only bring their gifted artisan skills to the work of the tabernacle, but to have the ability to teach others, as we saw above. Paul also called himself "a wise master builder" by the grace of God given to him (1 Cor. 3:10). We have already seen that the tabernacle shown to Moses, and its furnishings, represent the identity of Christ. That tabernacle, patterned after the tabernacle in heaven, was also a prophetic representation of the living tabernacle that is being built with us now on earth. Jesus said, "...on this rock (the revelation from God that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Mt. 16:18). This spiritual building called the Church will withstand and overcome even the gates of hell. How important it is that this building be built by Christ! As we saw above, all of those who had a stirred, willing heart and spirit brought those things that were necessary for the building of this tabernacle, as specified by God's pattern. Also regarding this living spiritual tabernacle, "...speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head - Christ - from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. 4:15-16). Each one of us individually is the living temple of the Holy Spirit, but we must keep in mind that our purpose doesn't end there. We are being built together into a spiritual structure that will, as reflected in the tabernacle of Moses, become the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. This living tabernacle cannot be built in whatever way that we want to build it. Skilled master craftsmen have been gifted to the church by God to build us up after the pattern established by God. For us that pattern is Christ, who is the Word of God. Paul begged the believers: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy , acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Rom. 12:1). We are not built together into this structure by the way the world thinks or acts, for the world is built upon the spirit of self, and selfishness. The only way that we will be able to be built into this living tabernacle is by the mercies of God, and through the transformation accomplished by the renewing of our minds by the Word and Spirit of God (see Rom. 12:2). The title of this Sabbath's reading, translated into English as we saw above, is "and he assembled". This is the very meaning of the church, which is the Greek word ekklesia, and means "gathering, assembly; an assembly of Christians gathered for worship". The Greek root words mean "called forth by name out of, or out from, a place, time or cause, incited by word". We are individual members, but we are also to be a gathered assembly into which we willingly contribute our individual gifts (see Rom. 12:4-8). This is the pattern of the living tabernacle established by God, the assembled believers, being built into the fulness of His Son. If you would like to understand more about being built into the living tabernacle of God, you can join me in prayer: "Lord Jesus, You are building Your Church, Your called out by name and gathered assembly, into the living tabernacle of God, unified in the faith, and having grown into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Against this Church, the gates of hell cannot prevail. I come to You with a willing heart and spirit. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who teaches me to be transformed, and who shows me where and how I fit into the building of this living and holy tabernacle. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. AMEN."

Delay

We don't always react well to delays - delays in plans, expectations, in satisfying needs, or wants. As we wait for answers to our prayers as well, we can jump to false conclusions if the answer does not come in what we view as a timely manner. No matter whether the delays that we experience are of small or great importance, we don't like to wait. The children of Israel suffered a delay that brought out a shocking response. This week's Sabbath reading includes Exodus 32: "Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come make us god(s) that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." (Ex. 32:1). Moses was up on the mountain in the presence of the LORD. He had been on the mountain for forty days and nights (Ex. 24:18). Moses was considered to have been overdue in the Israelites' view, and they were evidently in a panic caused by his continued absence. The use of the word "delayed" in this verse is the Hebrew word bus, meaning "to delay, paleness, terror, to fail in hope and expectation, shame, put to shame, overwhelmed with unexpected calamity, to be deprived of hope; troubled, disturbed, confused". The reaction of the people to the delay of the return of Moses reflected this extreme meaning of the word, as we will see. There is even shame attached to the word meaning "delay" here. The Concordance mentions that an opposite idea to this meaning is found in the example from scripture, "O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed...Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed..." (Ps. 25:1-3), and "For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame'." (Rom. 10:11). In this case, the people became exceedingly troubled and afraid at Moses' delay in his return, and asked Aaron to fashion a god to lead them. Aaron agreed, and told them to "break off" the golden earrings that they wore in their ears, and bring them to him. He melted them down, and fashioned (sur - besiege, distress, bind, confine, to press upon, to be an adversary) a molten (masseka/nasak - pour out, anoint, offer, cover, image, covering, vail, pour out blood/wine of victim, make a libation) calf. He told the people, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Ex. 32:4), and he built an altar before it. The fact that Aaron ordered the golden (zahab - splendor, brilliant, shimmer) earrings (nezem - ring, nose ring, earring) of the people to be taken out of their ears (ozen/azan - hearing, ears, to reveal, receiver of divine revelation/ to listen and obey; of God: to listen to prayers) has a special meaning. According to the Hebrew meanings of the words, we can say that in removing the golden earrings, they were removing their shining glory in God, and giving it to something else. They exchanged their glory in God for shame (Hos. 4:7, Hab. 2:16). We can see why the LORD said in the Psalms: "They made a calf in Horeb (meaning "dry, waste, desert, desolate, destroyer, decay, to attack), and worshipped the molded image. Thus they changed their glory into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior Who had done great things in Egypt..." (Ps. 106:19-21). God brought His Word of life and revelation in the middle of a place of waste and destruction, but His people gave that glory to the image of an ox, something common that they could see with their eyes and immediately attain. According to the Hebrew meanings, they were rejecting His divine revelation in their lives, and they were refusing to continue to listen and obey Him. It was also, as a result, a rejection of their covenant, or marriage to God, because as told in scripture, a golden nose ring, (also meaning earring), was given to Isaac's future bride, Rebekah, generations before as a promise of marriage (Gen. 24:22-30). When Aaron received from their hand the golden earrings from the people, this also carries a meaning of marriage: received being the word laqah - "accept, take, taken captive, take a wife, take in marriage". Instead of receiving the Word engraved on stone tablets by the finger of God (Ex. 31:18), they desired the calf that Aaron fashioned with an "engraving tool" (Ex. 32:4) by the hand of man. Aaron had built an altar in front of the golden calf, and the people brought offerings to burn before it (v. 6). They also rose up to "play". This word is sahaq - "laugh, mock, make sport, play, jest". The LORD then said to Moses on the mountain: "Go, get down! For your people...have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them..." (v. 7-8). God's wrath was set to destroy them, and make a great nation of Moses instead, but Moses pleaded with the LORD on their behalf (v. 10-11). This perceived delay of Moses in the minds of the Israelites began a sad set of circumstances that revealed the true hearts of the children of Israel, and became a prophetic lesson for us. In the same way, Jesus prophesied of a "delay" in His return that would also lead to events that revealed the hearts of men. Jesus told the parable of a master delayed from his expected time of return. His servants began to act in a corrupt and abusive manner. The master, Jesus said, will return when they are no longer looking for him, or expecting him, and those corrupt servants will be punished (Mt. 24:44-51, Lk. 12:40-47). Jesus also told a parable about a bridegroom who was delayed, and only half of those who were to take part in the wedding remained expectantly prepared. The others were no longer keeping themselves prepared for the bridegroom's appearing (Mt. 25:1-13). He told His disciples to "watch therefore". Peter warned that there will be those who stop believing that Christ will return in judgment because that return is seemingly delayed. They walk instead according to their own immediate desires, and scoff and mock at the idea of the Lord's return and judgment, not understanding that the "delay" is caused by God's desire to give all an opportunity to repent, and return to Him (2 Peter 3, also Jude v. 17-18). Revelation talks about an angel in heaven who will call out, "There should be time (delay) no longer" in the fulfillment of God's prophesied plan (Rev. 10:5-7). This statement tells us that there was a perceived delay, but that delay is now ended. False Christs will take advantage and declare themselves to be Christ and deceive many, as Christ's return seems to be delayed (Mt. 24:4-5). False teachers flourished in Paul's day as believers looked for the return of Christ. As a perceived delay in the return of Christ caused this fear and confusion, false teachers said that the Day of the Lord, and the resurrection of the dead had already occurred, and those who lived and died afterwards had "missed it". Paul had to give the Church the correct order of events that would occur before the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the catching away of the living in Christ (1 Thess. 4:13-18, 5:1-2, 2 Thess. 2:1-8). Delay, even a planned (by God) and prophesied (by Jesus) delay, can cause even the elect of God to believe heresies and false teachers and prophets. With these warnings from Christ and the apostles, comes the instruction to "wait": "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master...that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately." (Lk. 12:35-36), and "...if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Rom. 8:25), and "...to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." (1 Thess. 1:10). Finally, Isaiah prophesied about a future time of great testing: "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isa. 40:30-31). Even while warning us to wait, Jesus promised, "Surely I am coming quickly'. Amen. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20-21). If you would like to become someone who waits for the Lord, you can pray with me, "Heavenly Father, Your people are called to wait upon You with trust, and we will not be ashamed. The world looks for instant solutions, and quickly fulfilled desires, but Your glory is found in the trust of Your people. Deception heresies may come, but You have told us to remain steadfast in truth. I do not want to exchange Your glory in my life for shame. Your Son prayed that I would share in His glory, and His Father's glory. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to keep me in the paths of righteousness and truth, with all patience and perserverance until the day of Your return. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Incense

Last Sabbath, we read about the golden lampstand, or menora, that was to be placed in the first chamber of the tabernacle called the Holy Place (please see previous post, "Lampstand" for more information). In this week's Sabbath reading portion titled T'tzavveh meaning "You shall command", which includes Exodus 30, another piece of furniture of the tabernacle is discussed. It is the Altar of Incense, and it was placed directly in front of the veil that leads into the second chamber of the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, which contained only the Ark of the Testimony covered by the Mercy Seat (Ex. 30:6). The Altar of Incense was also connected to the use of the lampstand. Twice a day, in the morning (boqer/baqar - split, penetrate the darkness, the end of night, breaking forth of light), and at twilight (ereb/arab - sunset to deep twilight, the time when the paschal lamb was slain, to give as security as a kind of exchange, to be surety for the life of another, to be liable for another's debt) , when the priests attended to the lampstand, they would burn incense at the Altar of Incense at the same time (Ex. 30:7-8). By doing this, there would always be "a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations." (v. 8). As we can see above, the timing of the offering of incense on this altar, morning and evening, also carried the meaning of resurrection (Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1), and Jesus offering of Himself as a surety for us, in exchange for us, and in the exchange of Himself for our debts. The Altar of Incense was a very special item in the tabernacle, which we will see. First, these are some of the commandments that God gave to Moses regarding the Altar of Incense: Aaron could only burn "sweet incense" (sam - sweet spice aroma, sweet perfume, fumigation, sweet smoke of sacrifice) upon the altar, and no "strange incense" (zur - turn aside, to depart, foreigner, stranger, estranged, one alienated, an enemy, profane, of adultery) was allowed. The incense to be burned on this altar was made of very fragrant sweet spices made from certain aromatic gum resins tempered together with salt. While we don't usually consider the burning of incense as a noisy event, the root meanings in Hebrew of the resins used in the making of this fragrant incense (Ex. 30:34-38) are very noisy! One is associated with the roar of a fierce lion. Another means a concussive sound so loud, it can peel off outer coverings. A third root means to speak by inspiration in prophecy. These spices make a great deal of noise in the Spirit. Jesus' sacrifice is described in terms of fragrance also: "And walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Eph. 5:2). This incense used on the Altar of Incense is for use in the tabernacle only, because it was holy for the LORD (Ex. 30:34-38). Once a year, on what is called Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, before the High Priest entered behind the veil to sprinkle the atoning blood upon the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Testimony, he first had to place the atoning blood on the Altar of Incense. This was to be done because the Altar of Incense "...is most holy to the LORD" (v. 10). On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would also take some of the burning incense from this special altar with him as he entered the Holy of Holies behind the veil to apply the atoning blood there. The incense created a cloud in front of the Ark of the Testimony/Mercy Seat. If the priest did not do this, he would die from being in the presence of God (Lev. 16:12-13). So the cloud of incense also served to cover and protect, and to sanctify. What made this incense so precious to the LORD that the High Priest must also bring it with him in order to enter the Holy of Holies? This sacrificial incense represented the prayers of God's people. David wrote: "LORD, I cry out to you; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening (ereb/arab - see meaning above) sacrifice." (Ps. 141:1-2). In the Gospels, Zacharias was serving as priest before the Altar of Incense, when he received an angelic visitation promising him a miracle son, who would be John the Baptist: "...according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense, when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense." (Lk. 1:9-11). The importance and holiness of our prayers before the Lord cannot be overstated. Jesus is alive in order to make intercessory prayer for us to the Father (Heb. 7:25). His prayers for us save to the uttermost. In His last hours before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for all those who believed in Him, and would come to believe in Him in the future (Jn. 17). Peter called us a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9), and as such it is our role to pray and intercede. Paul wrote: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4, excerpt). Our prayers for all men impact their opportunity to receive salvation. Do we understand the power of prayer? Why aren't we more constant in prayer? There are many, many references to the prayers of God's people in scripture. We know that all of the tabernacle and its furnishings were given to Moses after the pattern of those things in heaven (Heb. 8:5, Ex. 25:40). We are given a further revelation of the importance and value of the prayers of the saints as incense before God, in the events that unfold in heaven and on earth in these end times. As Jesus the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, begins to open the scroll in heaven that will unleash the events, "..the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp (for praise), and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Rev. 5:5-8). Great praise to the Lamb then began to break out in heaven. Also: "Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar (in heaven). He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand." (Rev. 8:3-4). After this, judgment in the form of fire breaks out on the earth. The prayers of the saints played a role in both events as an offering. Often times, we believers look to do the miraculous works of Christ, even the greater works that He promised. One of the most important of these works according to scripture is the offering of the sweet-smelling incense, which is our prayers. As the times become more troubling and dangerous before Christ's return, the sacrifice of prayer, rising as incense before the throne of God, and before the Lamb, Jesus, plays a central role. The pattern of the Altar of Incense in the tabernacle teaches us the truth about how God treasures our prayers. Incense from the golden altar represents our prayers, and we discovered how "noisy" incense is within its root meaning (see above). Therefore our prayers, even the silent ones said in the secret place of our hearts, create great noise in the Spirit! If you would like to learn more about the importance of prayer, you can start with a prayer! We can pray together: "Father, You called the Altar of Incense, and the incense burned upon it, "most holy to the LORD". Your Son, Jesus, lives to pray continually in intercession on our behalf. He prayed for us while He was on earth, and He prays for us in heaven. You called Your house a house of prayer for all people. I am Your living house. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who guides me in prayer, and makes my prayers holy before You. Let Your Spirit quicken me to pray always, and for all men, not just for a few, and not just in moments of convenience. Help me to understand the role that my prayers have in affecting all men, and all circumstances, in heaven and here on earth. In Jesus' name, AMEN."

Lampstand

Jesus spoke to those who believed in Him as the Messiah, the Son of God, and told them: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill..." (Mt. 5:14-17). Jesus said, "Let your light so shine...", which means let it shine in the same manner (as being placed on a lampstand). By placing ourselves as light upon the lampstand, we become a very effective light, even to the glorifying of God by men. Our "good works" are seen by men when our light is lifted up and placed on the lampstand. This week's sabbath reading, which includes Exodus 25, is titled T'rumah, which means "offering", and it will help us to understand the meaning and the importance of the lampstand. This is what the Law of Moses, as commanded by God, required in constructing the Lampstand, which would be placed in the first chamber of the Tabernacle, and also later in the Temple in Jerusalem, when it was constructed by the son of David, King Solomon. "You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered/beaten work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece..." (Ex. 25:31). The description continues, but we will start here. The Lampstand is made of pure gold, or taor zahab in Hebrew, which means "clean, pure, purified, purged splendor or brilliance like the golden splendor of the heavens". The Lampstand must be of "hammered or beaten work", in Hebrew, miqsa/qasa. The Hebrew means that the work is beaten out of one piece. The root meaning includes "hardened, stiffnecked, grievous, make severe, ill-treated, be cruel, fierce, be harsh, a heavy yoke, a difficult burdensome thing, the heavy hand of God in punishment". We can already see a pattern of Christ and His sacrifice here in these meanings, and we can understand why the Lampstand is part of a Sabbath reading titled "Offering". Let's continue with the description from Ex. 25. The Lampstand has six branches, three out of one side of the Lampstand, and three out of the other side (v. 32). The Hebrew word and its root used for "branches" is qane/qana, which means "measuring rod, shoulder joint, reed, beam of a balance scale, purchased, redeemed, recover, create, of God originating, creating and redeeming His people. The branches therefore represent the measuring device for the redemption cost to be paid by Christ for God's people. There are to be three bowls shaped like almond blossoms attached to the three branches from one side of the Lampstand, and three bowls shaped like almond blossoms attached to the branches that come from the other side of the Lampstand. In the Hebrew word and its root used for the term "almond blossom", saqed/saqad, we can see the reference to resurrection. The Hebrew word means "early waking, the earliest or first in bloom out of winter's sleep". It makes sense that the almond blossom (resurrection) bowl holds the oil that fuels each individual lamp. Oil represents the Holy Spirit in scripture, and the Holy Spirit is the power that raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 6:10-11). Also interesting is the fact that the root meaning of the Hebrew word for almond blossom is "watch, wake, hasten, be alert, sleepless, on the lookout". We are reminded of this "almond blossom" root meaning as Jesus instructed His disciples: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Mt. 25:13, 24:42), and also "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master...that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching...And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch (late in the night), and find them so, blessed are those servants." (Lk. 12:35-38). The Apostle Paul also wrote: "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand..." (Rom. 13:11-12). Continuing our description of the Lampstand from Exodus 25, we find that the Lampstand is decorated with knobs and flowers (v. 34). The flowers are perah/parah in Hebrew, meaning "to flower, bud, sprout, to flourish, break forth, burst forth, abundantly, spreading, to fly (with wings)". We, the light of the world, when placed on the Lampstand of Christ, which is His offering in crucifixion and resurrection, cause the Gospel to break forth and spread abundantly, to fly as if it had wings. The Hebrew word used for the Lampstand is menora. The root words that make up the word menora mean "a beam of wood, a yoke used for plowing, the wooden frame of a loom used for weaving, to break up, to freshly plow, the gleam of a freshly plowed furrow". We can see in these meanings that the menora, or Lampstand, is like a tool used to change one thing into something else - into something that will produce a benefit. We often consider what it means for believers to be the light of the world, but we are only effective as that light when it is placed upon the Lampstand of Christ. This is what gives the light in us the ability to have our good works seen by men, and they, in turn, then glorify God. It is only when placed upon the Lampstand of Christ as our offering that the light in us can give light to all in the house. If you would like to experience the meaning of being the light of the world, and the importance of the Lampstand upon which we are to be placed, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, Jesus came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. He fulfilled the Law as He became the Lampstand for the light that He placed in us. He gave Himself as an offering in order to become that Lampstand. By His resurrection, He becomes the almond blossom bowls of oil on the branches of the Lampstand that keep the light in us shining. When I place my light upon Him, as the Lampstand, I can bring light to all in the house, and bring glory to the Father. Father, let my light always be lifted up upon the Lampstand of Your Son, Jesus. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."