Light of Revelation. Exodus 25:31-49 The chief builder, Bezaleel, looked at the 75 pounds of gold and, with the eyes of an artisan empowered by the Holy Spirit, envisioned the final result of the lampstand before he tapped that gold for the first time. Thousands of tapping sounds would have echoed from where he worked daily as a remarkable lampstand of unique beauty took shape from that one piece of metal. The result was a lampstand that resembled the shape of an almond tree.
Sitting on its base and gradually forming, a central shaft was created from the same piece as the six branches hammered out. There was no point where anything was joined that could be a potential weak spot and break off. The Holy Place was illuminated by the seven equal lamps made from a single piece of gold. This lampstand symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ as the Light of God. The first words heard on earth came from Him: "Let there be light." The Light of God's presence covered the camp of Israel during the darkest night. After the Tabernacle was finished, the Light of God's presence shone in the Holy of Holies. All of these are types of our Lord Jesus Christ, who declared when He came in the flesh, "I Am the Light of the world."
There was no wood in this lampstand. It was made of pure gold inside and out. When the final hammer blow was struck on the piece, it represented a complete type of Christ in His unique glory—having endured suffering's blows and yet reflecting the glory of His deity. It provided light to the Word of God (the table of shewbread) to nourish His people, and illumination for the worship of God (golden altar), helping His people understand how to "worship the Father in Spirit and in truth."
The central shaft featured an almond-shaped bowl filled with oil, and the six other branches extending from it also had similar bowls on top. Each branch and the central shaft bore buds and flowers, symbolizing the resurrection and the knowledge of Christ that we receive in the sanctuary. The Holy Spirit is represented as the oil in these bowls, providing the light held by the Person of the Lord. The Holy Spirit symbolizes the light emanating from the central shaft. The second pair of branches signifies the spirit of wisdom and understanding. Following are the spirit of counsel and the spirit of might. The last two branches depict the spirit of knowledge and the spirit of the fear of the Lord [Isa 11:1-2]. Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to guide us into "all truth" after His ascension into heaven. The Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ are inseparable, just as the Father and the Son "are one."
Meanings associated with the lampstand include first the beaten gold, symbolizing the suffering of Christ, who is now risen and glorified. He gave His life to give us life and light. The lampstand was inside the Holy Place, hidden from the world. He is revealed to priests who belong to the family of God. "That I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death" - is the knowledge that can come only through the light of the Holy Spirit who reveals Christ to us. The oil in the seven bowls teaches us about the Holy Spirit, given by Christ to meet our needs.
There is also the teaching that there is light for the believer who may not know what to do or where to go in this dark world. God the Spirit guides us, instructs us, and teaches us "in the way which thou shalt go." The seven branches holding perpetually lighted lamps teach us that the Holy Spirit enables us to see and enjoy more of Christ as we walk in the light. The light from the lampstand on the south side of the Holy Place also illuminated the table of shewbread on the north side. The Spirit reveals the truths of the Word of God to us. Without the light, there would be disorder and confusion. The light also allows the priest at the golden altar of incense to perform what is necessary for proper worship. We can worship God in the way of His choosing when the light of the Person of Christ is revealed to us.
The light from the lampstand reveals the beauty of the covering overhead, the veil, and the cherubim woven into it that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. The reflection of light on the gold walls and furniture clearly shows what is revealed in Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us the light of His Person wherever we look.
The seven branches of the lampstand remind me of the importance of the Holy Spirit in my life as a believer. He reveals Christ, guides us into all truth, and shows us future things. Because of that, we see that the "spirit of wisdom" helps us use knowledge properly. The "spirit of understanding" comes from the truth given to guide our lives. The "spirit of counsel" points us toward choices that please God. The "spirit of might" strengthens us through Christ's power to fulfill God's purposes, which are revealed in His Word. The "spirit of knowledge" provides us with information about our Lord Jesus Christ so we can know Him better and see things as He does. The "spirit of fear" of the Lord influences our attitude toward Him. A reverent fear is a respectful interest and dedication to Jesus Christ. It is wrong to be casual toward such a holy Person. Closeness with Christ is about sharing the same focus, not a casual relationship.
The complete unity of the lampstand signifies that every aspect of the Lord Jesus Christ serves a single purpose for us: to give light so we can identify where we are and who we are when we approach God's presence—to learn of Him, fellowship with Him, and worship Him.