Pure. Leviticus 24:1-9 The Tabernacle was a place where God dwelled with His people, and the evidence of that when Israel was in the wilderness was the pillar of cloud by day and the Shekinah light of God's presence in the pillar of fire by night. Inside the Tabernacle, behind the veil, was the continual, shadowless light of God's presence—recognized by the same source of light—God Himself was the light. In the Holy Place, where the altar of incense continually sent up a sweet scent, the bread of testimony, and the lampstand with seven flames of perfection was constantly burning, natural light had to be carefully tended.
The oil that produced the light had to be "pure." There was to be nothing in that oil that would cause smoke. The Holy Spirit, of whom the pure oil speaks, is absolutely pure in every way. His love is that perfect attitude and evaluation of love because "God is love." The fruit of the Spirit contains nothing that defiles or clouds anything. The pure grace of the Holy Spirit was poured into the lamps on each of the seven candlesticks, which are made from one piece of pure beaten gold. These formed a "pure" candlestick. The light of the Spirit and the grace that reveals God to us are based on the sacrifice and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is work to do for God that I can do with my heart. When I prepare the pure olive oil of light and truth, the Holy Spirit and the word of God enable me to do this work with will and enthusiasm. This may not seem like the greatest thing I can do as I fill this cup of oil, but filling this is a part of God’s plan; I feel it deep within my soul. It is not with a sense of pride that I work but with an awareness of honor that God has allowed me to bless His name with the labor of each and every hour. I may not enter the holy place and fill the lamp with oil, but I can make that smokeless oil that lights that place so holy.
No matter how dark things are outside, the light inside that Holy Place never fades. Day and night are the same inside that room. The high-priestly work of our Lord continues unwaveringly, no matter what life circumstances we face. That light is kept alive by the priest, whose duty is to keep the pure oil in the pure candlestick burning continuously without anything defiled. He is always ministering on our behalf before the holy throne of God.
I will bring to the sanctuary outside the veil the work of my hands. Here, I will give to another person whom I have prepared the oil that God demands. The testimony of my love for God comes from this simple man’s mind and heart. I know my work will be a small light in the darkness covering this land. Darkness is everywhere as people seek pleasure, but the light has come; the Spirit is here, given without measure. The pure oil of olives that He makes through my labor is a priceless treasure to me. The darkness flees when the light shines across this Christless desert.
By keeping the light on, it was easy to see the gold altar so the incense could continually send out its sweet scent before God. The "pure" table, on which the twelve loaves of bread that had "pure" frankincense on them sat, could also be easily seen, and its fragrance filled the space. It was a constant reminder of God's desire to have a unified fellowship among His people. Even during times of disunity and dissension among the people, the testimony remained before God. The memorial of that was always present despite their condition. The standing was secure. The shadows seen in the Tabernacle in the wilderness symbolize the reality we experience today. The patterns teach us that there is a real substance.
The Lord Himself is the Golden Lamp, where this oil is placed. He is what is seen to the eye of faith when we look upon His face. To see spiritual truths, there must be light that we can trace back to the Holy Spirit as its source. Before that happened, there was an earthen cup in which the oil was made. The Spirit of God within moves this man's heart to want to please my God. I take the fruit of the olive tree and the truths from God’s Word, beat it carefully, and strain it until it is clear, like a musical cord making sweet music in one’s heart. Then there comes from the Holy Spirit, the purest light which displays my glorious Lord before watching angels and onlooking people who are made to wonder at God’s grace.
By faith, we see the light and grace of the Holy Spirit shining and working in this dark world today. We know that the worship of God's people sends "a sweet savor of Christ" to the Father when we gather together. The testimony to the fellowship and unity of God's people remains even though there seems to be division and dissension that will not cease. Despite everything that discourages and disheartens God's people when we look around at the world, and even the state of the Church; when we look within the Holy Place and see things from God's eyes, we take heart and press on with our "high calling in Christ Jesus."