Be reminded that the Book of Leviticus only contains 27 chapters. So we are nearing the end of our literary and spiritual journey. (Having just completed chapter 24.)

Yet the Book too has been subtly “building” a major Thesis, Principle, Pattern with Almighty God at the Center.

And this Thrust centers around two terms. Two Hebrew expressions, one just a word (“shakan”) and the other a phrase (“ohel moed”). Let me explain, translate. “Shakan” is a verb meaning “to dwell.” While “ohel” means “tent” (as in the “Tabernacle” itself) … and is so often linked with the noun “moed” meaning “assembly, feast, congregation.” Thus “ohel moed” suggests a “place of meeting!” If you will allow me, “a place of fellowship, communion, harmony, intimacy!”

Remember this too, basically how the Book of Exodus ends: “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34-35

God is in the Tabernacle!

But Moses is not!

God is there … “shakan.” (This is the very root of the ineffable “Shekinah Glory” Ideal!

But Moses is not yet there … the Place not yet being the “ohel moed,” the Place where God and man can “meet and fellowship” ever so sweetly!

Wow!

This difference/distinction/shade of meaning holds true in the Book of Exodus too. As the Tabernacle is under construction it is generally characterized as God’s “dwelling” place, or at least that’s the goal. “Shakan,” in summary.

But once it is in use, with the priesthood functioning for example, the Place becomes the “Tent of Meeting!” Again in sum, “ohel moed.”

Wow again!

GOD BUILT THAT HOLY STRUCTURE TO COME DOWN TO EARTH (“shakan”) AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY “TO RESIDE WITH HIS PEOPLE”, WITH ISRAEL (“ohel moed)!

“Moed” is actually translated “feasts” or “seasons” three dozen times in the King James Version of Scripture. That’s the main emphasis of Leviticus 23, those seven Feasts! God inviting His people to come fellowship with Him!

That’s the meaning of Leviticus 24 too! The LIGHT of the Candlestick shining over against (upon) the Table of Bread with its twelve loaves! A Picture of GOD shining/fellowshipping/communion with His people (all twelve tribes of them) in sweet peace and harmony!

And this is also the function of Leviticus 25 … with its renewed emphasis on the Sabbath principle, God longing for (even demanding) His people to honor and adore (worship) Him one day out of every seven! Still basically, God and man in fellowship!

And you know what this is? It is a reestablishing of the Goal our great God had for mankind way back in the Garden of Eden! The Lord coming down (“shakan”) in the cool of the day … and “walking” (as in “ohel moed”) with Adam and Eve! Genesis 3:8, for example.

This discussion could get a lot more technical and include a lot more statistics and information … but the Theorem I have outlined above holds true, Biblically.

First God has come down and now dwells (“shakan”) in that Holy Place, Most Holy Place!

Next God has invited us to come and congregate (“moed”) around Him in that Tabernacle (“ohel)!

Hallelujah!

Tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, we go into chapter 25 with its strongly suggestive Sabbatical emphasis.

Leviticus, what a spiritually inviting Book!

And no wonder, God Himself has been the Major Speaker … I mean from its very first verse (“And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying …”) to its very last chapter (“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying …”). A thrilling thought indeed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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A chapter about worship, about the Tabernacle, and specifically about the golden Lampstand/Candlestick and the Table (also overlaid with gold) then loaded with fresh Bread … ending in such a “sad” way!

A man has “blasphemed the Name of the Lord!” While in a fight, in a moment of anger, but still he “slighted, belittled, dishonored” God’s Very name! Leviticus 24:11 … “And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.”

We learned in verse 10 that the man’s “father was an Egyptian,” likely a half-hearted follower of God anyway. (Part of the “mixt multitude” maybe … as in Numbers 11:4?)

Parents have great influence on their sons, their children. For good or (sorrowfully) for evil.

But Moses did not know what to do with this blasphemous offender! So … “They put him in ward (jail, confinement), that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.” Verse 12

Then shortly, the heavenly Answer came! “The LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation STONE HIM. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever CURSETH HIS GOD shall bear his sin. And he that BLASPHEMETH the name of the LORD, HE SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH, and all the congregation shall certainly STONE HIM: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he BLASPHEMETH the name of the LORD, SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH.” Verses 13-16, conclusive!

Serious to God, THE HONOR DUE HIS NAME!

So … “Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel DID as the LORD commanded Moses.” Leviticus 24, last verse.

Surely this “Word/Instruction from God” has nexus to the Third Commandment. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

I’ve related this whole Story in order to share a “quote” this morning, something I read in preparation for this Lesson.

“In the Bible GOD’S DIVINE NAME takes the place which in other religions was occupied by their graven image.”

Wow!

Of course we worship God and God alone (the Godhead) … but the only conception we have of our precious God is … HIS NAME!

His Name becomes His Character, His Person, His Essence!

Think of the nearly countless times in the Bible GOD’S NAME is uplifted, and rightly so!

Exodus 20 continues to teach us along this same line: “Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record MY NAME I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.” Verses 23-24!

Did you get that Last Clause, God speaking … “IN ALL PLACES WHERE I RECORD MY NAME I WILL COME UNTO THEE, AND I WILL BLESS THEE.” 

God’s Name … need I say more?

No wonder then His Name is never to be denigrated, cursed, blasphemed!

Psalm 72:19 … “And blessed be HIS GLORIOUS NAME for ever.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Hallowed be THY NAME,” Jesus taught us to pray! (Matthew 6:9, sometimes called “The Lord’s Prayer.” But for sure, “The Model Prayer!”

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Unusual for Leviticus, a bit of narrative now enters the picture. Read it please. “And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; and the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed.” Leviticus 24:10-11 (The man will ultimately be put to death for this major Violation.)

WHY is this shocking event reported immediately after that lovely Section on the Candlestick and Table of Bread? On God shining the sweet Light of His Presence upon His people?

I think this is part of the reason. Any blessing from God (including Communion, Fellowship, Intimacy) involves knowing God, honoring God, enjoying His Person, His Name and His Character. (His “Attributes,” the theologians say).

Here’s a prime Old Testament example. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27, the famous God-commanded “Priestly Blessing.”

Note that God’s Name is reference three times in the Blessing proper. “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Count them!

Light (think Candlestick) shining upon God’s united people (think the golden Table of Shewbread, twelve loaves) … is here illustrated as God’s NAME placed on His people!

In fact, notice the last verse (number 27) above … where God says: “And they (the priests) shall put MY NAME upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”

Wow!

NOW … I see what this man’s sin of blaspheming God’s Name is placed exactly here in the chapter!

There is a direct Link between honoring God’s NAME, enjoying God’s Light …. and receiving God’s Blessings!

More about this sin, this man … tomorrow, the Lord willing.

Meanwhile … honor the Lord, His Name all day long!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Just as the “Blessing” cited above uses God’s NAME three times … so does the full Account of this man’s blasphemy mention God’s NAME three times! The Holy Spirit is telling us something here!

Numbers 6 … how to do it, honor God’s Name! Leviticus 24 (verses 10 onward) … how NOT to do it, a man dishonoring God’s NAME!

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Both Pieces of Furniture (using that word reverently) are located in the Tabernacle proper, in the Holy Place. (Not the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant is situated.) Yes, both the Lampstand and the Table of Bread.

And they faced each other, clearly. (The Tabernacle was always pitched eastward. With the Lampstand on the south side of the Holy Place and the Table of Shewbread on the north side.)

Then we learned that the Lampstand was to be “lit” (exactly as God commanded) so that the radiance from it would shine “toward, upon” the Table of Bread! With its twelve loaves, representing the people of God!

Citing Numbers 8:2-3, an Addendum to our chapter here, to Leviticus 24. “Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light OVER AGAINST (‘paniym’ in Hebrew, meaning ‘facing’) the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof OVER AGAINST (‘facing”) the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

See it?

Don’t miss this.

This marvelous Light (Jesus and the Holy Spirit empowering Him) is to shed its glorious Splendor upon the twelve loaves, upon godly (saved) Israel!

This is a picture of God fellowshipping with man! God designing the very Tabernacle to reflect that longing of His Heart! And this is man basking in the Light of the Glory of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Communion indeed, in the deepest sense of the word!

This was the goal (although it failed) in the Garden of Eden, God’s ultimate Desire! This is the final Result of the New Jerusalem and all eternity. Jesus (the Living Candlestick) shining all over us the people of God! (No sun needed there, the ineffable Aura of God the Son bespeaks His Presence and His Delight in His Body, His Church, His Kingdom! In all His precious redeemed ones!

Wow!

And just “when” (in ancient Israel) was this sublime Fellowship, this sweet Communion to occur?

Primarily and particularly for the Jew … on the Sabbath Day! (In fact, that Bread, all twelve loaves, was to be changed every Sabbath! Renewed, refreshed, recreated (in a way) … to further soak in the Light emanating from the Candlestick/Lampstand!

And just think of the quality of Light in that Room! A golden Candlestick, a golden Table, and gold overlaid walls! What reflectivity, what radiance, what brilliance! Then think of the Glory of Jesus we (in a limited sense) now enjoy … via the Word of God and the Holy Spirit!

What will it be when we see Jesus literally? The Mount of Transfiguration re-lived in front of our very eyes!

Wow!

Now tomorrow, the Lord willing … we shall look at the rest of Leviticus 24, which mentions (three times) “the Name of the Lord.” 

A man there would NOT honor “the Name of the Lord!” He blasphemed Almighty God, in reality! The Very Name we must have “shining” upon our lives, being diminished (in verses 10-16) by derogatory speech!

Yes, I am saying that Communion/Fellowship with God (the principle illustrated by the Candlestick and Shewbread) is dependent on one’s valuation of God’s Name! On one’s delighting in God’s Name!

But as I said … more tomorrow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Unexpectedly we find information here about the “shewbread” (using the name for it popularized in the Book of Exodus) that is not supplied anywhere else in Scripture! (Called “shewbread/showbread” because it was to be placed “before the FACE of Almighty God” within the Tabernacle’s Holy Place! So He could SEE it and be delighted in it! This Bread undoubtedly represents Jesus as the BREAD OF LIFE! That’s why God so pleased with it, so intent in gazing upon it!)

Yet … Numbers 24:5-9 (today’s Text) does NOT use the term “shewbread” at all! Here we simply have “twelve cakes!”

“5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake TWELVE CAKES thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. 7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons’; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.”

Let’s study …

Twelve cakes … representative of the Twelve Tribes of Israel … enough Food to meet everyone’s needs! Enough Jesus! (Same idea as the twelve stones on the High Priest’s Breastplate … enough Love (worn on the Priest’s chest, over his heart) to go around to everyone!

“Two tenth deals” … in verse 5 above … equals about two gallons of flour, fine flour! Pretty big loaves! Implying that Jesus is more than enough for all our needs!

Amen!

“Set in rows,” two rows in fact … a picture of Jesus being organized (no chaos) and aesthetically (spiritually too) pleasing to His Father’s Eyes! (“Altogether Lovely,” so says Song of Solomon!)

And the “frankincense” … typified the sweet Aroma Jesus brought to His Father’s Nostrils! A “sweet savour” Offering if you will recall Leviticus chapters 1 through 3, those Offerings. When frankincense is burned (gets hot as in an oven) it emits the sweetest smell imaginable!

This Bread was also to be “always fresh” being changed every week, every Sabbath! (Verse 8 above.) And need I even say it? Jesus too is always Fresh, never Stale!

Then, last of all, Aaron and his sons (the priests) could EAT that bread every week! (Verse 9 above.) Feeding upon Jesus our Lord! As is depicted in Psalm 34:3 … “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

What a paragraph today, instructing the Priests of ancient Israel how to respect the Bread of God!

By the way, if you are saved … you too in God’s Eyes are a priest! Enjoy Jesus then … all day long!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Yes, Revelation 1:6 says God … “hath made us kings and PRIESTS unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Wow!

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