The Candlestick

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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The candlestick comes next in order (Ex. 25:31-40). Like the mercy seat, it was made of pure gold, having no wood in its composition, so that nothing human, only that which is divine is symbolized through it. Its seven branches would speak of perfection, the number seven in Scripture indicating completeness or perfection, whether in good or in evil. The light was furnished by oil, which is a type of the Spirit of God. In olden days, kings and prophets were anointed with oil. In the present day, believers are anointed with the Spirit of God. (See 2 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 2:20,27.)
In the words of another, “Putting therefore these three things together in their typical meanings — the number seven, the gold and the oil — the result is that the significance of the candlestick is divine light in its perfection in the power of the Spirit. It is God giving the light of the Holy Spirit, and this is displayed in its sevenfold perfection.” The priests who moved about in the holy place could see the beauty of all that was there, as this sevenfold light was thrown upon the golden furniture and walls and reflected back their brightness and fell upon the handsome curtains with their varied hues. Even so now the Spirit of God presents Christ in His loveliness to the soul. “He will guide you into all truth”; “He shall glorify Me.” And as this blessed One is unfolded to our hearts, we can say, Yes, altogether lovely! It is in the sanctuary that the light is shining; there it is the beauties are displayed. So it is that we learn Christ in God’s presence, as taught of Him by the Spirit. Is there no light outside? Is all lying in darkness? Gross, moral darkness would have filled the scene when Christ, “the light of the world,” went up on high, had not God made gracious provision to preserve them from such a calamity. He left a people, in whom He had put His Spirit, in the world, that they might reflect Christ and thus “shine as lights” in the dark scene (Phil. 2:15). This we get in the seven candlesticks of Revelation 1:20. There it is not the sevenfold power of the Spirit of God in the sanctuary, but the seven churches in the world. Christ is seen in His majesty in the midst of the candlesticks, trying the ways of His people, and noting whether or not they are giving forth light for Him. How great then is the responsibility of the Christian to learn Christ in the sanctuary, and to go forth and reflect Him in the world. May each of His own seek to allow nothing in word or deed that would hinder the Spirit to take of “the things that are Christ’s” and show them unto him. And may each be a light in the world, reflecting Christ until He comes.