The tabernacle in the wilderness was set up for the specific purpose that God might dwell among His people and be glorified in their midst. Of all God’s instructions, one point is striking in particular: the term continually occurs seven times in God’s directives given to Moses in Exodus.

Many things in the tabernacle system illustrate various aspects of Christ’s person and work. This helps us understand God’s desire that the things which speak of Christ should continue. As to the table of showbread of today’s verse, the loaves or cakes placed on it were baked from fine flour and covered with pure frankincense (Lev. 24:5). This flour symbolizes Christ’s human perfections as the fruit of the earth. The twelve cakes represent the entire people of God, as He sees them, reflecting Christ. These cakes were placed in two rows of six (v. 6) on the pure table made according to God’s instructions and set there before the Lord continually (v. 8).

Let’s apply these things to us today. All true born-again Christians belong to the people of God. God is pleased to see Christ in heaven reflected in and through His people who have received a new nature and have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The table—another type of Christ as the Sustainer of God’s people—upholds the cakes. Placed in God’s presence as a memorial before Him, the cakes remind Him of the beauties of Christ as He was on earth, which are now reflected in His people. God desires this to continue until the Lord will come again. Furthermore, every Sabbath these cakes were replaced by fresh ones, while those which had stood there during the week that had just passed became food for the priests. What is food for God, for His satisfaction, becomes food for His priestly sons—marvelous privilege!