Context No. 2525 of 4322 · Exodus

Exodus 37:10-16: in context

10He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a half. 11He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 12He made a border of a hand’s width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it. 13He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet. 14The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table. 15He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. 16He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour out, of pure gold.

Among the furnishings of the tabernacle, Bezalel makes the table: acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, a molding around its edge, rings and poles to carry it, and gold vessels to go on it. On this table would sit the bread of the Presence, twelve loaves kept continually before the LORD, replaced each Sabbath, always there.

The table was made to hold a standing provision, bread kept perpetually in God's presence. It was not for occasional use; something was always to be set before him. There is a quiet picture in it of steady, unbroken fellowship, a place kept ready and never left bare. God wanted a table before him that was always laid. It presses a question about my own life with him: is there a place kept continually set, a steady presence-before-God, or do I come to his table only now and then, letting long stretches pass with nothing laid out? The bread of the Presence was daily, not occasional.

Is there a place in my life kept continually set before God, a steady, daily presence, or do I come to his table only occasionally?

Sources

Exodus 37:10: He made the table of acacia wood... and overlaid it with pure gold.
Exodus 37:16: He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers, of pure gold.
Exodus 25:30: You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.