Exodus 37:17-24: a reflection

17He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side: 19three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower; so for the six branches going out of the lamp stand. 20In the lamp stand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 21and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it. 22Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold. 23He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold. 24He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels.

Among the furnishings of the tabernacle, this passage describes the making of the golden lampstand, hammered out of a single piece of pure gold, with its branches and cups shaped like almond blossoms, and its seven lamps. Its purpose was to give light in the holy place, which had no other source of light; the lampstand burned continually, so that the place of God's presence would not be in darkness.

Notice the lampstand's purpose: to give light. In the holy place, where God dwelt, the lampstand shone, dispelling the darkness, so that the priests could see to minister and the presence of God was surrounded by light. It was made to shine, to be a bearer of light in a place that would otherwise be dark. Its whole reason for being was to give light.

That points to what God calls his people to be. In the book of Revelation, the churches are pictured as lampstands, called to bear light in a dark world; and Jesus told his followers, You are the light of the world. Like the lampstand, we are made to give light, to shine in the darkness around us, reflecting the light of Christ, who is himself the true Light. Do not hide the light God has given you, or let it go dim. You are made to be a lampstand, bearing light where God has placed you, dispelling darkness by reflecting the light of Christ. Shine where you are, so that others may see the light, and let your life give light in the dark places around you, as the lampstand gave light in the holy place.

Lord, the golden lampstand was made to give light in the holy place, burning continually so that the place of your presence would not be in darkness; its whole purpose was to shine. And your word tells me that your people are lampstands, called to bear light in a dark world, and that Jesus told his followers, you are the light of the world. Like the lampstand, I am made to give light, to shine in the darkness around me, reflecting the light of Christ, who is himself the true Light. Keep me from hiding the light you have given me, or letting it go dim. Help me be a lampstand, bearing light where you have placed me, dispelling darkness by reflecting the light of Christ. Help me shine where I am, so that others may see the light, and let my life give light in the dark places around me. Let me not hide your light, but shine for you.