Exodus 25:31-40: a reflection

31“You shall make a lamp stand of pure gold. The lamp stand shall be made of hammered work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32There shall be 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; 33three 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; 34and in the lamp stand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 35and 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 the lamp stand. 36Their buds and their branches shall be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold. 37You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it. 38Its snuffers and its snuff dishes shall be of pure gold. 39It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories. 40See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.

God gives detailed instructions for a lampstand of pure gold, hammered from a single piece, with branches shaped like almond blossoms, buds, and flowers, holding seven lamps to give light in the holy place. It is a work of beauty as much as function, a golden tree of light standing in God's dwelling. Every detail is specified, and Moses is told to make it exactly according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain.

Two things stand out. First, the lampstand gave light in a place that would otherwise be dark, a reminder that God's presence is meant to be a place of light, not gloom. Second, its beauty was not incidental; God cared that his dwelling be lovely, adorned like a flowering almond tree wrought in gold. The God who fills his house with light also fills it with beauty, and he asked that it be made faithfully, after the heavenly pattern.

In the New Testament, God's people are called to be light in the world, shining in dark places. Like the lampstand, you are meant to give light where you are, and the source of that light is God's own presence within you. Ask him to make you a bearer of his light, shaped faithfully after the pattern of Christ, and to let something of his beauty show through your life. A lamp exists to shine; let your life give light in whatever dark place God has set you.

Lord, you filled your dwelling with light and beauty through the golden lampstand, made faithfully after your pattern. Make me a bearer of your light in the dark places where you have set me. Let your presence within me shine out, shaped after the pattern of Christ, and let something of your beauty show through my life. I exist to give your light; help me shine. Amen.