THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK.

Ex. 25:31-40

     Just inside the door of the tabernacle and at the left of the entrance stood the golden candlestick.

     Can you not imagine the beauty and grandeur of this room, all lined with pure gold; having golden furniture, and pure linen curtains of blue, purple and scarlet? The curtains overhead and between the two rooms had figures of cherubim worked on them. As he performed his duties the priest would surely feel as though he were in a heavenly place and in the presence of Jehovah.

     The candlestick was wrought of solid gold worth about thirty thousand dollars. A talent of gold was beaten into this piece of exquisite workmanship. It consisted of one stem or branch in the center with three lateral branches springing from either side probably a little lower-and it was adorned with three kinds of ornaments: knops, flowers and bowls like unto almonds. The knops seem to have been fruit, probably pomegranates. Thus each of the branches running upon either side world be adorned with a flower of gold, then a pomegranate n little farther up the branch; and then on the top the almond bowl containing the oil with which the light was maintained

     When we described the layer you remember we said that it was one of two pieces of furniture for which the dimensions were not given. The golden candlestick is the other. The Bible does not give the size, but describes the shape fairly well.

     Light, as well as water, is very essential to life. In the first chapter of Genesis we read that God created light on the first day. It is the chief glory of the natural world. Light is also necessary to spiritual life, and is used through the Bible as the symbol of God's presence.

     I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12).

     that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5 b)

     The candlestick also represents the church, for in Matthew we read:

     Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. - Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16.)

     That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. (Phil. 2:15.)

     But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who bath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Pet. 12:9 )

     If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (I John 1:6, 7.)

     It has been said that all light and heat on the earth come either directly or indirectly from the sun. This is probably true, but we do know that we receive our light from Christ. All of our light, morally and spiritually, comes from Jesus Christ.

     That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9.)