We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. שֻׁלְחָן table. It is used 71 times in the Old Testament, four times in our chapter today. Our word is used in the sense of a piece of furniture having a smooth flat top that is usually supported by one or more vertical legs. The most common use for our word would be for eating a meal. 1 Samuel 20:34 Jonathan rose from הַשֻּׁלְחָ֖ן the table in fierce anger and ate no food. 2 Samuel 9:7, 10 You shall eat at my שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י table always … Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my שֻׁלְחָנִ֑י table. Most of the uses of our word refer to one specific table. In our chapter the uses speak to the construction of one of the items used in this early temple worship that God set up. Exodus 25:23, 27-28, 30 You shall make a שֻׁלְחָ֖ן table of acacia wood … Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry הַשֻּׁלְחָֽן the table. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and הַשֻּׁלְחָֽן the table shall be carried with these … And you shall set the bread of the Presence on הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן the table before me regularly. The next chapter talks about its location in the tabernacle. Exodus 26:35 And you shall set הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side. The other uses in Exodus refer to the table being made according to God’s instruction. Then in Leviticus we find instructions to its use. Leviticus 24:5-8 You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it ... And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on הַשֻּׁלְחָ֥ן the table of pure gold before the Lord. Then we find our word used as one of the items in the tabernacle worship that was to be guarded by the Levites. Numbers 3:31-32 And their guard duty involved the ark, וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen; all the service connected with these. In the instructions on the division of the work of the temple and its items we find another reference. Numbers 4:7 And over the שֻׁלְחַ֣ן table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it. Did you notice that our table is called the table of the bread of presence? This speaks to how the table was used as part of their worship. We will look at the bread of presence in a couple of days. For today I find it interesting that part of the worship of God back then involved a table. This speaks to God’s heart of wanting to connect with us in a fellowship relational way. I’ll close with Jesus sitting around a table with his closest followers setting up the Lord’s supper to remember what he was soon to do. He Made it possible to be connected to God by his death in our place for our sins. Luke 22:14-20 He reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
