“The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron that when he sets up the seven lamps in the lampstand, he is to place them so that their light shines forward” (Numbers 8:1 NLT).
In Bible times, lamps and lampstands represented God’s presence among His people. The priests were in charge of making sure the lampstands were burning brightly to signify the Tabernacle, the temple, the tent of worship was open for business.
God gave specific directions as to what type of lampstand were to be fashioned. He provided intricate detail indicating the types of lamps (candles or oil-burning to be used. And, as we read today, instruction as to which direction the lamp’s light was to shine.
Here’s my take on all of this…
As we worship, coming into our churches or kneeling in our prayer closets, we must focus on the fact that God is present. Not that He was present yesterday, last week or when the Israelites roamed the wilderness, but that He’s with us today. We can use the instruction given regarding the lampstand to remind us that our today is illuminated with His presence. His guiding light shines upon our next step. What was done yesterday by the Lord is worthy of our thanks, but who He is today, in the here and now, is deserving of our praise.
Is the light of your praise for God facing forward? Are you praising Him regardless of what He’s done, the miracles you’ve seen Him do, the ways He has blessed you in the past? Or are you in awe, reverent awe, of who He continues to be?
Malinda Edgell
Illinois
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Free Will Baptist believers in Panama as they meet for worship today.
