Exodus 25:23–30 “The Living Bread of the Presence”

Exodus 25:23-30 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Dwell Songs – Abide ft. Aaron Williams
• Hillsong – I Surrender
• Bryan & Katie Torwalt – Holy Spirit

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• The Tabernacle – The Table of ShowBread – (Exodus 25:23-30) – Lesson for Kids
• I’ve got the Joy Joy Joy | Kids Songs | Hi Heaven – Song for Kids
• Won’t Worry ‘Bout A Thing | Shipwrecked VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• This is the Day | True North VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Next, God commands the construction of a table to hold the holy bread, known as the “Bread of the Presence.” This table is to be made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold, with a gold molding around it (vv. 23–24). A rim a handbreadth wide is to be attached around the edge, and that too is to be decorated with gold molding (v. 25). To allow the table to be carried, gold rings are to be fastened to the four corners of the table near the rim, and poles made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold are to be inserted into the rings (vv. 26–28).

On the table are to be placed plates, dishes, pitchers, and bowls—all made of pure gold (v. 29). Upon these golden vessels, the holy bread must be continually set before the Lord (v. 30). According to Leviticus 24:5–9, this bread is to be replaced with fresh bread every week. This table must be placed in front of the Ark of the Covenant.

Meditation:

The “holy bread presented to me” (v. 30) is also called the “Bread of the Presence.” The Hebrew phrase lechem panim literally means “bread before the face (presence) of God.” Twelve loaves were to be placed on the table, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. There are three main reasons for always putting the twelve loaves before the Ark of the Covenant.

First, it signifies that the people of Israel are always living in the presence of God. This bread was to be placed continually before the Ark, just as they were to live continually before God’s presence. Because God is spirit, we who live in the flesh often forget His abiding presence. By keeping the Bread of the Presence always before the Ark, they were to remember that they lived before the face of God. That is why the Apostle Paul writes, “We live before God, in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17). The Latin phrase for this is Coram Deo—living in the presence of God.

Second, the Bread of the Presence symbolizes that the people of Israel are a people offered and dedicated to God. Just as these loaves were set apart from all other bread and presented to the Lord, the Israelites were to be set apart as God’s people—a kingdom of priests. This was according to God’s providential plan to lead all nations back to Himself. Therefore, as a consecrated people, the Israelites were called to live holy lives. A life lived in holiness according to God’s will becomes a sacred offering—nourishment that satisfies God.

Jesus declared that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father (John 14:10). He also said that if we abide in Him, we are in the Father through Him (John 17:21). In this way, Jesus makes believers into the “living Bread of the Presence.” He has even removed the short distance between the Ark and the bread, drawing us not just near to God but bringing us to dwell in God. In doing so, Jesus fulfilled and completed the meaning of the Bread of the Presence.

Prayer:

Lord, who has made us the “living Bread of the Presence,”
we lay down our entire being and all that we have before You.
Use us for Your will. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God calls us to live in His presence every day and to be holy, set apart for His purpose, just like the Bread of the Presence in the Tabernacle. Through Jesus, we don’t just live near God; we live in God and become His “living bread,” bringing joy to Him through our lives.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Have you ever made something special and placed it in a special spot? Why did you do that?
  • The Bible says we are like the “Bread of the Presence.” What do you think that means?
  • How can we remember that God is always with us, even when we can’t see Him?
    
• For Youth
  • What does it mean to you to live “in God’s presence” every day? Can you think of a moment this week when you felt that?
  • The bread was holy and set apart for God. What are some small ways you can set apart your life for God, even if no one else sees?
  • Jesus brought us so close to God that we now live in Him. How does that make you think differently about your identity or your purpose?