Intercession in the Holy Place

INTERCESSION 5
The Journey of Prayer
Through the Tabernacle
THE HOLY PLACE;
THE TABLE OF SHOW BREAD

REVIEW:
1. In the past four lessons, we learned the following:
a. The fence of God’s holiness keeps us out of
fellowship with God, but there is one gate through
the tabernacle and that gate is Jesus Christ
b. We enter through the gate with thanksgiving and
praise
c. When we enter from the outside through the gate,
we land in the outer court of courtyard of the
tabernacle

REVIEW:
d. The courtyard is the place of:
d.1. praise
d.2. preparation
d.3. planning (how far we want to go through the
tabernacle:
just at the outer court
to the Holy Place
or up to the Holy of Holies)
e. The first article we meet at the courtyard is the
brazen altar

REVIEW:
f. The brazen altar stands for what God has done for
and given to us (He gave His only Son who died for
us – sacrificial lamb); it is also the place where we
offer our all to Him and “slay” the things of the flesh
g. The brazen altar is followed by the brazen wash
laver, where the priests wash their hands and feet
with clean water
h. Water represent the Word of God which:
h.1. washes
h.2. reflects
h.3. refreshes us.

ALL THIS, NO MATTER HOW GOOD AND
SUBLIME, ARE JUST THE OUTER COURT
EXPERIENCE OF PRAYER.
There is a Holy of Place that follows.

Initial Notes:
a. The Courtyard, also called the Outer Court, is also
called the Court of the Gentiles – it is for all people
in general
b. But the Holy Place is for the PRIESTS alone
c. The articles in the Courtyard are all made of
BRONZE, while the articles in the Holy Place are
made of GOLD:
c.1. the Table of Showbread is made of acacia wood
overlaid with pure gold
c.2. the Menorah is entirely made of pure gold
(beaten)
c.3. the Altar of Incense is made of acacia wood
overlaid with pure gold
I. THE HOLY PLACE:
ITS PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

Lessons and applications:
a. ALL PEOPLE are invited to come to God through Christ
a.1. brazen altar essentially means SALVATION
a.2. wash laver essentially means SANCTIFICATION
b. But the HOLY PLACE is for believers WHO ARE
HUNGRIER FOR THE DEEPER CHRISTIAN
EXPERIENCE; THEY WANT TO KNOW GOD
DEEPER, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL
NEEDS AND DESIRES, BUT ARE WILLING TO
PARTNER WITH GOD IN HIS WORK AMONG
OTHER PEOPLE (the priesthood posture)
I. THE HOLY PLACE:

Lessons and applications:
c. The Courtyard represents people who are no longer
under judgment
(the bronze of the courtyard), (Romans 5:1, Romans
6:13, John 17:17, Eph. 5:26)
d. But the Holy Place represent a hunger to move on
towards “gold” – the richness of KNOWING the
Lord deeper
I. THE HOLY PLACE:

When the priests enter the Holy Place, the article to their
right is the Table of Showbread.
II. THE TABLE OF SHOW BREAD

Exodus 25:23-30 23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood:
two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth
thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 24 And thou shalt
overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round
about. 25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth
round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border
thereof round about. 26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of
gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet
thereof. 27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of
the staves to bear the table. 28 And thou shalt make the staves of
shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be
borne with them. 29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and
spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover
withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. 30 And thou shalt set
upon the table shewbread before me alway.

Please notice:
1. The table is made of acacia wood (representing humanity)
and overlaid with pure gold (representing divinity)
This represents two important truths:
a. Jesus, who was both God and man the same time
b. It also represents God’s desire to have union (intimacy,
fellowship) with man – the meeting of the wood and
the gold
2. The table has plates and dishes (made of pure gold), as
well as pitchers and bowls for pouring of offerings.
This represents a DINING together (Rev. 3:20)

Every week the priests set the “bread of the Presence” on the
table, and every Sabbath, they eat it, and replace them with
new bread. This represents that God and man eat at the same
table.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE WORD TABLE IS
MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE.
(“Principle of First Mention” – when an important concept,
truth or doctrine is first mentioned in the Bible, it is not
accidental. It is meant convey a foundational truth. The
FIRST TABLE we must all seek in our life is the TABLE OF
COMMUNION OR INTIMACY WITH GOD.)

Lev 24:5-9 “And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes
with it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake. You shall set
them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the
LORD. And you shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it
may be on the bread for a memorial, an offering made by fire to the
LORD. Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD
continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an
everlasting covenant. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and
they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him from the
offerings of the LORD made by fire, by a perpetual statute.”

Notes:
1. This table is called the Table of “showbread” or
“shewbread” because its literal meaning is 'bread of the
face', i.e. bread set out before the face or presence of
God.
2. 12 cakes of bread arranged in two rows representing
the twelve tribes of Israel – the priests therefore stand
in representation of all the people of Israel

3. The ingredients of the bread are:
• Fine Flour (from the earth) – represents sustenance,
food, daily food
• Baked (“burned” – to signify they are being offered;
offering)
• Unleavened (nothing artificial)
• Two-tenths of an ephah – one tenth is symbolic of the
tithe, the “law”; here, it is two tenths (one who loves
the Lord is willing to offer twice more than what is
“required”; Jacob who loved Rachel was willing to
work a second set of 7 years for the one she loved)
• Sprinkled with pure frankincense

Frankincense is a resin from a frankincense tree, used for
incense and perfumes. It gives it best fragrance when burned.
Frankincense on the bread, an offering made by fire, suggests
that this fellowship and intimacy with God is experienced
in the context or posture of PRAYER. There is communion
with Jesus (the Bread) when we pray.
4. The Bread of the Presence is to be set before Him AT ALL
TIMES. (Exodus 25:30) 30 Put the bread of the Presence on this
table to be before me at all times.

1. Praying at “Holy Place” level is like having a DINNER
DATE with God: we hope to meet with Him at the table of
intimacy
2. We go prepared for a dinner:
a. We have obtained the right to meet him (by the blood
of Jesus: brazen altar)
b. We have “cleansed” ourselves before coming (the
“washing” of the Word at the wash laver)
c. We put on the right garments or clothes (the garment
of praise and thanksgiving when we entered through
the gate, Psalm 100:4) 4 Enter his gates with
thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him
and praise his name.

d. We are not in a hurry, agitated, or distracted; dinner is
LINGERING in the presence of the gracious host (“Be
still and know God” Psalm 46:10 – the “that I am” is
not in the original text; it is not “Be still and I know
that I am God”, but “be still and know God”)
e. Our food is HIS PRESENCE; (Remember always the
name of the Bread: it is called “THE BREAD OF HIS
PRESENCE” (Exodus 25:30)

 John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He
who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me
shall never thirst."
 John 6:51-58 "I am the living bread which came down from
heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the
bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life
of the world. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of
the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is
the bread which came down from heaven-- not as your fathers ate
the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live
forever."
 John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits
nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are
life."

f. This food is “cooked” by holy fire with frankincense:
meaning, THIS BREAD OF THE PRESENCE is “cooked”
BY PRAYER (the spirit, posture, attitude, mood of prayer)
g. THE KEY TO ANY GREAT DINNER DATE IS THE
CONVERSATION AND THE INTER-ACTION:
f.1. we must know how to listen
f.2. we must be on the same “wave length” (ex., if the host
is sharing joy, we share the joy; if grief, then grief; if
great concern, then great concern)

f.3. we must interested in the topics of the host
f.4. WE ALSO ARE OPEN WITH OUR NEEDS (Matthew
6:9-11. The prayer to “give us our daily bread” came
only AFTER discussion of “hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done”.)
HOW IS THIS ACHIEVED?
STILLNESS in the presence of God. Psalm 46:10, “BE STILL
AND KNOW GOD…”

 The word “still” in the Bible and in the Dead Sea Scroll
Hebrew is the interesting Hebrew word “hmmd”. Its real
meaning has been debated through the centuries. It
suggests a complete stillness whereby the ONLY
ACTIVITY LEFT is breathing (“hmmd”) and nothing else.
 Hebrew language also associates the word with
“mourning”, as if someone has died.
 The over-all meaning has therefore come to a STILLNESS
whereby we have become SO ENAMORED OR
FOCUSSED on the one we are listening to or looking at
where we are as if “dead” to ourselves, fully fixated on the
one we are talking to, and the only activity we can do is to
breathe. (Example: when we are talking with a crush or
object of affection that we “forget” ourselves.)

 The word “still” in the Bible and in the Dead Sea Scroll
Hebrew is the interesting Hebrew word “hmmd”. Its real
meaning has been debated through the centuries. It
suggests a complete stillness whereby the ONLY
ACTIVITY LEFT is breathing (“hmmd”) and nothing else.
 Hebrew language also associates the word with
“mourning”, as if someone has died.

 The over-all meaning has therefore come to a STILLNESS
whereby we have become SO ENAMORED OR
FOCUSSED on the one we are listening to or looking at
where we are as if “dead” to ourselves, fully fixated on the
one we are talking to, and the only activity we can do is to
breathe. (Example: when we are talking with a crush or
object of affection that we “forget” ourselves.)
 Meaning, stillness is being in love with the Lord.

They are made of pure gold:
1. Dishes (breadplates)
2. Pans or Spoons (to sprinkle frankincense)
3. Pitchers (for liquid offerings)
4. Bowls (vessels containing the frankincense)
III. THE FOUR VESSELS IN THE
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

Procedure:
-Every seventh (Sabbath) day, fresh hot loaves were
provided by Aaron. The priests were entitled to eat the
old loaves while standing in the Holy Place.
-The frankincense that was removed each week was as a
special oblation (offering) to God.
-12 loaves were the same material, size, and weight (no
partiality).
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

Procedure:
-According to Lev 22, if a priest was unclean he couldn't
eat of the shewbread. No layman, or daughter married
to a layman, or a hired servant could eat of the
shewbread. But a purchased slave or those born in his
house could.
-According to tradition 8 priests held hands as they
changed the bread, and passed it for fellowship.
-They were to be holy because of the bread
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

Lev 21:6 `They shall be holy to their God and not profane the
name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the LORD
made by fire, and the bread of their God; therefore they shall
be holy.
INTERESTING NOTE: In the Old Testament, the priests
could not sit down!
For although the bread was on a table, no priest could ever be
seated at that table or anywhere else in the tabernacle. Priests
always stood while they carried out their duties. There was no
place to be seated, no provision for rest in this pattern of
worship and no suggestion that their task was ever
completed.
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

HOWEVER, after Christ’s death:
Heb 10:11-14 "And every priest stands ministering daily and
offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away
sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins
forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time
waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering
He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

AND RIGHT NOW, WE:
 Ephesians 2:6 – And God RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST, and
SEATED US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS IN
CHREIST JESUS…
 This is all BY HIS GRACE!!! (Eph. 2:8) 8 For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God—
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

MEANING, WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION
NOW THAN EVEN THE PRIESTS OF THE OLD
TESTAMENT, because at the Table of the Bread of His
Presence, WE CAN ALREADY SIT DOWN AND RELAX!
Thus, our prayer time today after the resurrection of Christ
is supposed to be better than that of the Old Testament
saints. (Note: read the book of Hebrews. Its theme is that
we have FAR BETER AND SUPERIOR SYSTEM than what
the Old Testament saints had…)
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD:

I. THE MENORAH
(The Seven Golden Lampstand)

 EXODUS 27:31-40
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work
shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls,
his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. 32 And six branches
shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out
of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other
side: 33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a
flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other
branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come
out of the candlestick. 34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls
made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
I. THE MENORAH

 EXODUS 27:31-40
35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a
knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two
branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out
of the candlestick. 36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the
same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 37 And thou shalt
make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof,
that they may give light over against it. 38 And the tongs thereof,
and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. 39 Of a talent of
pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. 40 And look that
thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the
mount.
I. THE MENORAH

A. WHY SEVEN LAMPSTAND?
Some very interesting things about the number 7 in the Bible:
1. This number is used more than all other numbers in
the Word of God, save the number ONE.
2. The heavens and the earth is 7:
Earth is 4 – land, sea, air, and under the earth; north south,
east, west (four corners)
Heaven is 3 – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd heaven
Total &, picture of completeness and perfection
I. THE MENORAH

3. In the Book of Revelation the number SEVEN is used
throughout. There are SEVEN churches, SEVEN Spirits,
SEVEN stars, SEVEN seals, SEVEN trumpets, SEVEN vials,
SEVEN personages, SEVEN dooms, and SEVEN new things.
SEVEN symbolizes Spiritual Perfection. All of life revolves
around this number. SEVEN is used over 700 times in the
Bible. It is used 54 times in the Book of Revelation.
4. In Leviticus 23:15-16, the number SEVEN and the Sabbath,
which was the SEVENTH day, is connected with the word
COMPLETE. The word COMPLETE follows after the words
“SEVEN SABBATH” (Seventh day). The day following the
SEVENTH sabbath there was something NEW that took place.
I. THE MENORAH

5. The word FINISHED is also connected with the number
SEVEN. In Revelation 10:7 we read,
“In the days of the voice of the SEVENTH angel, when he shall
begin to sound the mystery of God should be FINISHED.”
6. “It is DONE” is another expression found in connection
with the number Seven.
“And the SEVENTH angel poured out his vial into the air; and
there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne
saying, It is DONE.” (Revelation 16:17)
I. THE MENORAH

7. The word CREATED is used SEVEN times in connection
with God’s creative work. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:21; 1:27
(three times); 2:3; and 2:4). God created all things in the
beginning and then took six days of restoring His creation
and then rested on the SEVENTH day. (Genesis 2:1-3). He
appointed SEVEN days for the week, and most, if not all
advanced nations reckon time in that way: SEVEN days to the
week. Few ever stop to think of why there are SEVEN days in
a week. Do atheists and infidels give God and the Bible credit
for it?
I. THE MENORAH

8. There are SEVEN notes in the musical scale. All other
pitches are only variations of these. When the musician uses
the eighth note he goes back to “do” and starts over. Man
named the notes but God fixed the sounds, even as God fixed
the days of the week, and man named them.
9. Noah took the clean beasts into the ark by SEVENS
(Genesis 7:2) SEVEN days after Noah went into the ark the
flood came. (Genesis 7:-10) Peter tells about the long-suffering
of God waiting in the days of Noah. (I Peter 3:21) Those
SEVEN days COMPLETED God’s time of waiting.
I. THE MENORAH

10. Before Aaron and his sons entered their priestly work
they were consecrated SEVEN days. (Leviticus 8:31-36) Here
is a picture of a life COMPLETELY or WHOLLY consecrated
or dedicated to the Lord for service.
11. On the day of atonement the high priest sprinkled the
blood upon the mercy seat SEVEN times. (Leviticus 16:14)
This is a picture of the COMPLETENESS of the redemptive
work of Christ.
I. THE MENORAH

“By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12)
When Christ offered Himself that FINISHED the sacrificial
offerings. They were ended. No longer must we place
sacrifices upon an altar for our salvation. It is finished.
12. When Israel took the city of Jericho God told them to
march around the city SEVEN times. Thus, on the SEVENTH
day, when they marched around the city SEVEN times, they
COMPLETED their marching. (Joshua 6:1-16)
I. THE MENORAH

13. There were SEVEN FEAST days of our Lord. (Passover,
Unleavened, First-fruits, Pentecost, Atonement, Trumpets and
Tabernacle). (Leviticus 23:1-44)
14. There were SEVEN branches on the CANDLESTICK in
the Holy Place in the Tabernacle and this pictures the
COMPLETE light of God for the souls of man.
I. THE MENORAH

15. Solomon was SEVEN years in building the Temple and
kept the Feast for SEVEN days. Job had SEVEN sons. When
his friends came to visit him they sat SEVEN days and SEVEN
nights in silence, and afterward they were required to offer a
Burnt Offering of SEVEN bullocks and SEVEN rams.
Naaaman washed SEVEN times in the Jordan. The Saviour
spoke SEVEN words from the Cross. SEVEN men of honest
report were chosen to administer the alms of the church in
Acts 6:1-7. There were SEVEN years of plenty and SEVEN
years of famine in Egypt during the days of Joseph.
I. THE MENORAH

16. SEVEN times in the Book of Revelation blessing of the
Lord are promised to His people. These are called the
“BEATITUDES” of Revelation. These are found in Chapters
1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14.
17. SEVEN times the Book of Life is mentioned in the Bible.
The Book of Revelation is a Book of SEVENS. We have SEVEN
churches, SEVEN seals, SEVEN Trumpets, SEVEN
Personages, SEVEN vails (sic), SEVEN dooms, SEVEN new
things. SEVEN SEVENS make up this Book . It is the
COMPLETENESS of all things.
I. THE MENORAH

18. Jesus said to “forgive SEVENTY times SEVEN“ In other
words, He is saying, “Keep on forgiving until you are
complete.” Even the duration of Israel’s great punishments
was based upon this law of SEVENS. Their captivity in
Babylon was for SEVENTY years, ten periods of SEVENS.
(Jeremiah 25:11-12; Daniel l9:2)
I. THE MENORAH

19. Life operates in a cycle of SEVENS. Changes take place in
the body every SEVEN years. There are SEVEN bones in the
neck, SEVEN bones in the face, SEVEN bones in the ankle,
and SEVEN holes in the head. Most births are multiple of
SEVENS. The hen sits three weeks (21 days); the pigeon two
weeks (14 days); after having laid eggs for two weeks. Of 129
species of Mammalia (sic) the majority have a period from
conception to birth of an exact number of weeks, a multiple of
SEVEN.
I. THE MENORAH

20. Human physiology is constructed on a law of SEVENS.
Children are born to mothers in a certain number of weeks
usually 280 days, a multiple of SEVENS. Fevers and
intermittent attacks of gout, ague, and similar complaints
have a period of operation of SEVEN, FOURTEEN or
TWENTY-ONE days knows as critical days.
21. The SEVENTH time Noah’s name occurs is where it is
said,
“Noah was a just man, and PERFECT in his generations.”
(Genesis 6:9)
I. THE MENORAH

B. WHAT THE SEVEN LAMPSTAND SIGNIFIES:
1. First, it represents THE FULL WORKS OF THE SEVEN-
FOLD SPIRIT OF GOD IN OUR LIVES
ISAIAH 11:1-3 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the
LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the
fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in
the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his
eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
I. THE MENORAH

B. WHAT THE SEVEN LAMPSTAND SIGNIFIES:
The seven-lampstand, therefore, signifies the COMPLETE,
FULL WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A CHRISTIAN’S
LIFE.
A Christian must be FULLY OPEN TO THE FULL WORKS OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT. We must not limit or quench the Spirit of
God.
I. THE MENORAH

2. Second, IT REPRESENTS CONTINOUS, SPIRIT-LED or
directed PRAYER of ROYAL-PRIESTS.
The lampstand is fueled by OIL. Oil represents the Holy
Spirit. In EXODUS 27:21, the Lord commanded Moses to
instruct the priests to KEEP THE LAMPS BURNING. NON-
STOP, CONTINOUS, DAY IN DAY OUT. (This is the basis for
the 24-7 House of Prayer movement.)
I. THE MENORAH

Note also: the lampstand is made of BEATEN
GOLD representing the shaped or formed CHARACTER of
ROYAL (king) PRIESTHOOD of the Christian.
WHEN WE PRAY AND INTERECEDE, we do so in the
posture as SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE KING. I Pet
2:9, Rev. 1:6, Rev. 5:10 (KJV please). We must never forget that
we are royal-priests.
Rev. 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we
shall reign on the earth.
I. THE MENORAH

3. Third, VERY IMPORTANT: the LAMPSTAND
REPRESENTS THE STANDING OF THE BODY OF
CHRIST (CHURCH) before the DIVINE (OR HEAVENLY)
COUNCIL.
REVELATIONS 1:19-20
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will
take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my
right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven
stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands
are the seven churches.
I. THE MENORAH

A LAMPSTAND CAN BE REMOVED IN THE DIVINE
COUNCIL, when the body of Christ has lost her passion or
“first love” for Christ.
Summary Menorah:
The MENORAH represents the full works, in-filling, control,
shaping, directing of the Holy Spirit in our lives, resulting to
deeper passion and love for Christ, intimacy with
Him, WHICH PUTS US IN A POSITION TO SPEAK IN
BEHALF OF OTHERS.
That is why, WHAT FOLLOWS next after the Table of
Shewbread and the Menorah IS THE LATER OF INCENSE,
THE ALTAR OF INTERCESSION…
I. THE MENORAH

Intercession in the Holy Place

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