Now, we move from the outer court and enter into the Tabernacle itself. Again, there is only one door. You must stoop under the curtains, humbling yourself as you enter. Only the priests could enter into the Holy Place.
To the right is the table of showbread.. It was 3 feet by 1 ½ feet and was 2 feet high, made of acacia wood covered with brilliant fine gold. On it sits 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. It is also known as the bread of the presence because this bread is always in God’s presence. Every Sabbath day the priests would replace the bread on the table with fresh bread.
The table of the presence has focused our attention on God’s presence with His people. God had promised to be with His people. He is the God who is a “very present” or abundantly found help in the midst of distress (Ps. 46:10). God goes before us and behind us (Isaiah 52:12).
Here, we are reminded of what we saw so vividly in our previous study. God came near in the person of Jesus. Jesus stepped down from Heaven to be Immanuel, God with us. The eternal Word “became flesh and lived among us” (Jn. 1:14). Jesus promised, “I am with you to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20).
What a comfort. We don’t have to get into God’s presence, we are always in God’s presence. He is the right here, right now God. And all this because of Jesus.
To know Jesus up close and personal means just that. We must know Him as God. Glorious, holy, infinite God. But remember also that Jesus said, “You are my friends.” We should know Him as friend. A close friend, an intimate friend. We should know Jesus up close and personal. Personal, present, here, now. It is not a matter of a mystical experience. It is a matter of believing in the very real truth of a very real person who is in every aspect of reality, present. It is simply a matter of faith, of believing the truth. Are you that close to Jesus? If not, why not?
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