The showbread table was made of acacia wood and it measured about three feet long, one and a half feet wide and two and a quarter feet high, Exodus 25:23 / Exodus 27:10.
It was made from acacia wood overlaid with gold, Exodus 25:24 / Exodus 37:11, similar to the Boards for the tabernacle, Exodus 26:15-30, speaking of the two-fold nature of Jesus Christ. He was born of Mary as a genuine human being, yet conceived by the Holy Spirit and called the Son of God, Luke 1:35, truly man overlaid with God.
It had gold moulding for a rim which measured around three inches wide, Exodus 25:25 / Exodus 37:10. Four gold rings were to be made for the table, which were to be fastened to the four corners where the four legs were, Exodus 25:26 / Exodus 37:13. The rings were to be close to the rim in order to hold the poles in place when carrying the table, Exodus 25:27 / Exodus 37:14.
The poles were to made form acacia wood, overlayed with gold and were to be uses to carry the table, Exodus 25:28 / Exodus 37:15. Its plates, dishes pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings were made of pure gold, Exodus 25:29 / Exodus 37:16. The bread of the Presence was to be in the table before God at all times, Exodus 25:30.
The showbread table was placed on the right-hand side of the Holy Place, the north side, a little way from the gold-covered Boards, Exodus 26:15-30. The showbread table had a crown made of gold, unlike the burnt offering altar, Exodus 27:1-8.
Back there in the Outer Court, all was about washing, judgment and death at the bronze-coated Laver and Burnt Offering Altar. Here in the Holy Place, all is about life, food, light, and fragrant incense.
Therefore, we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels, because of the suffering of death.’ In the Outer Court, but at the showbread table, and the golden incense altar, in the Holy Place, we see Jesus ‘crowned with glory and honour,’ Hebrews 2:9.
On the showbread table were placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The loaves were replaced every week freshly on the Sabbath; it was fresh food in the house of God for the priests, Aaron, and his sons, Leviticus 24:5-9.
Peter tells us that those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:8, who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, 1 Peter 2:3, are not only a spiritual house, but also a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 2:5 / 1 Peter 2:9.
As priests, we are ministering to the Lord through faith in Jesus’ blood and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Our food, in addition to some of the offerings, is the fresh bread on the golden showbread table.
Jesus as the Bread of God, ‘who came down from heaven to give LIFE to the world,’ John 6:33, crowned with glory and honour. The twelve loaves represent the whole people of God, in God’s house, the church, 1 Timothy 3:15, in fellowship with one another, 1 John 1:7.
The loaves of unleavened bread remind us of the Lord Jesus saying, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger’, John 6:35. This unlimited supply of heavenly food, fresh every week, is to be the portion of the priests in the light from the lampstand, Colossians 1:12.
Every day we need to come to Him, John 6:37, see the Son and believe in Him, John 6:40. He is the Living Bread, that came down from heaven to give us His life, life IN us, John 6:51 / John 6:53.
This life is brought to us first as the Spirit who gives life, John 6:63 and secondly, as the words of eternal life, John 6:68. Today, Jesus Christ can only give His life to us through His word and by His Spirit. The black-and-white word of the scriptures alone is not enough for life, John 5:39-40. We must come to Him in the word AND in the Spirit.
The showbread is also called the Bread of the Presence. To eat Christ as the Bread of Life, we, the priests, must be in the presence of God, who is Spirit, John 4:24. The Showbread is for all the priests, in fellowship with one another in God’s presence, Luke 11:5-8.
Based on the parable in Luke 11:5-8, we need the Bread of Life not just for ourselves, as in the daily bread in Luke 11:3, but also for our needy friends, who come to us on their journey. Jesus makes it clear that people in the world are hungry, but the flesh profits nothing, John 6:35 / John 6:62.
Jesus came that He might give life to the world, so that those who believe in Him may have eternal life, John 6:33 / John 6:47. Therefore, we should ask, seek and knock in prayer, Luke 11:9, until He gives us as much Bread of life as we need for ourselves and our friends, Luke 11:8. Our heavenly Father delights to do this! Luke 11:13.