Jul 04 – The Showbread!

“And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.” (Exodus 25:30)

We must not only seek the presence of God but also be filled with the joy of His presence. More than that, the bread in God’s presence must become our spiritual nourishment. Just as our body needs food, so too our soul deeply needs the Word of the Lord.

In the Old Testament, the Lord gave detailed instructions regarding the showbread. These loaves were kept continually on the holy table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. You can read about the laws concerning this bread in Leviticus 24:5–9.

To all the Israelites, God gave manna daily—more than sufficient for their needs. But the bread of the Presence was reserved only for those who came longingly into His sanctuary. Though His Word—the Bible—is available for everyone to read, its deep revelations and hidden treasures are unveiled only to those who earnestly seek His presence and dwell in His holiness. That is the bread of His presence.

To those who love His presence, He reveals the deeper truths of Scripture, the mysteries of heaven, and the profound doctrines of grace. But those who are indifferent to His presence cannot receive such revelation.

In the Old Testament, only the priests could eat of the showbread, and they did so in the presence of the Lord. In the New Testament, God has made us priests unto Himself (Revelation 1:6).

If we go without this bread, our inner man grows weak, we lose our spiritual strength, and we are unable to withstand the attacks of the enemy. Before trials, temptations, or sorrows arise, we must learn to approach His presence and feed on the promises found in His Word. The Lord has already laid out twelve loaves of bread for us! These twelve loaves symbolize the apostolic teachings. Just as Jesus had twelve disciples, through whom He gave life-giving doctrine for individuals and for the growth of the Church, He now offers that same nourishment to us.

Many believers faint even at small trials simply because they have not fed adequately on the bread of His presence. They lack strength in their inner man.

Dear child of God, do not stop at just seeking His presence. Go further—long for the bread of the Word that is found in His presence. Feed on it eagerly.

Verse for further meditation: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” (Jeremiah 15:16)