The Menorah continues to be perhaps the best known symbol of Judaism around the world. Originally intended as a source of light first for the Tabernacle and then for the Temple, the seven-branched lampstand has not seen such use since the Second Temple was destroyed in the days of the Roman Emperor Titus – in fact, you can see what it looked like in a bas-relief on the arch he built in Rome to commemorate his conquest of Jerusalem.

But just as the Table in the Tabernacle pointed to Jesus, the true bread of Heaven God has provided for all who trust in Him, the Menorah is also a clear symbol of the Person and Work of Christ. For Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Just as the Menorah gave light to the priests in the Tabernacle, so Jesus’ Word and Spirit continue to give light to all who follow Him, revealing His will and showing us the way He wants us to live.

But there’s something else we can learn from the Menorah: the need to keep it lit. Notice that in Exodus 27, the Lord said that it was the responsibility of the entire covenant community to do this: the people were to provide the olive oil to fuel the lamps, and the priests were to make sure that they were kept burning all the time. Just so, Jesus made it clear that all those who follow Him are to share in His ministry of bringing light into the darkness of sin:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

So today, may we keep His lamp lit. May we walk in His light and shine the light of His truth and love so that all those around us can see Who He truly is: the Light of the World.

Exodus 25:31-40 (NASB)

31 “Then you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work; its cups, its bulbs and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
32 “And six branches shall go out from its sides; three branches of the lampstand from its one side, and three branches of the lampstand from its other side.
33 “Three cups shall be shaped like almond blossoms in the one branch, a bulb and a flower, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bulb and a flower– so for six branches going out from the lampstand;
34 and in the lampstand four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers.
35 “And a bulb shall be under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.
36 “Their bulbs and their branches shall be of one piece with it; all of it shall be one piece of hammered work of pure gold.
37 “Then you shall make its lamps seven in number; and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it.
38 “And its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold.
39 “It shall be made from a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils.
40 “And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.

Exodus 27:20-21 (NASB)

20 “And you shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.
21 “In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the LORD; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel.