The Lampstand Oil
Open Your Bible
Exodus 26:15-37, Exodus 27:1-21, Zechariah 4:1-14, Revelation 11:1-4
BY Jessica Lamb
In my grandmother’s home, there is no set time for meals. All waking hours are considered appropriate for the one, all-day meal of grazing. If you are spotted without a plate in your hands, she furrows her brow and inquires with concern if you need someone to fix you a plate from the options on her table. On one visit, I slipped into the kitchen at 6:30 in the morning to find plates of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, okra, my favorite vegetable soup, and a chocolate cake already laid out as she stood by the stove frying leftover ham and scrambling eggs for breakfast.
In her ninety-seven years, she’s experienced more lean seasons than seasons of plenty. She is at rest only when she knows every person in her presence is full—preferably without experiencing even a moment of hunger pangs. Filling us physically is her gift of comfort and affection.
We see a glimpse of what it means to be spiritually filled in today’s readings about the lampstand oil. The priests are instructed to fill the lampstand with pure oil regularly in order to keep it burning. The lampstand, in doing the work of providing light to the tabernacle, also served as a constant reminder of God’s presence.
This picture of a lampstand is one Scripture returns to again and again. Jesus says He is the light of the world and gives the same responsibility to His followers (John 8:12, Matthew 5:14). The apostle Paul describes us as children of the light, a reflection of Christ through the work of His Spirit (Ephesians 5:8).
We are meant to be small lights twinkling in a dark world. But I fail at this on my own, often. A biting retort to someone I love, frustration with my toddler trying to put on his shoes, indifference toward the struggles of a friend. When prayer feels worthless, or when love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control seem like futile options against so much darkness.
The instructions for the lampstand in Exodus 25 describe seven bowls shaped like almond blossoms with wicks placed in them. This isn’t a candelabra. The fire in this lampstand kept burning because it was filled regularly with oil from an outside source, not from burning its own wax like a candle.
“Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD of Armies.
—Zechariah 4:6
These words in Zechariah remind us again that the source of the light is not us.The Lord shares a picture here of limitless oil, in the form of two olive trees, flowing straight from the source to directly fuel the lampstand. He tells Zechariah that this is the work of the Spirit.
We aren’t replenished by our own strength, or by our own might, but by the Spirit. We have access to what we need in the Spirit; we have fuel from the source. We have this gift from the true Priest who constantly fills us. As we are filled with His Spirit, we become more and more reflective of Jesus. We slowly begin to see the fruit of His faithful, everyday presence and the influence of His light in our lives.
Not by strength or by might, but by the Spirit.
35 thoughts on "The Lampstand Oil"
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I like GRAMSIESUE finds myself skimming over all these details. ADD kicks in. I’m so thankful for the devotional by Jessica to shed light on these scriptures. “The source of light is not from us. The Lord shares a picture here of limitless oil. We aren’t replenished by our own strength, but by the Spirit.
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Thankful for this reading today. Fill me Lord each day so I can reflect You! Help me to be in Your word daily and seeking after You always. ❤️
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Or he was the son of a king, an aristocrat ** not a king himself
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“Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD of Armies. — Zechariah 4:6
I easily fall into pride and forget it is the Giver of Life who has gifted me. I pray to remember I only accomplish good by His Spirit. He said this to an earthly king! How easy Zerubbabel could fallen into pride, too! He had so much power. But it is God who put him there in authority.
Dorothy — prayers for healing and peace in your family, especially Carol. May she feel loved by you, God, and may Be comfort her.
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In a couple of the podcasts they’ve drawn attention to the way this entire story, from exit from Egypt and provision in the desert and now the construction of the temple, relates and shadows the creation/fall story. In that context, it struck me today that God has been WAITING to once again dwell with His created children the way He did in Eden. Only, bc of the fall, He couldn’t do it in the same way. In the beginning, GOD CREATED His garden to dwell in. He did all the work. In the temple, we see the curse of man – “he will labor to get anything from the earth”- as we see the people are told to do the work of creating the space for God to dwell with them. BUT. So cool, we also see that even though God put forth that curse, He also provided the instructions and materials for them to be successful in His plans for them. It’s like a parent seeing their teen be irresponsible with finances and so they stop giving them gas money and expect them to get it on their own… But they don’t just leave them to find the money on the side of the road, they then also provide a means of work/chores/etc for them to earn the money. It’s a beautiful reminder He doesn’t just leave us ANYWHERE or in anything despite how badly we may deserve it. Even in His judgments and consequences He stays present and provisional.
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Father help me be a woman that is only at rest when I know I’ve shown You to every person in my presence so they may be filled!
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You know, at 63 years old, I have read my Bible through many times. And these descriptions of the tabernacle and all of the details involved…I usually just skim over them. Maybe think to myself, “God is a God of details”, so He cares about the details of my life. What a shallow person I am. Sigh But today! Oh my stars! “The lamp stand kept burning because it was filled regularly with oil from an outside source. The source of our light is not us. We are replenished by the Spirit…as we are filled with His Spirit, we become more and more a reflection of Jesus. Not by strength or by might, but by the Spirit.” Such a great reminder of how important it is for us to meet with Him everyday, study His Word, meditate on it, pray about it, and let it sink into our souls. Oh ladies, I am so grateful that God keeps growing me through the years so that my reflection of Him gets a little bit more clear as I get older. I am singing praises to Him! Hugs to you all. ❤️
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Father, fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit today. In Jesus name, Amen
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