LESSON NINE 
THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD
TEXT: EXODUS 25:23-30; 37:10-16; 40:22-23; LEVITICUS 24:5-9
A.	GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
•	The Table of Shewbread was positioned by the north wall of the Holy Place, directly opposite the Golden Candlestick. 
•	On the Table was to be kept twelve loaves of bread (Exodus 25:23-30). The priests were to place fresh bread upon the Table every Sabbath (Leviticus 24:5-9) and were to eat that which was removed (1 Samuel 2:6; Matthew 12:3-4).
•	Jesus is the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven (John 6: 35). 
•	The saints of God live spiritually by partaking of this Bread of Life (Matthew 4:4; 1 Corinthians 10:16-18).
B.	THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABLE:
1. "Thou shalt make a Table..." (Exodus 25:23).
o	The plan for constructing the Table was given completely by Divine revelation. 
o	Nothing was left to the imagination of the builders. 
o	It was constructed according to the Divine pattern. 
o	Setting opposite of the Golden Candlestick allowed the light from the Candlestick to reveal and illuminate the Table and the Bread.
o	The Table was called several names in Scripture:
a.	The Table of Shewbread (Exodus 25:30).
b.	The Table of Shittim Wood (Exodus 25:23; 37:10).
c.	The Pure Table (Leviticus 24:6).
d.	The Table (Exodus 39:36; 40:4,22).
e. The Table of Gold (1Kings 7:48).
2. "...of Shittim Wood..." (Exodus 25:23).
Shittim wood speaks of the sinless, incorruptible and perfect humanity of Christ. The following is a list of characteristics found in Shittim Wood:

a.	In spring, the tree was covered with yellow blossoms that had a very pleasant perfume.
b.	Some types of Shittim wood have medicinal value and others are used as stimulants.
c.	The wood is hard and very strong.
d.	The wood is the most incorruptible wood we know.
e.	Arabs sometimes use the gum of the wood as food.
f.	One kind of Shittim tree is said to be particularly sensitive to outside influences when its leaves are on its branches.
These characteristics make the Shittim wood a beautiful type of Christ:
a.	He was fresh and green when all around was dry and withered.
b.	There was healing from His hands as He went about doing good.
c.	His words were the strength of His disciples.
d.	His strength is incomparable.
e.	Our Lord was the food of His people.
f.	Our Lord was most sensitive to all the reproaches and insults that were heaped upon Him.
3.	"Two cubits...the length, a cubit the breath, a cubit and a half the height..." (Exodus 25:23).
With the addition of its border, the Table of Shewbread would be approximately 2-1/2 cubits long, 1-1/2 cubics wide, and 1-1/2 cubits high. These are the Ark dimensions also. This would convey the thought that there is no glory for us today higher than the Word. God hath magnified His Word above all His name (Psalms 138:2).
4.	".. And thou shalt overlay it with gold..." (Exodus 25:23).
The Hebrew word for "gold" comes from an unused root word meaning, "shimmer" or "from it's shining." Gold, therefore, is typical of Deity or the
Divine nature of Jesus Christ. The Gold and wood combination speaks to us of the dual nature of Jesus, Deity and Humanity. The Lord Jesus is both God and man. He is the Word (Gold) made flesh (Wood) who dwelt among mankind (John 1:1-3, 14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
5.	"...a crown.. a border.. a golden crown to the border..." (Exodus 25 :24- 25).
By comparing Exodus 25:24-25 with Exodus 37:11-12, it is evident that the Table had a double crown around the border with a handbreadth between these crowns. The double crown on the Table points to the fact that Jesus is both King and Priest. He is crowned KING-PRIEST after the order of Melchizedek.
The word "border" has the meaning of "margin of protection." This border is measured by God's hand. It is called "a hands breadth." It is the hand of Christ that is able to keep us from falling.
6.	"..four rings.. four corners.. four feet..." (Exodus 25:26-27).
a.	Four corners — four corners of the earth would be influenced by the Gospel. A worldwide ministry (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 1:8).
b.	Four feet — significant of Christ's earth walk. Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) uphold and illustrate the true Bread from Glory, Jesus Christ.
c. Four gold rings — represent eternality of being: Jesus is from everlasting to everlasting. He is alive FOREVERMORE!
7. ".. staves of shittim wood...overlay them with gold..." (Exodus 25:28). In Transit the Table was covered with: 
a.	A cloth of blue—a heavenly Christ...
b.	A covering of Scarlet over the dishes, spoons, bowls—the Sacrificial One.
c. Badgers' Skins—A Christ who is unlovely to the unregenerate man.

Jesus Christ Himself was "a pilgrim and a stranger" here in His earth walk. This points to the pilgrimage of the Church. We have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
8. " ...dishes.. spoons.. Lovers.. bowls...of pure gold..." (Exodus 25:29).
a.	Dishes — Used for holding the Food-Bread (Numbers 7:13, 18, 19, 25).
b.	Spoons — Contained incense to be burnt at the Golden Altar (Numbers 7:14, 20, 26).
c. Bowls and Covers — Contained strong wine which was poured out in connection with this Table as a libation before the Lord (Numbers 28:7), typifying the bread and fruit of the vine used at Communion.
C. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE SHEWBREAD:
1.	The Shewbread was to be on the Table at all times (Exodus 25:30).
2.	The Shewbread was made of crushed fine flour (Leviticus 24:5), representing the trials, testing, temptations and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3.	The Shewbread was baked to make it palatable (Leviticus 24:5). The fire of Calvary here speaks of the intense sufferings of the Son of God.
4.	There were twelve Cakes of Bread on the Table (Leviticus 24:5), one loaf for each tribe in the Camp of Israel. The number 12 also speaks of Apostolic Doctrine and Teaching.
5.	Two-tenths deal of fine flour in each cake (Leviticus 24:5), speaking of a double portion.
6.	Two rows with six in a row (Leviticus 24:6). Strong's Concordance states that the more correct wording of this passage would be "six loaves on a row, or a pile of loaves."
7.	Put Frankincense on the Bread (Leviticus 24:7). This speaks of the perfect life of prayer and intercession of Christ.
8.	The Bread was a Memorial (Leviticus 24:7). Christ is a memorial of the mercy of God.

9.	The Bread was an offering made by fire unto the Lord (Leviticus 24:7), representing Christ going through the baking process at Calvary.
10.	The Bread was to be set in order every seventh day (Leviticus 24:8). Jesus is true Sabbath rest, for He is the Mighty Baptizer.
11.	The Bread was to be an Everlasting Covenant (Leviticus 24:8). This foreshadowed the NEW Covenant in the Body and Blood of Jesus.
12.	The Bread was to be eaten by the Priests only (Leviticus 24:9). Only those that belong to this Spiritual House are entitled to partake.
13. The Bread was to be eaten in the Holy Place (Leviticus 24:9), never in the Outer Court. The Church, having received the Holy Ghost, would understand the mysteries of the ages.
The Table of Shewbread finds fulfillment in Christ and His Church, personally and collectively. In Him is our Spiritual Meat and Spiritual Drink (1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 15-21), which is the full and satisfying portion, communion and fellowship, healing and health. 

LESSON NINE
SELF HELP TEST
A. TABLE OF SHEWBREAD:
1. Located on the___________wall of the Tabernacle.
2.		loaves of bread were to be kept on the Table.
3.	The priests were to place fresh bread on the table every	
4.	The priests were to	the bread that was to be disposed.
5.	The Table was made of______________overlaid with______________
6.	The Table's dimensions were:
a.	cubits long.
b.	cubits wide.
c.	cubits high.

6.	The Table had a		crown,	rings,	

	Corners and	feet.