As if to show just how much God mandated the smallest tidbits of His own worship, there’s a brief section in Numbers 8:1-3 that shows Him directing the priests where to set up the lamps. They should be in front of the lamp stands, that way the light filters into the middle of the holy place.
Isn’t this obvious, though? What self-respecting priest would put the lamps behind the lamp stands, clearly obstructing the light that the priests need to be about their work? Put it in front! Obviously!
I’ll admit, I paused at this section way longer than I should have. I asked all the usual questions: Why is this mandated? Why is it inserted here? What’s the greater purpose?
It’s possible that there is no greater purpose, despite what many commentators have said. Read a few of them, and they’ll tell you that the light symbolizes the Holy Spirit that gives light to His Word. Or that it shines directly on the showbread, illuminating the “twin symbols of life.”
I guess both of those can be true. I don’t necessarily have an argument about either.
My real problem is that they both seem to be forcing an interpretation onto the Text that I’m not sure was ever really intended. What if God just specified the direction of the lamps because Bill the Priest had a question about positioning? Could it be as simple as that?
Honestly, I think that’s the primary purpose here. I’ve read several different people’s opinions on them and while I don’t disagree with most of them, the main thrust seems to be procedural. This is an instruction for the priests. Nothing more.
Unless I’m missing something, that means that the real lesson for us is to not force our own opinions about something that is straightforward and simple. Take the Word for what it is and appreciate what it meant to the direct audience.
At the risk of being a complete hypocrite though, there is another part of this that has stuck in the back of my mind since I started reading it—the “obstruction” of the light.
There’s a passage in Matthew 5 where Jesus tells His disciples that they are the “light of the world.” Then, He says that nobody lights a lamp and hides it under a table; instead, they put it on top so that it gives light to everything around them.
If the lamps had been placed behind the lamp stand, there’s no question it would have been diminished. In order for the priests to work as effectively as they could though, they needed the full light that the lamp stands could provide.
We are the light of the world. And in order for the world around us to see the Word fully, it needs to be as full as possible. Not in a braggy way, but undiminished. That means living by His word to the fullest capacity we can so that not a single beam of light is hindered by darkness.
What do you think about this passage, though? What do you think is the purpose behind it?
