#277 Shine

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.3 Outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the Lord from evening till morning, continually. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 4 The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord must be tended continually.

5 “Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah[a] for each loaf. 6 Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7 By each stack put some pure incense as a memorial[b] portion to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. 8 This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. 9 It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.” Leviticus 24: 1-9 NIV

This returns to Exodus 27, and some say that this moves it from the discussion and planning period to institution. In other words, it is given to us, but there were some preparations or other things to discuss or take place before the practice, and so now let's review it one more time. Much is repeated, and usually when I repeat something it is because the steps are important, and the sequence must be followed correctly. 

Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doingyou will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1Timothy 4:15-16

For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. 13Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in ChristJesus. 14Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 2Timothy 1:12-14

For those who would insist that doctrine is not important or that they somehow receive a fresh word daily, that does not have to be tested by the Word of God, then they insist upon a gospel foreign to the early church. They infer that it is God, Who must somehow change daily to their whim, rather then they , who need conform to the image of Christ as sound keepers of the light. Aaron tends this light from evening until morning continually, the oil is specific, the charge is true and a "lasting ordinance for the generations to come." 

The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every wordthat comes from the mouth of God.’” 5Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.…Matthew 4:3-5