The Unquenchable Light of God's Presence Text: Exodus 27:20-21
Introduction: The Economy of Worship
We come now to a portion of Exodus that modern Christians, in their rush to get to the "exciting" parts, are prone to skim over. We have just received detailed blueprints for the tabernacle, the altar, and the courtyard. Now, we get what seem to be mundane instructions about lamp oil. But we must never forget that every word of God is pure and profitable. There are no throwaway lines in Scripture. The God who designed the universe with breathtaking precision is the same God who here specifies the kind of oil to be used in His worship. To neglect these details is to misunderstand the nature of true worship.
We live in an age that despises particulars. Our culture champions a vague, sentimental spirituality that is all feeling and no form. "It doesn't matter how you worship," they say, "as long as you are sincere." This is the exact opposite of what the Bible teaches. God cares immensely about the "how." He is not a generic deity who can be approached in any old way. He is the holy Lord of heaven and earth, and He sets the terms of our approach to Him. The entire sacrificial system, the priesthood, and the tabernacle itself are a massive, glorious testimony to the fact that sinful man cannot just waltz into the presence of a holy God. There is a prescribed way, and that way is laden with meaning.
These two verses about the lamp oil are not a fussy addendum to the architectural plans. They are the transition from the structure of worship to the substance of worship. They move from the "where" to the "what" and the "who." The tabernacle is about to be furnished, but a house, no matter how glorious, is dark and dead without light. A church building is just a collection of bricks and timber without the presence of the Spirit and the light of the Word. Here, in the economy of the Old Covenant, God commands that there be a perpetual light burning in His house. This is not just for practical illumination; it is a profound theological statement. It is a type, a shadow, that points forward to the unquenchable light of the world, Jesus Christ, and to the illuminating presence of His Holy Spirit in the Church.
The Text
And you shall command the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.
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 Yahweh; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel.
(Exodus 27:20-21 LSB)
The Fuel for the Flame (v. 20)
We begin with the command given to the people of Israel.
"And you shall command the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually." (Exodus 27:20)
Notice first that the responsibility for providing the oil falls upon all "the sons of Israel." This is not a tax levied only on the wealthy. The light of God's presence was to be sustained by the contribution of the entire covenant community. Worship is not a spectator sport. It is not something the priests do on behalf of a passive congregation. The people themselves are commanded to bring the fuel. This establishes a fundamental principle: the ministry of the church is to be supported by the people of the church. The light of the gospel going forth from this place is fueled by your faithful tithes and offerings. It is a corporate responsibility.
The oil itself is specified. It must be "clear oil of beaten olives." This was the finest quality olive oil, the virgin oil that came from the first pressing of the olives, when they were beaten or pounded, not crushed by a heavy mill. This produced a pure, clear oil that would burn brightly and without smoke. God demands the best. This is not because God is a fastidious epicure, but because the quality of the offering reflects the worshiper's estimation of the one being worshiped. To bring God your leftovers, your second-rate efforts, your distracted thoughts, is to insult Him. He is worthy of the first and the best, the "beaten oil." This oil is a type of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the one who illuminates, who gives light. And just as this oil was produced by a costly and laborious process, so the gift of the Spirit was secured for us through the crushing and beating of our Lord Jesus Christ in the olive press of Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary.
The purpose of this oil is "for the light, to make a lamp burn continually." The lampstand, the menorah, was the only source of light within the Holy Place. Without it, the priests could not perform their duties. This light was never to go out. It was a constant, shining testimony in the darkness. This points us to Christ, who is the light of the world (John 8:12). It also points to the Word of God, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). And it points to the Church, which is called to be the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). The testimony of God's presence and truth is to be a continual, perpetual flame.
The Tending of the Light (v. 21)
Verse 21 gives the location and the ministers responsible for this perpetual light.
"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 Yahweh; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations for the sons of Israel." (Exodus 27:21 LSB)
The lamp was to be "in the tent of meeting, outside the veil." The veil was the thick curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant, the "testimony," resided. This means the light shone in the place of priestly service. It illuminated the Table of Showbread (representing fellowship with God) and the Altar of Incense (representing the prayers of the saints). But it was "outside the veil." The full, unveiled glory of God's presence in the Holy of Holies was not yet accessible. Sin created a barrier. That veil, as the book of Hebrews tells us, represented the flesh of Christ (Hebrews 10:20). When Christ died, that temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that the way into the very presence of God was now thrown open by His atoning sacrifice.
The duty of maintaining this light fell to "Aaron and his sons." While the people provided the oil, the priests were responsible to "keep it in order." This was a daily task. They had to trim the wicks, refill the lamps, and ensure the flame never faltered. This is the work of the ministry. Pastors and elders are called to tend the light. They are to ensure that the pure oil of the Spirit, through the faithful preaching of the Word, keeps the light of the gospel burning brightly in the church. This is not a passive role; it requires diligence, care, and constant attention.
This tending was to be done "from evening to morning before Yahweh." This echoes the rhythm of creation: "And there was evening and there was morning, one day" (Genesis 1:5). The light was to shine most brightly through the darkest hours. This is a profound comfort. When the world is dark, when chaos seems to reign, the light of God's presence in His church does not go out. God's priests, His ministers, are on watch through the night. The prayers of the saints and the testimony of the Word are a constant flame before the Lord, even when the world is asleep or lost in darkness.
Finally, this is declared to be a "perpetual statute throughout their generations." This was not a temporary arrangement. It was a permanent feature of Israel's worship. Now, we know that the ceremonial law has been fulfilled in Christ. We no longer have a physical tabernacle or a Levitical priesthood. But the principle is perpetual. The reality to which the shadow pointed is eternal. The church must always be a place of light. The ministry must always tend that light. And the people must always provide the fuel for that light through their faithful participation and support. This is our duty "throughout our generations" until the Lord returns.
The Light Has Shone
The entire system of the tabernacle was designed to teach a crucial lesson: God is holy, man is sinful, and a mediator is required. The lampstand in the Holy Place was a beautiful, but incomplete, light. It was a light that shone outside the veil, a light that testified to a greater light yet to come, a light that could not penetrate the final barrier into the presence of God.
But we live on this side of the torn veil. The true Light, Jesus Christ, has come into the world. He is not a lampstand made of gold; He is God Himself, the source of all light. John tells us, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5).
The ministry of Aaron and his sons has been fulfilled by our great High Priest, Jesus, who ever lives to make intercession for us. He is the one who tends the flame of our faith, who ensures that the light within us is not extinguished. And the oil is no longer beaten from olives, but is the Holy Spirit Himself, poured out upon the church at Pentecost and given to every believer at regeneration.
Therefore, the command to keep the lamp burning continually is now a command to us, the church. We are a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). We are to take the fuel of the Holy Spirit, given to us by grace, and let our light shine before men, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). The light is no longer confined to a tent in the wilderness. It has been scattered throughout the world in the form of believers filled with the Spirit. You are the lamp. Your life is the wick. The Holy Spirit is the oil. And our commission is to burn brightly, continually, from the evening of this present darkness until the morning of Christ's glorious return, when we will need no lamp or sun, "for the Lord God will be their light" (Revelation 22:5).