Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

We note that the Golden Lampstand with its seven candlesticks was positioned directly opposite the Golden Table of Shewbread. This golden ministry of feeding on the Word of God could not be seen or shown forth (shewbread) if the light did not shine on it to reveal it.

God does not want His people to sit in the dark at His golden table. Never. Ever. God desires His Word to be illuminated at all times.

If it were not for this golden table, we would not have specific understanding and revelation of God being the GREAT I AM in the person of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

The following are some of the Scriptures that show forth Jesus, the Son of God, revealed as the I AM of God (the shewbread).

“I AM the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15;26).

“I AM meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

“I AM the bread which came down from heaven” (Join 6:41).

“I AM the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48).

“I AM the living bread” (John 6:51).

“I AM the light of the world” (John 8:12 and 9:5).

“I AM from above . . . I AM not of this world” (John 8:23).

“Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).

“I AM the door of the sheep” (John 10:7, 9).

“I AM the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14).

“I AM the Son of God" (John 10:36).

“I AM the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

“I AM the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

“I AM the true vine” (John 15:1).

“I AM Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Revelation 1:8; 21:6; and 22:13).

“I AM the first and the last” (Revelation 1:7 and 22:13).

“I AM he that liveth, and was dead” (Revelation 1:18).

“I AM alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:18).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The great “I AM THAT I AM” is the name God tells Moses to tell the people of Israel when they ask His name (Exodus 3:13).

Many commentators explain that “I AM THAT I AM” means that . . .

1) He is self-existent. He has His being in Himself and has no dependence on any other. Being self-existent, He cannot but be self-sufficient, and therefore all self-sufficient and the inexhaustible fountain of being and bliss.
2) He is eternal and unchangeable.

The great I AM showed forth His prophetical personage as the eternal sustainer of His priests and people, i.e. the twelve loaves represent the twelve tribes. This bread on the golden table also showed forth the Messiah who would confess:

“I AM the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:41).

“I AM the bread of life" (John 6:48).

“I AM the living bread” (John 6:51).

One cannot help but notice the three I AMs in these Scriptures.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The table did not just appear. Someone had to take this wood, cut it, and fashion it according to the divine pattern.

As fathers, we must take responsibility to provide a table for our families. This table should not only be a place to hold food for the physical needs of our families, but to also provide a close togetherness to receive God’s Word, the Shewbread, for the spiritual needs of our families.

In our modern society, tables are becoming increasingly obsolete. However, as fathers, we must understand and be wise to the fact that our enemy, Satan, does not want the togetherness of families. He does not want families to sit around the table facing each other (Psalm 128:3). When we face each other, we become more exposed and accountable to each other.

God wants us to use our gathering at the table to be a positive place for blessing each other, sharing our lives with each other, encouraging one another, and lifting each other up.

Satan will do what he can to cause the table experience to be full of arguments, debate, and discord. However, the table should never be a place to hurt each other or display bad attitudes.

As parents, our part in making the table is to MAKE the table a godly experience. We pray and prepare the way for it to happen. We MAKE it a place of joy, happiness, sweet fellowship, and unity. We MAKE it a place of fellowship. We MAKE it a place of peaceful and yet stimulating conversation. The memories of our family meal tables should be positive memories.

This is what it means to make a table of shittim wood, representing the incorrupt nature, not the fallen, corrupt nature.

Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell

Photo: Christo and Linnie Lues sitting around their table with their children * Durbanville, South Africa.

Salvation is all about reestablishing and restoring what Adam and Eve lost by their disobedience in the Garden of Eden.

In Revelation 3:20 Jesus Christ reveals Himself to the Christians of Laodicea as standing at the door of their lives and “knocking” to come in. He wants and waits to have fellowship with us. When we open the door, He immediately responds and says: “I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

We must receive this great truth and get the full revelation. We have been saved by the blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God so we can experience what Jesus promised: “I will sup with him, and he with me.” The word “sup” is “deipneo” and is the same word that is used for the daily evening meal (supper time). It’s the same type as when God came every day in “the cool of the day” and fellowshipped with Adam and eve.

We used to sing a chorus of an old hymn:
Friendship with Jesus!
Fellowship divine!
Oh, what blessed, sweet communion!
Jesus is a Friend of mine.

Fathers, we must do better instructing our children in spiritual matters than Adam and Eve did, or did not do (only God knows).

During our morning family devotions today, we read Proverbs 8:34, 35: “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.”

It should not be Jesus knocking to come in to our lives, but rather us knocking at Heaven’s door, eager and waiting for fellowship and communion with our most wonderful Heavenly Father.

Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Before and after the murder of Abel by Cain, God spoke to Cain and gave instructions to drop his anger: “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.”

Abel’s offering was accepted because it was a blood-atoning offering, but Cain would not humble himself and offer what Abel had done and instead he murdered his brother. He was driven out from the presence of the Lord which was a hard thing for Cain to bear.

We read in Genesis 4:25: “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.” Eve’s words show that her heart was still soft towards God, but sad to say, there was no mention of Adam’s desire to renew a close communion with God. It was only when Seth’s son, Enos, was born that “then began men to call upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26). This implies that Enos, the third generation from Adam started a spiritual revival of calling upon the name of the Lord.

This is the point where true repentance brings forth salvation and reestablishes communion and relationship with God. This is what Abel began and for which he was murdered. This is what God had respect for. This is what the patriarchs of Israel did—built altars, offered up the blood of animals, and called upon the name of the Lord.

Cain’s offering exemplified the good works of man for which God had no respect. Abel’s offering got God’s full attention.

This respect had to be something physical, such as fire coming down and consuming the offering, or Cain’s anger would not have been so stirred up against his brother and God. It took another generation to catch the revelation that the blood of the lamb is the only way to establish peace and communion with God.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The life they experienced of unbroken communion with God was immediately severed because God’s holiness could not permit any communion with darkness and sin. Not only did they lose unbroken communion and fellowship with God, but now they could make their own judgment and discern independently of their previous relationship with God as to what was good and evil.

God who made every part of man’s physical body was not embarrassed by Adam and Eve’s nakedness. In their previous relationship they were not even aware they were naked, let alone feel guilty about nakedness. But as soon as they fell, some type of knowledge and discernment entered into them and they became aware that it was a shameful thing to be naked. Nakedness was now to them an evil thing and to be clothed was a good thing. Nakedness now made Adam fear the presence of God (Genesis 3:10).

In Genesis 3:11 God speaks to Adam and Eve: “Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”

However, man’s real nakedness was far greater than his physical nakedness. He was spiritually naked. He was out of touch, fellowship, and communion with God. A sense of shame, fear, and unworthiness replaced their innocence in communing with God.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Sin drove Adam and Eve, not only out of the beautiful paradise, but also out of the sweet communion man was privileged to enjoy with His Creator. How sad it must have been for God the Father. All heaven must have wept. What is the point of a beautiful garden when the ones for whom it was intended fall out of relationship?

The physical Eden is no more. However, the blood of Jesus Christ has provided us a pure, golden table in the midst of our enemies. We can come to this table to eat His bread--His Word, His life, and enjoy His fellowship. When enjoying this experience, it is spiritually possible to have the Garden of Eden restored—described in the words of the hymn:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The table of shewbread represents fellowship and communion. Exodus 25:23 is the Bible’s first mention of a table on earth. However, because the tabernacle table for the shewbread was a pattern after the heavenly table in the heavenly tabernacle, we know that the table was in heaven and continues in heaven for all eternity.

Jesus referred to His table in heaven when talking to His disciples on earth:

Luke 22:30: “That ye may eat and drink at MY TABLE in my kingdom.”

Matthew 8:11: “And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down (always inferring to eat at the table) with Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”

In the temple there was more than one table of shewbread.

Tables are not only for eating to satisfy the physical body, but for fellowship together and communion with the Lord. We should use the humble tables in our homes at the end of each meal to open God’s Word and commune with Him.

God’s table in the wilderness was to establish fellowship and communion with His priests. God loves to have fellowship with us who are now His priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6 and 5:10).

To be continued.

Be encouraged,

Colin Campbell

For some time, I have been sharing with you about the Golden Ministry of the Altar of Incense and the Golden Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.

Today we begin a new series, THE GOLDEN TABLE OF SHEWBREAD. I pray you will be blessed and encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Photo: Colin preaching with interpreter in Suwalki, North Poland.

When days are dark and deeply blue
She has her troubles, same as you
Show her that your love is true
Tell her so!

Don’t act as if she’s past her prime
As tho’ to please her were a crime
If ever you loved her, now’s the time—
Tell her so!

She’ll return for each caress
A hundred-fold of tenderness,
Hearts like hers were made to bless;
Tell her so!

You are hers and hers alone;
Well you know she’s all your own;
Don’t wait to carve it on a stone—
Tell her so!

Never let her heart grow cold
Richer beauties will unfold
She is worth her weight in gold
Tell her so!