Yesterday, we considered the Lampstand in the Holy Place. It provides light and revelation to the one who seeks to enter into the Holy of Holies. It is also a reference to agape Love. The seven candles and twenty-two almond blossoms denote the mathematical relationship of pi ( π 22/7), a never ending number. The number π is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter and is approximately equal to 3.14159. π happens to be the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet. 16 is also the number of Love.
Love cannot be defined and nor does it have a beginning or end. We can better appreciate the need for light and revelation in order to completely mature in the fullness of Love. This maturing in Love is reflected in the feasts of Israel:
Passover: immature Love directed towards “self”
Pentecost: Phileo Love, conditional and legalistic
Tabernacles: Agape Love, unconditional and mature
The Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) is broken up into 7 days + 1 day. One could equate the seven days with the seven pillars of wisdom, somewhat like a path to Spiritual maturity. A booth, a temporary dwelling place, was to be constructed as a reminder to us that each phase of our path to maturity is a temporary dwelling place and not forsake the path we are on by ceasing to mature and creating a permanent structure.
Proverbs 9:1
Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
Proverbs 8 lists these seven pillars:
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
We continue to live in a “booth” as our house is built with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Our goal is to mature to that eighth day referenced in the Feast of Tabernacles:
Leviticus 23:
33 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
An offering made by fire refers to our “flesh” being burned up, removing the sin nature. The number 8 represents new beginnings. Once our house is built with the seven pillars, it is filled with HIS riches and HIS glory:
Proverbs 24:
3 Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
As we reach the full maturity of Love, its Baptism and Revelation, we will have a treasury to draw from in order that we can fully serve mankind. Our online Bible studies, our books, and these writing are designed to move us toward that eighth day of full maturity to become HIS full expression of Love on earth. HIS Kingdom come, HIS Will be done.