«　WEEK 9　DAY 1　»

　　Num. 8:2-3 Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the lampstand. And Aaron did so; he set up its lamps to give light in front of the lampstand, as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

　　Rom. 13:12 The night is far advanced, and the day has drawn near. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the weapons of light.

　　When God's people consecrated an item to God, they needed light. Although many details regarding the Tent of Meeting were omitted in Numbers 8, God specifically instructed Aaron to dress the lamps (vv. 1-4). Lighting the lamps for the light to shine in the Tent of Meeting was a crucial matter. Without the shining of the light, the children of Israel could not move, much less fight for God. Therefore, as soon as they consecrated something to God, they immediately lit the lamps in order for light to shine.

　　If God's people consecrate something to God, He will shine among them, and they will have light. We need to pay attention to the sequence of the record in Numbers; every account does not merely relate historical facts but contains a type. In the beginning of Numbers 8, God mentioned only the lighting of the lamps. This is not coincidental or meaningless; it shows that in order for God's people to become His army, they must have light in order to fight. (CWWL, 1960, vol. 1, "Synopsis of Numbers," p. 57)

　　After the offering of the twelve tribes of Israel and the speaking of God, God instructed Moses to light the lamps. Numbers 8:1-2 says, "Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the lampstand." In these verses God gave only one command: the lamps were to give light in front of the lampstand. Not only did the lamps need to be bright; the direction of the lamps needed to be proper. This portion of the Word does not mention other furnishings in the tabernacle, such as the table of the bread of the Presence, or speak concerning the burning of the incense or the offering of the sacrifices; instead, it only speaks of the lighting of the lamps. This indicates that the unique purpose of lighting the lamps was for offering, fighting, and moving. Offering, fighting, and moving all require light.

　　First Samuel 3:1-3 says that at the time of Eli the priest, "the word of Jehovah was rare in those days; visions were not widespread....[Eli's]...eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see. And the lamp of God had not yet gone out." These verses show that when God's word was rare, the lamp in the Holy Place diminished and was about to go out. According to Numbers 7 and 8, God's word came forth from between the two cherubim, and the lamps had to be lighted to shine brightly and face the proper direction. This signifies that in the formation of God's army and service there should be light in order for God's people to fight, walk, and serve.

　　According to Numbers 8, not only were the lamps to shine brightly; the direction of the seven lamps also was to be the same and proper. This signifies that in the church not only should the light shine brightly, but the direction of the light should also be proper. This kind of shining comes only after we have been numbered, have encamped, have ministered, have been dealt with by God to remove defilement, have been sanctified, have been blessed by God, have offered to God, and after God has spoken to us. Only then will there be light in our midst and will the direction of the light be the same and proper. Only when we have the same and proper light are we able to offer, fight, and move. (CWWL, 1960, vol. 1, "Synopsis of Numbers," pp. 93-94)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1960, vol. 1, "Synopsis of Numbers," ch. 1; Life-study of Numbers, msg. 13