Sanctuary : The Table for Loaves

The table for loaves, or table of showbread, held twelve loaves of unleavened bread prepared on the Sabbath. It was placed on the table hot each Sabbath and allowed to lay on the table for the following week. At the end of each week, the bread was removed and eaten by the Hebrew priests. It taught that man is wholly dependent upon God for both temporal and spiritual food.

The unleavened bread was a symbol of Messiah. He said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever" (John 6:51). Like the bread warm from the oven, we must have the gospel "hot" from heaven. We set aside the Sabbath day to gain a fresh experience in divine things to receive strength for the duties of each week.