John Calvin Commentary Exodus 25:31

"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it." — Exodus 25:31 (ASV)

And thou shalt make a candlestick. God wanted seven bright lamps burning day and night in the Tabernacle for two reasons:

1. First, so that the people might know that they were directed by God Himself as to how they were to worship Him rightly, and that a light was set before their eyes which would disperse all the darkness of error;
2. Secondly, to prevent them from obscuring the very worship of God with their crude inventions, ensuring instead that, attentive to the instruction of the Law, they might with a pure and enlightened mind seek after God in all the ceremonies.

Let us, therefore, note a distinction presented here between the rule of true religion and the superstitions of the Gentiles. The Gentiles were carried away by their foolish and blind devotions, as they call them, into indirect and erring ways, so that nothing was straightforward in them. For unless we have divine teaching to enlighten us, our own reason will produce nothing but mere vanity.

However, it was not enough for the Israelites that the right way should be pointed out, unless their eyes were open to guide them, since people are sometimes blind even in the midst of light.

This happened to them not only when they went astray into foreign and idolatrous forms of worship. For even though they held fast to the external form of the Law, they were, nevertheless, degenerate. Religion was corrupted among them by foul superstitions when, in obedience to their carnal reasoning, they conceived that religion consisted merely in ceremonies.

For when God is not worshipped spiritually according to His nature, this is to make a mockery of Him.

Consequently, there was so much false security in the hypocrites that they proudly despised all the rebukes of the Prophets; indeed, they broke out into open fury whenever their empty displays of piety were condemned.

But the candlestick, shining with its seven lights, reminded the people that, in their worship of God, they should look attentively to the light of heavenly doctrine.

But, for understanding this symbol, the vision of Zechariah will be of considerable assistance to us, since the truth of this symbol is presented there (Zechariah 4:2).

There, God promises that the power of His Spirit alone will be sufficient, and more than sufficient, for the preservation of His Church, even if it may be lacking all other aid.

To awaken confidence in this, He presents the same image of a candlestick that is described here, with the addition of some other details, by which He reminds us that the shining lights were no empty spectacle like stage plays, but that the candlestick represented what believers would truly experience.

But, so that the comparison may be made clearer, we must say a little about this passage. The material of the candlestick is pure gold, by which the excellence of the thing signified is denoted.

When we have spoken somewhat about its form, the application of Zechariah’s prophecy will be more evident.

Some parts of it were merely for ornament, so that its dignity might be increased by its very appearance, such as the flowers and the balls or knobs; others were for use, such as the bowls or receptacles, to prevent the sacred oil from falling on the ground.

The lamps were placed at the top, so that the Israelites might know that people are surrounded with darkness on earth if God did not enlighten His Church from on high, both day and night.

Thus Isaiah, describing the kingdom of Christ, in which the reality of this sign was finally exhibited, says: “Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” And again,

“Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thy everlasting light” (Isaiah 60:2, 20).

Now, since God is called the Father of lights, the grace of illumination resides in the Spirit. Since a variety of gifts are distributed by the Spirit, there were seven lamps which visibly represented what Paul says:

“The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).

Some, however, have gratuitously invented a mystery in the number seven, from which comes the common notion¹³⁶ among the Papists about the sevenfold grace of the Spirit. This idea is refuted both by the previously cited passage of St. Paul and by Isaiah chapter 11, where a greater number of gifts are enumerated.

I suppose, rather, that perfection is denoted by the seven lamps according to the ordinary and acknowledged use of the figure, as if God thus declared that nothing would be lacking for the full enlightenment of believers who should seek it from its one and only source. Secondly, I suppose that the Spirit presides over all religious rites when He shines forth to the Church in His gifts.

Now, the Prophet (Zechariah 4:2), desiring to teach that what had been shown in this visible symbol would be fulfilled in the restoration of the Church, adds to the lamps seven pipes and two olive trees, from which oil would continually flow, so that there was no fear of scarcity or failure.

Thus he signifies that God possesses a manifold abundance of blessings for the enrichment of the Church, and so the power that flows down from heaven is sufficient for its preservation, according to what is added in connection:

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,
saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

For although God uses the ministry of men and earthly means at His discretion for the protection and maintenance of the Church, yet He would have, as is just, all the praise ascribed to Himself. While He would also have believers be content under His guardianship and not be discouraged, even if they should find no ground of confidence in the world.

¹³⁶ The seven gifts of the Holy Ghost are represented in Roman Catholic Catechisms to be, — 1. Wisdom; 2. Understanding; 3. Counsel; 4. Fortitude; 5. Knowledge; 6. Godliness; 7. The fear of the Lord: founded, of course, on Isaiah 11:2. . Augustin says, Sermo 8, (Edit. Ben., tom. 5, p. 46,) speaking of the Holy Spirit, “says, Sermo 8, (Edit. Ben., tom. 5, p. 46,) speaking of the Holy Spirit, “Ipse requiescit super humilem et quietum, tanquam in Sabbato suo. Ad hoc septenarius numerus etiam Sancto Spiritui deputatur, hoc Scripturae nostrae satis indicant. Viderint meliora meliores, et majora majores; et de isto septenario numero subtilius aliquid et divinius aliquid dicant et explicent: ego tamen, quod in presenti sat est, illud video, illud vos ad videndum commemoro, septenariam istam rationem inveniri proprie Sancto Spiritui deputatam; quia; septimo die sonat sanctificatio,” etc.,” etc.