Symbols
of ShabbatSymbols
of Shabbat
Candles
The
first candle represents Creation: Genesis 1:1-3—“In the beginning God
created the heavens and the earth…and He said, ‘Let there be Light (Orah—Torah)!’”
The
second candle represents Redemption: Romans 3:24—“Being justified
freely by His Grace through the redemption that us in Christ Jesus!”
We
were created and redeemed for a relationship with our God!
Without a relationship, we cannot bring forth Life to the nations!
The
third candle represents Restoration: Acts 3:19—“Repent
therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”
Wine
symbolizes joy and the renewing of our Covenant with Jesus in the same way that
a Hebrew woman drinks at least half of a glass of wine when she accepts her
betrothal to her bridegroom. Jesus
desires to be our Husband!
Wine
is also symbolic of the crucifixion and resurrection of our Messiah!
The New Covenant is sealed in the blood of the Messiah!
As
Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover, He told them, “[Take
this cup.] Drink from it, all of you. For
this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:27-28
Water
is used throughout Scripture to represent a change of status.
The hand washing represents spiritual cleansing—not just physical
cleansing.
Therefore,
having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Bread
is a picture of Jesus! Jesus is the
Word—the Torah—made flesh (John 1:14)!
And
Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life! He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on
Me shall never thirst.
John 6:35
In
Leviticus 24:5-9, bread was to be set on the altar each Shabbat as a lasting
Covenant. The two loaves on the
table are symbolic of the double portion of manna that God provided on the day
before the Shabbat for the children of Israel when they wandered in the
wilderness.
Napkin to Cover Challah
The
bread is traditionally covered to represent the manna (dew)—God’s Provision
for the Children of Israel when they journeyed in the wilderness (Exodus 16).
Salt
is a preservative. You are the salt
of the earth (Matthew 5:13)!
O,
love the LORD, all you His saints!
For
the LORD preserves the faithful!
Psalm 31:23
Prepare
a special dinner on this night—unlike any other dinner during the week!
Use your best dishes and glasses! Prepare
a desert! Invite friends to share your dinner with you.
Laugh, remember, and rest on this special evening that is set-apart from
all other evenings during the week.
Look
forward to the Shabbat during the week! Count
down the remaining days until the Shabbat!
Encourage your children to do the same!
Ask them every day, “How many days until the Shabbat?”
This day is the centerpiece of your week!
The Shabbat table represents an altar before God. We are to approach the altar with clean hands and a pure heart. The meal is a peace offering—a fellowship offering—that we share as a family in the presence of God!