God Asks for a Lamp He Does Not Need

Another interpretation: "And you shall command" (Exodus 27:20). Not because I need light, but in order to give light to you. Rabbi Yohanan said: this eye is white, and the black is in its center. From where does it need to see? Not from the white; yet it sees only from the black. And the light of your own eyes you cannot bear to gaze upon, yet you seek to comprehend My ways? Why all this? So that he will not mislead you into saying that perhaps He needs light. Rabbi Avin the Levite said: you find that one who wishes to make windows for himself makes them wide on the outside and narrow on the inside. Why? So that they will draw in light. But the windows of the Temple were wide on the inside and narrow on the outside. Why? So that the light would go out from the Temple and give light to the world. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: the light goes out from My house, and I do not need light. And lest you say, why then does He need it? In order to give light to us, as it is said, "and they shall take to you to kindle a lamp continually" (Exodus 27:20) [reading it as] "which is your light before Me always." David said, "Light is sown for the righteous" (Psalms 97:11).