2 Chronicles 4:2-6.
IT MIGHT be well to notice here that these chapters show us the counsels of God with respect to the glory of Christ more than man's side, or his approach to God. This will explain why the dimensions of these things are greater than those of the tabernacle as given in Exodus, where it was viewed more from man's standpoint.
The laver or molten sea was placed between the altar and the house, and the priests were to wash their hands and feet at it before entering the temple for service. The sea was ten cubits in diameter. It might be asked why was it so much smaller than the brazen altar? Because nothing can compare in value before God with the cross of Christ. It has also been remarked that the fact that it was round shows that this service of the Lord for His people had neither beginning nor end. It was first instituted that same night in which He was betrayed, when He "took a towel and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded." John 13:4, 5.
Looking further at the brazen sea we notice that it rested on twelve large oxen. These were set in rows, three facing toward the north, three toward the west, three toward the south, and three toward the east. Patience and strength are signified by the oxen, and their facing in each direction shows that not a temptation can come against us, but the eye of our patient and mighty Saviour sees and knows it before it comes. Perhaps one might say, This may apply to the great temptations, but what about the little worrying trials of life, "the little foxes that spoil the vines"? We notice in the description of the sea that there are also mentioned little oxen, ten in a cubit, under the brim. Would this not tell us of that patient. watchful care of our tender great High Priest, in His preserving, restoring service over all, or in all the little trials of our wilderness path, even though there be "ten in a cubit"? There were also "flowers of lilies" engraved on the brim of this brazen sea. In all this does not our blessed great High Priest tell us, as it were, "I must wash your feet according to what you are in My sight. or according to what I have made you"?
The Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the conscience in such a way that the believer knows what is unclean in the sight of God, and thus he gets separated in heart from it. The. Lord Jesus said to Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me." John 13:8. Peter could not have communion with the Lord he loved so much, if his feet were not washed and he himself cleansed from the defilements of the way.
A priest's happy office was to be always worshiping Jehovah and for this he had to be constantly cleansed. If he touched any soiled thing it made him unclean. If he touched a dead body by accident, he became unclean. A believer now is nearer to God than any priest of Israel ever was. The Lord Jesus makes it His work to cleanse us from the defilements we contract while walking through this defiled scene, and by His Word to keep us in communion with Himself, for He wants us to have part with Him. We are before Him as purged worshipers, "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Heb. 10:22.
Messages of the Love of God 5/18/1958