Exodus 30:17-2117And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 18Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. 19For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 20When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. (Exodus 30:17‑21)
“THOU shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and feet thereat.”
The last of the sacred vessels of the tabernacle to be described is the laver. It stood between the brazen altar and the holy place, and contained water for cleansing. There the priests would wash their hands and feet from defilement before going io the presence of God in the sanctuary.
When one entered the court of the tabernacle the first thing he met was the brazen altar, and this speaks to us of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There it was He fully gloried God as to the question of sin. There too He met the sinner’s need, for the fire of God’s judgment fell on Him, so that the believing one, his sins forever put away by that precious blood, can now pass on his way in peace into the very presence of God.
But in this evil world we contract defilement and have need to have our feet washed daily “with the washing of water by the Word,” and this is what the laver speaks of. The believer is cleansed from his sins once and for all by the blood, and this never needs to be repeated. But we need that constant washing of water by the Word, that moral cleansing of our souls from the defilements the way. Perhaps, dear young Christian, we hear some unholy talk, or see a defiling picture, which things might remain in our memory; or we might entertain an unkind thought about someone; these things defile and interrupt our communion, but if we go to the Lord about them, and judge them, then occupation with Him has the effect of freeing our minds from these defiling things; we are set free in spirit to have our thoughts filled with Christ and His things. We need this constant self-judgment in order to go on and grow in our souls. This truth our blessed Lord brings before us so clearly in John 13:1-101Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:1‑10).
It is interesting to note where the brass used in making the laver came from. We learn from Exodus 38:88And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Exodus 38:8) it was made out of the brazen mirrors, or looking glasses, used by the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle. When the metal was highly polished they could see themselves in it, but now, it seems, they had parted with their mirrors willingly. They would never be used again to satisfy the vanity of those who once possessed them. They had given them to the Lord for His service and from henceforth they were more concerned with how they appeared in His eyes. Surely this was most commendable and God has been pleased to record it in His Word, surely for our learning.
ML-12/06/1970