The next article of furniture we find in the court, between the altar and the door of the tabernacle, is the laver, which was designed for the priests alone to wash in. In this laver, water was constantly to be kept, that every time the priests performed any service for the Lord in the sanctuary, the water must first be used. The following is the explicit language the Lord uses regarding the use of the laver: “For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat; when 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; so they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not; and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.” Ex. 30:19–21. Two things are very noticeable and impressive in connection with this article of furniture,—it was always to be used before doing any of the service of God, and death resulted if it was not used. Hence great importance must be attached to it.
Laver of Solomon's Temple.
We have already seen that the altar had connected with it the shedding of the blood, and the forgiveness of sins; but while this is absolutely necessary for the sinner to receive, it is not sufficient to carry him all along the way in his Christian life. It was not sufficient for the priest to offer simply one offering for himself; he had to offer them always. But in addition to this he was obliged to use the laver all the time when he wished to do any service for the Master. So the Christian must ever be washing himself in the water of the Word.
Water is used much in the Bible as significant of cleansing and purifying. Hence we read, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” Eze. 36:25. And concerning the Lord’s church we read, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:25–27. Unless we are born by water and the Spirit we can not see or enter the kingdom of God. Hence how important that once having been washed in the blood of the Lamb, we continually wash ourselves in the water of the Word, that our lives may be truly cleansed and purified, and prepared for the life which the Master has in store for us.
And we should remember that the water of those days in which the priests washed was typical of Christ, as the water they used came from the rock which was smitten; and the apostle Paul plainly tells us that they all drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1 Cor. 10:1–4. And we know that unless a man constantly drink from the Fountain of Life he can not live, but will surely die. Christ is the Word. John 1:1, 14. Christians are all priests, for they are “a kingdom of priests.” Hence how important that we always imbibe that Word into our souls, that the soul temple may be cleansed from all defilements, that when we do any ministering for the Master, it may be done acceptable to him, that we die not.
We are exhorted as Christians to be clean. “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” Isa. 52:11. Long ago the psalmist said that only those should ascend into the hill of the Lord that had clean hands and a pure heart; and the way that cleansing could be reached was by taking heed according to the Word of God. He also said that after he had washed his hands in innocency, he could compass the altar of the Lord. Ps. 24:4; 119:9; 26:6.
It is by this Word we are begotten again to that living hope which makes us not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. It is by this Word we are sanctified; for it is the truth that sets us wholly apart. It is by this Word that we receive the new life, for it is both spirit and life. It is by this Word that we talk to the blessed Master, and learn his wishes concerning us. It is with this Word we make our requests known to the Father, who so gladly delights to grant what his children need. O, what a blessed Word it is, and yet how much neglected! How much more precious Christ would become to us if we studied that Word more, and heeded its precepts! We should then want to come to him more, and learn to love him better. We should then be kept from committing many sins we do to-day because of the neglect of that Word. It was the Word which David hid in his heart that kept him from sinning against God. Ps. 119:11.
May God help us all to realize that, as priests of God and Christ, we are always to minister unto him; but unless the washing of the Word does its share in the service, we may have spiritual death, and the worship not be acceptable. But if we carry out his wishes, he will accept the offering from our hands, and we shall be wholly sanctified, soul, spirit, and body.
