THE LAVER.
Exo_30:17-21; Exo_38:8; Tit_3:4-6, R.V., margin.
The laver stood between the altar and the door of the Tabernacle, and right in line with the mercy-seat and the altar of incense, signifying that the privileges and blessing connected with it lay in the way of our approach to God. In the altar we have Christ dying for our sins; in the laver the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The laver comes after the altar. "The Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified" (Joh_7:30). First the Cross, then Pentecost; first justified by His grace, then sanctified through the truth. The laver was filled with water, the water is a type of the Word; the laver, of the Spirit. The great truth here is the ministry of the Word in the power of the Holy Ghost. This, of course, can only come after we have been justified from all things through the blood of His Cross. If you do not know your sins forgiven at the altar, the truth taught here will not likely profit you. Trust Jesus Christ now, and enter with us into the inheritance revealed in type by the laver. We shall notice first-
I. Its Origin. In Exo_38:8 we learn that the laver was to be made of brazen "looking-glasses," which belonged to the women who assembled at the door of the Tabernacle. There are two ways in which we might see ourselves-in the light of our own polished mirror, or in the light of the Lord as we stand before Him.
When, like these women, we stand at the door of the Tabernacle, and see ourselves in the light of the presence of a holy and sin-hating God, we get so disgusted with ourselves that we don’t wish to look at our own proud persons, and so willingly part with our looking-glasses that we might get that which will give us inward beauty and adorning. The choice has still to be made, even by redeemed ones, as to whether they will walk in the light of their own eyes or in the truth as revealed and applied by the Holy Spirit. These who live according to their own standard are simply seeing themselves in their own looking-glass. All the light such have comes from the sparks of their own kindling.
The law of God is a looking-glass to show us our need of the laver of regeneration. When Nicodemus, a man familiar with the looking-glass, came to Jesus He pointed him at once to the laver of an inward change to be wrought by the Holy Ghost. "Born of water and of the Spirit" (Joh_3:5).
II. Its Purpose. The chief end of the laver was, of course, "to cleanse," "to wash withal." Judicial righteousness was to be followed with personal righteousness. Inward cleansing was to accompany the act of justification.
Perhaps the polished brass of the laver helped to reveal the uncleanness, while the water would cleanse it away. This is, at least, the work of the Spirit, to convince of sin, and to apply the cleansing Word. The water of the laver was only for redeemed ones. "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luk_24:49). The ministry of the Spirit gives fitness for service. The priests must wash here lest they die. Unless we are kept in constant touch with the Holy Laver our testimony for God will die; we will become as withered branches. Instead of having power with God and men, we shall be trodden under foot of men, like savourless salt.
The fact that these two vessels (laver and altar) were separated the one from the other, may also teach us that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is to be a definite and personal experience (Act_19:2).
The blessings of the laver could only be enjoyed by those who wished to serve in the holy place. Alas, is it not true of many that they take the blessing of salvation at the altar, and then turn away satisfied? They don’t press on to holy service in the presence of God, so they know nothing of the special ministry of the laver, and little of the joy of fellowship with God. Christ was crucified to save us. He was glorified to sanctify us (Joh_7:39). If we have been saved by His blood, so may we be taught by and filled with His Spirit.
III. Its Form. When Moses received instructions to make "the laver and its foot," no mention at all is made of size or shape. At first sight one wonders at this. Is it an overlook? God can make no mistake. Every omission with Him is as emphatic as a declaration. It is surely significant that the vessel which represents the work of the Holy Spirit should not be limited to any particular form or size."The wind (Spirit) bloweth where it listeth; thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth" (Joh_3:8). Why was the laver not made of wood and brass like the altar? The answer seems clear and unmistakable. Christ had two natures-divine and human. The Holy Spirit is one Person. Let us adore the wisdom of God. Those who study and understand the types have no difficulty about the inspiration of the Scriptures.
The other vessels of the Tabernacle had staves or shafts by which they were to be carried. The laver had none. This may also confirm the inference that we have here not only a work represented, but a Divine Person. We are saved by the work of Jesus Christ for us; we are sanctified by the presence of the Holy Ghost within us.
IV. Its Connection with the Altar. Like all the other vessels, there was a blood connection between it and the altar of burntoffering. It was sprinkled with the blood of atonement. The laver could not be used till after the blood had been shed. The Spirit did not come till after the work on the Cross had been finished. The sprinkling of the laver with the blood was symbolically the consecrating and imparting of divine authority for its work. When Christ entered into Heaven by His own blood, He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost received His authority from the Son of God on the ground of His own atoning death. There is a very vital connection between Calvary and Pentecost. Would that it were so in the experience of every Christian.
The laver was to be filled with water-water, doubtless, from the smitten rock. Is this not wonderful? "That Rock was Christ" (1Co_10:4). The laver could be filled, and men could be cleansed, because the rock had been smitten. At the altar we see the blood of atonement; at the laver we see the water of cleansing. Both are needed. Both come to us through our Divine Redeemer. You remember that when they had pierced His side, "forthwith came there out blood and water" (Joh_19:34)-the blood first, then the water.
The water, or ministry of the Spirit, always comes by way of the altar (Eze_47:1-12)."He shall take the things of Christ, and show them unto you" (Joh_16:13-15). Ye believe in the forgiveness of sin; believe also in the indwelling Spirit. Trust Him to apply the cleansing Word, and to impart fitness for service.
The water was in the laver. The two were very closely connected, but not more closely than the Spirit and the Word. If we would be mighty in the Spirit we must be mighty in the Word. It was when Ezekiel had eaten the book that the Spirit lifted him up and took him away (Eze_3:1-14). The Spirit always lifts up and takes away those in whom the Word of Christ dwells richly.
V. Other Important Lessons. From the teaching of this vessel we further learn-
1. That they must be Clean who would Stand before God. Every time the priest entered into the holy place he must wash. Purity of heart is a necessity for seeing God. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. It is not so much a change of place we need to see God as a change of state. Believe, and thou shalt see.
2. That there was but One Means of Cleansing. There was but one laver; no other was needed. This was God’s provision. They might wash themselves elsewhere, but that would not make them "clean before the Lord." Hear Job’s testimony, "If I wash myself,… and make my hands never so clean; yet shalt Thou plunge me in the ditch" (Job_9:30-31). The snow-waters of earth and self-will never avail while the "Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness" (Zec_13:1) is neglected and despised.
3. That One Little Act may Unfit for Service. If the priest should refuse but once to wash at the laver, this one act of disobedience would unfit him for his priestly work. Our secret sins may not affect our lives before men for a while, but our relationship to God is affected at once. The flickering light tells of a crack in the lantern. An unsteady testimony speaks of failure somewhere. One fly will spoil the ointment. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear" (Isa_52:11). They must be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
4. That to Wash was a Matter of Necessity, not of Opinion. The priest, guided by his own carnal wisdom, might say, "Oh, I washed in the morning. I don’t see the need of washing again in the evening. Besides, as far as I can judge, there is no uncleanness to wash." You see it was not "What saith the priest?" but "What saith the Lord?" "Wash, that ye die not." "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1Jn_1:1-8). While we are "clean through the Word," yet the feet need washing, and that continually. The feet represent our relationship as Christians to the world. It is most frequently in our connection with the ungodly and the things of this present world that the defilement comes. It may come in the form of hard, unkind thoughts about the unsaved, lack of compassion, failing to embrace the opportunity of witnessing for Christ, impatience, covetousness. "Cleanse Thou me from secret faults" (Psa_19:12).
Autor: James Smith