1693. The Laver–Christ Our Sanctification–the Place of Cleansing
The Laver–Christ Our Sanctification–the Place of Cleansing
"If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2Ti_2:21).
The story of the Laver is found in Exo_30:18-21.
1. Let us notice the Laver itself. It was made with looking-glasses around the foot thereof. "And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking-glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation" (Exo_38:8).
(1) The looking-glasses suggest to us the revealing of our sins. As we come into His presence we behold our own iniquity.
When Isaiah came into the presence of the Lord and saw Him high and lifted up, he cried out, "I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips" (Isa_6:5).
(2) The brass typifies Divine judgment against sin in the believer's life.
When the first sin was committed in national Israel, as they journeyed into Jericho, Achan was found guilty and was stoned to death.
When the first sin was committed in the Church, and Ananias and Sapphira kept back part of the price and lied to the Holy Ghost, they were adjudged guilty and both fell down dead.
Sin always brings judgment. "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth" (Heb_12:6).
(3) The water stood for the cleansing of the Word: "Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you" (Joh_15:3).
"Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is truth" (Joh_17:17).
"By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit_3:5).
2. Let us notice the need for cleansing. God says, "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isa_52:11). Pastors or Sunday School superintendents often find a member of the flock who is worldly or carnal. They set about to give them something to do for the Lord, to help them on their way. God never gives any one anything to do, until they are first cleansed at the Laver. He says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use" (2Ti_2:21).
When it was necessary to look out men to appoint over the business of the Church, the Apostles said, "Look ye out among" you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Act_6:3).
God demands that the elders and the deacons shall all be men of good report.
Whenever a child of God is unclean, he is unfit for service.
David cried, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee" (Psa_51:10, Psa_51:13).
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR