THE BRONZE LAVER

Gloria Phifer

Ladies, we are in the Tabernacle Courtyard. Last week we looked at the Burnt Altar. It is a picture of the cross…where the sacrifice was made for our sins. Jesus was our sacrifice. He was The Pure Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Hebrews 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” Vs. 5 “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body You have prepared me:” vs 6 “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou has had no pleasure.” Vs 7 “Then said I, “Lo, I come (in the volume of The Book it is written of Me,) to do Your will O God.”

In the volume of The Book. As we have been seeing in our studies…all of The Bible is showing us God’s plan for salvation…revealing to us our Savior.

Jesus said to the religious leaders of the day… John 5:39 “Search The Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.”

Last week we saw that Jesus is The Cornerstone…the Capstone that holds everything together. He is The One! But the builders, religious leaders rejected Him. They rejected and stumbled over The Cornerstone.

There is only One Way to God and that is through His Son Jesus Christ.

Exodus 30:17-21. Exodus 38:8 The laver was of brass. Brass is for “judgment.” It was made from the looking glasses (mirrors) of the women.” The mirrors that they used to see themselves.

The priests were to wash in this bronze (brass) laver before ministering before The lord…and as they went about their duties. Notice, no one washed there but the priests. As they washed what would they see?  This was a place of cleansing. They washed their hands and feet. Thoughts?

The Rose Guide: “Between the bronze altar and The Tabernacle stood a large, shallow basin of water, gleaming as brightly as a mirror. Priests had to bathe their hands and feet in it before offering sacrifices and before entering the 15 foot tall Tabernacle and Holy Place.  Washing hands and feet stood for sanctification, or becoming holy and pure. Serving God requires not just cleansing from sin but striving for holiness.” Thoughts?

The Brass Laver is a picture of The Word. John 15:1-3 “Now, you are clean through The Word which I have spoken to you.”  John 17:17 “Sanctify them through Thy Truth, Thy Word is Truth.”

1 Cor. 6:11. Washed and sanctified and justified in The Name of The Lord Jesus and by The Spirit of God.

When you look into the Word of God how does it judge you and cleanse and set you apart?   The Word of God is revealing…it is the discerner of hearts, sharper than a two edged sword. Hebrews 4:12. What are your thoughts?  What about the discerner of the heart? What does the Word do to you when you read it?

Ephesians 5:25-26. What did Christ do?  Sanctified in Greek is “hagiazo”. “To make holy…purify or consecrate. Be holy. To separate from profane things and dedicate to God. To cleanse externally. To purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin. To purify internally by renewing of the soul.”  The renewing of the mind. The Word renews our mind. Eph. 4:17-24. Col. 3:10.

Here is the battle: 2 Cor. 10:3-5 what is the knowledge of God?  It is The Word. Bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. What is the obedience of Christ?  Abiding in Him…abiding in His Word. Thoughts? 

 John 15:1-16. “You are clean through The Word which I have spoken unto you. Vs. 7 “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” What are the promises concerning abiding in Jesus and His Words?  Why is it important that we get into The Word and know The Word?  2 Timothy 2:15 what are we to study? What are we a workmanship of? What are we to rightly divide?

2 Timothy 3:14-17. What will the scripture do? Where has all scripture come from? What does scripture do? What will it do for us?  

The Word of God is also our greatest offensive weapon. Ephesians 6:17. This Word is The Sword of The Holy Spirit. How awesome is that!

The Word discerns our hearts. Teaches us truth. Is a weapon. Thoughts?

Washing in Greek “loutron”. “A bath, baptism: washing.” From another word “louo”. “To bathe the whole person. To wash, cleanse garments.”

The “Word” in Greek is “Rhema.” “An utterance. That which is or has been uttered by The Living voice, thing spoken, Word.  As far as it is a matter of command. “Thoughts?

What happens when we read or hear The Word of God? Did you every think of it as cleansing and washing you? Or sanctifying you? Making you holy?

John 13:1-17. Jesus washed their feet. What do you think of vs.10?  Cleansing…1 John 1:5-10. 1 John 2:1-6. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. He is our Advocate.