I. The Laver Constructed (Basin) (17-18a)
A. Bronze basin on a stand (i.e. birdbath)
B. Made from the mirrors of women (Exodus 38:8)
II. The Laver Commissioned (18b-21)
A. Located between the altar of sacrifice and the doorway to the Tabernacle building
B. The priests were to wash in it before ministering to the Lord
C. The penalty for failing to wash was death
III. The Laver Compared
A. As we enter the Lord’s presence to worship, after being reminded of our sins at the altar of sacrifice, we must insure that we are clean before Him
1. This is NOT being saved all over again
2. This IS a habitual cleansing of daily defilement (sin)
3. John 13:10, “Jesus 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”
4. Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
B. The penalty for not washing was death. When we are not careful to deal with daily defilement (sin), we are cut off from fellowship with God. We cannot hear His voice. We are in essence dead to Him.
1. We are not ‘spiritually dead’. We are not eternally lost in our sins. But we are dead to the power of God, dead to the blessings of God, dead to the will of God.
2. As physical death to the priests who failed to wash, there are severe consequences to disobedience.
C. The women gave up their mirrors to make the laver (Exodus 38:8)
1. We also must give up an emphasis on outward appearance and focus on the inward man
2. 1 Peter 3:3-4, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
3. 1 Samuel 16:7, “…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart”
