Exo 30:19 | KingComments | STEP | The laver shows on what condition the priestly service is to be performed. This cleansing is not about cleansing the sinner. In the laver only the hands and feet are washed, while the sinner has to be washed completely. This has already happened to the priest ( ). This is about the daily cleansing, about the fact that we are defiled daily because of our walk through the world. There are four cleansings of the believer: 1. The worst form of defilement is because of a sin we have committed in our lives. Cleansing of this is done by a sin offering ( ). We must confess that sin, and again realize – that is, see and acknowledge – that the Lord Jesus had to die for that sin. 2. The second defilement is caused by contact with death. Numbers 19 indicates how to become cleansed from this ( ). This is the case when we go through the world and see or hear things that defile our minds. Then we need cleansing water. By reading God’s Word we become clean. 3. The third form is self-examination in the light of God’s Word before we enter the holy place to do priestly service. We see that in the laver. 4. The fourth form has to do with an even higher form of fellowship, that with the Father and the Son. There is no picture of this in the Old Testament. For this we see the Lord Jesus engaged in John 13 ( ) to give His own part with Him ( ). No dimensions are given of the laver. This indicates that there is no limit to God’s ability and patience to cleanse.

‏ Exodus 30:19

The Laver

The laver shows on what condition the priestly service is to be performed. This cleansing is not about cleansing the sinner. In the laver only the hands and feet are washed, while the sinner has to be washed completely. This has already happened to the priest (Exo 29:4). This is about the daily cleansing, about the fact that we are defiled daily because of our walk through the world.

There are four cleansings of the believer:

1. The worst form of defilement is because of a sin we have committed in our lives. Cleansing of this is done by a sin offering (Lev 4:1-35). We must confess that sin, and again realize – that is, see and acknowledge – that the Lord Jesus had to die for that sin.

2. The second defilement is caused by contact with death. Numbers 19 indicates how to become cleansed from this (Num 19:1-22). This is the case when we go through the world and see or hear things that defile our minds. Then we need cleansing water. By reading God’s Word we become clean.

3. The third form is self-examination in the light of God’s Word before we enter the holy place to do priestly service. We see that in the laver.

4. The fourth form has to do with an even higher form of fellowship, that with the Father and the Son. There is no picture of this in the Old Testament. For this we see the Lord Jesus engaged in John 13 (Jn 13:1-11) to give His own part with Him (Jn 13:8b).

No dimensions are given of the laver. This indicates that there is no limit to God’s ability and patience to cleanse.