The Tabernacle: The Bronze Laver

The Bronze Laver

Exodus 30: 17-21; Exodus 38:8; Exodus 40:7

The Laver is the reflective Word of God, you can’t be with God and not know what manner of man you are. You can’t see anyone but yourself when gazing into

the laver.

When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, then the Lord will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her

 assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain. Is. 4:4-6

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Jn. 5:26

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Jn. 16:6-12

            

But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.       

1 Cor. 11:31-32

So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to  Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or

wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Eph. 5:26-27

called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Pet. 2:9

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is

with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 1 Pet. 4:17-18

About the Laver

·         It was located between in the outer court, between

the altar and the tabernacle.

·         The water was to be changed every day.

·         The priest had to wash. Even if he was clean, and

washed his hands and feet before leaving home,

he must still wash before progressing on to the holy place.

·         The priests were to wash at it, not in it.

Materials of the Laver

·         Made from the bronze (judgment) mirrors of the

women of Israel- their freewill offering.

·         A laver and its base.

·         May have been a larger and smaller bowl-like a

tea cup and saucer.

·         It had no measurements which represents the

limitless cleansing power of God.

Purpose of the Laver

·         to reveal all uncleanness by way of the mirrors, and to

cleanse the priest.

·         The priest saw his reflection as he washed.

·         The Brazen Laver is the way of separation and sanctification.

When you arrive at this station and wash, you are now separated and set

apart for service. The laver also typifies water baptism, holiness, and

sanctification.

·         Now that we have presented ourselves a sacrifice to God,

we now need to wash ourselves from the filth of the world,

 and serve the Lord.

·         The laver is bronze mirror and the priest saw his reflection, and washed.

·         Typifies the Word of God.

·         Hebrews 4: 12-14; For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and

marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has 

passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

·         James 1: 23-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone

away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a

forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

We need to look into the mirror of God’s word and judge ourselves. Then we may be clean to be used for His service.

·         There had to be blood which stood for the sacrifice and water for washing- the two main components of the Tabernacle- this flowed out of Jesus on the cross when

He was pierced in the side. We see a common theme here (As throughout all of

Scripture): First the blood (Altar), and then the water (Laver). Water and blood are seen throughout the Tabernacle, Just as Christ shed His blood, and blood and water ran from His side.

·         Unlike the altar which is accessible to all; only the priest

could access the laver.

·         The altar dealt with sin; our justification. At the altar of

Calvary the sinner was bathed, for the blood of Jesus

cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:7); the laver with atonement:

our sanctification. At the laver the believer is washed from

daily defilements-enabling him to live a sanctified life.

We are being progressively sanctified, living an obedient

life.

·         John 13:10: Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs

only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are

clean, but not all of you.”

·         Jesus final Passover, He washed the disciples feet. (Peter)

The symbolism comes from people returning from the

 Bathhouse. They only needed to wash their feet.

·         The life of holiness is made possible by the Word of God.

·         Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Jn. 17:17

·         How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it 

according to Your word. Ps. 119:9

·         You are already clean because of the word which

I have spoken to you. Jn. 15:3

·         A PRIEST MUST BE CLEAN

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. Ps. 24:3-4

1 John 5:6: This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

Christ was the one and only sacrifice; fulfilling all the blood sacrifice and all the ceremonial washings with water.

Water represents The Godhead’s dealing with man:

Water judgment- the earth covered with water in the beginning;

its second baptism was with the flood with Noah.

Water cleansing- The water spoke to Christ the Word made

flesh- He washed His disciples feet.

Water drinking- The Water that Jesus gives is the Holy Spirit.

The water represents our regeneration: This means we are

born from above or born again. This is our initial bath. 

Titus 3:5 says,  

Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 16:11

Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his

feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

John 13:10

Water Baptism:

Baptism in the NT is not optional, it is a command. It is our

laver- we were initially washed or regenerated by the blood

sacrifice of Christ, now we wash.

  Colossians 2:12

who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting

 in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a

few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of

 dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3: 20-21

we are priests now, and we need to be clean before we minister

before the Lord, and before we enter His sanctuary.

For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number 

sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

1 Cor. 11:30-31

·         Why are we in this condition? We are not washing in the water of

the Word.

·         Moses cleansed the priest initially, then it was their responsibility

            to wash every day before ministering.

·         We must be holy and separate.

THE THREE WITNESSES IN HEAVEN:

The laver was sprinkled with blood, anointed with oil, and it

contained water for washing.  The Water of the Word for

cleansing comes to us through the Blood of Jesus and by the

Spirit (oil) of God.

 I John 5: 7-8 there are three that bare witness in heaven the

Father , the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And there are three that

bear witness in the earth, the Spirit, the Water and the Blood and

these three agree in one.

 Chapter 3 The Bronze Laver 

Exodus 30: 17-21; Exodus 38:8; Exodus 40:7

 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, then the Lord will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain. Isaiah 4:4-6

For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; John 5:26

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;  concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;  and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;  and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.  “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. John 16:6-12

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32

so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:26-27

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:17-18

I Come to Wash

There was a day when I came to wash my hands and feet
There was a day when things were not hidden or discreet
Now it is so easy to hide things in my heart
But I still have to wash and set myself apart

I come to the Bronze Laver to look, to wash, and to see
What snare to lay down, what God wants to wash out of me
Now that the sacrifice has been made for my sin
I come to wash before my God in this mirrored, bronze bin

Christ completed the work for us our hands are now clean
But we must walk a walk for Him that is by all men seen
I come to wash that I may have my appointed part in Him
I do not want the light He gave to go out or to become dim

As I stand here and look ahead I see the veil to the Holy Place
I want to go in and fellowship to be equipped to run the race
There is so much waiting for me I must not hide my face
I come to wash that I may receive a filling of His grace

I come to wash that I can know that Christ has made me clean
To work out my salvation daily and not look back where I’ve been
Christ wants us all to come and wash and lay aside our sin
That is why His Word is foreshadowed in this bronze bin

So come and wash that we may go and fellowship with Him
We cannot pass the offer up it would be such a sin
For if we are not willing to come and wash in this laver
We cannot expect to receive from the Lord His unmerited favor

There is a table prepared for us and it just lies ahead
If we will wash that burden is no longer on our head
I came to wash I feel so free I’m so glad I came
Now that I am washed I feel so clean I’ll never be the same

By Piper Green © 2003-2015

The scene from the Altar fades, though it is forever etched in her memory—and heart. The Bronze Laver is just ahead, and it grows larger as they approach; the joyful ones from the Altar have also approached. Each one washes in the basin; except for a few who stand and watch the others wash. Sarah asks him; “Why are the others not washing?” “At every point in the journey, some will choose not to continue forward. They are deceived into believing that they don’t need to go any farther, and that this is all they want of God. The ones not washing have accepted the sacrifice for their sin, but they do not want to change the way they live, believing they are missing out on life—leaving them bound. A great feast awaits them if they would take the journey, but they have chosen to stay behind and to not fellowship with God.”

She listens intently to his words, and realizes the same choice lays before her; she is unaware that he is quietly awaiting her decision. As the last one washes she cannot help but to draw close. She has come this far and can’t turn back. She has wanted this too long to quit. She wants to know God more; deeper.

Sarah approached the Laver and stood for a moment gazing into the water. A soft breeze brushes over her face, and gently rippling the water in the basin. As the water settled she recognizes the reflection staring back at her from within the mirrored bin. Scenes from her life flash before her, reflecting the hurts and wounds in her heart. She remembers the times she became angry with her mother; the hate she carries for a friend’s betrayal; each glared at her from within the bowl. “Please forgive me Lord!” She cries. The words pour from her mouth like water as she weeps and immerses her hands into the bowl; the water is refreshing to her weariness; she slips off her sandals dips her feet into the lower basin—the water is invigorating. As she washes the desert from her hands, she feels clean; the stains in her heart scrubbed away like an oyster gritting sand; a beautiful pearl for a reward.

His voice startles her, “I am glad you washed. It reveals your heart; you want to see God.” She sighs and answers, “Oh, I do! I feel so clean…and different; the weight I was carrying is gone! Basking in her new found freedom, she observes the ones who have chosen to remain; her heart breaks. “What about the others?” She asks as her eyes become fixed on them. “The laver is for them if they decide to wash. I will welcome them with open arms.” He answers. “I hope they follow.” Sarah said. “I want them to more than you know.” He answered, with a glimmer of sadness in his voice. She cannot take her eyes of them as he leads her toward the holy place.