How does this verse inform our understanding of approaching God with reverence? Setting the scene at the bronze basin “ ‘They must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.’ ” (Exodus 30:21) • The priests have already been robed, anointed, and set apart, yet before stepping into the tent of meeting or approaching the altar they must still pause at the basin. • God Himself institutes the ritual, anchoring it in the life-or-death language: wash, or perish. No room for casual shortcuts. The act of washing: a living picture of reverence • Physical cleansing mirrors the inner purity God requires (Psalm 24:3-4). • Hands—symbol of deeds; feet—symbol of walk. Every action, every step must be sanctified. • Reverence, then, begins with acknowledgment: “My works and my ways need Your cleansing before I dare draw near.” The warning: “so they will not die” • God’s holiness is not merely inspiring; it is lethal to defilement (Leviticus 10:1-3). • Fear of the Lord, rightly understood, guards us from presumption. We come near, but never on our own terms (Hebrews 12:28-29). Timeless principle: holiness is not optional • “It shall be a permanent statute.” The ceremony was temporary, yet the principle it taught is forever (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15-16). • Reverence is woven into every generation’s approach to God, not merely Old Testament ritual. Carried into the New Testament • Christ fulfills the basin’s symbolism—“the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26). • “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). Inner cleansing through His blood now matches the outward sign, but the reverence remains unchanged. • Jesus washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:3-10) underscores that even those closest to Him must be washed by Him before sharing in His presence. Practical takeaways for worship today • Pause before rushing into prayer or service; confess sin, seek cleansing (1 John 1:9). • Examine both “hands” (actions) and “feet” (direction of life). Reverence involves integrity in both. • Approach corporate worship with preparation—Scripture reading, silent reflection, not hurried distraction. • Remember the costliness of access. The basin pointed to Calvary; reverence deepens when we grasp the price of our cleansing. |
    |