Exodus 30:17-21 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,… 1. This laver teaches us, among other things, that those who would come to God must approach Him with clean hands (see Psalm 26:6; Psalm 24:2-4; Psalm 119:9). I think these texts show that those who profess to serve God must cultivate holiness of heart and life, and that whilst the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin, we are to cleanse ourselves by coming constantly under the power of the Word. 2. None but priests were permitted to wash in this laver, and none were consecrated to the office of priests besides those who were born into the priestly family. All the Lord's people are priests, and as such they are called to offer spiritual sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15, 16; 1 Peter 2:5, 9). They enter the priestly family when born again, and none but those who are "twice born" can offer any sacrifice to God which He will accept. At their ordination the priests were washed all over: this they did not do for themselves; it was done for them by Moses, and answered to the washing of regeneration, which God does for us when He brings us into His house and makes us His servants. Afterwards there was the daily washing of the hands and feet: this Moses did not do for them; they did it themselves, did it every day, and the neglect of it was punished with death (Leviticus 8:6; Exodus 30:18-21). God has made all His people clean. As He sees them, there is no sin on them; but as to their daily walk, they need to be constantly judging themselves by the Word. And as the action of water will remove any defilement of the hands or feet, so the action of the Word, when we come properly under its power, will correct our wrong habits, will purify our thoughts, and make us clean. (G. Rodgers.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, |
    |