The Laver and His Foot

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thou shalt also make a layer of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal.) These scriptures are “the word of God;” this gives them their importance and authority. They are also “the testimony of Jesus Christ;” this gives them their interest to us as redeemed sinners, and their value to our souls, as containing God’s testimony concerning his Son.
God’s thoughts about Christ are embodied in type, and given us in the scriptures, that we might have fellowship with the Father in his own estimate of his Son. In the laver and his foot, we have the divinely given figure or shadow of CHRIST as our SANCTIFICATION.
“Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30.) In this 30th chapter of Exodus, from verse 11, typically the believer is regarded, first, redeemed by the blood (11-16);secondly, sanctified with the washing of water (17-21); thirdly, anointed with the oil (22-33); and, fourthly, accepted in the perfume. (34-38.) “The Spirit, the water, and the blood.” (1 John 5:6-8.)
Or, in another aspect, 1st (ver. 11-16), Christ is seen in his atoning death for our redemption.
2nd. (ver. 17-21), in his life, death, and resurrection, as our sanctification.
3rd (ver. 22-33), ascended to God’s right hand, receiving and giving the spirit, for our anointing.
4th (ver. 34 to end), in the assembly, and within the vail, appearing before God in all his preciousness on our behalf, for our acceptance.
In Solomon’s temple there were ten lavers, standing on their ten bases, and one molten sea, standing on twelve oxen. (1 Kings 7:23-26.) In Ezekiel’s temple there is no laver nor sea, but a river, whose waters issue out from under the threshold of the house eastward, deepening and widening as it flows.
In Revelation 4:6, we read of a sea of glass like unto crystal before the throne. In Revelation 15: 2, of a sea of glass mingled with fire. And in Revelation 22:1, of a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
All these are so many figures of Christ, and of the cleansing, sanctifying, life-giving, life-sustaining power of the Spirit of God, full of the richest interest and instruction: but on these we cannot now enlarge.
The word “laver,” in the Hebrew, signifies, “like a river;” and there is beautiful significancy in this.
The laver consisted of two parts, “the laver and his foot.” The upper part, or laver, being a large reservoir of water, from which, when required, the water poured down “like a river” into the foot or basin at its base. The lower part being alone used for bathing or washing, so that the water in the laver remained always pure and undefiled.
This construction reminds us forcibly of the expression in the Epistle to Titus, 3: 5, 6: “The washing (or laver, λουτρον,) of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
The laver thus constructed presents Christ in two aspects; the foot, Christ in humiliation on earth; and the upper part, or laver proper, Christ in his exaltation in heaven.
In his life on earth, Christ left us an example that we should follow in his steps and on the Cross; from his pierced side came forth the water and the blood.
But it is from Christ crucified, risen, and exalted, that the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of purity and life, is now given. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst; let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39.)
In Ephesians 5:25,26, we read, “Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.” This is his present action, “That he might (ultimately) present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” (Ephesians 5:27.)