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The Tabernacle in the Wilderness

A Bible Study by Miss E. Meredith

THE BRAZEN LAYER (Exodus 30 : 17-21.)

ITS APPEARANCE (V.18).

A large basin of brass with a brazen foot. It contained water. There being no size or shape indicated suggests the measureless standard of holiness we have in Christ our Saviour, the Living Word (John 1:1); (1 Pet-rel:16).

ITS POSITION (Ex. 40:7-30 and Ex. 30:18).

Between the Door of the Tabernacle and the Brazen Altar, teaching us that we must approach to God with holiness. Psalm 24:3-5, whether it be for service or for worship. V. 19-21, "That they die not," v. 20 and repeated in V. 21, is a serious warning against regarding this matter lightly. (Isa. 52:11). See also (Ex. 40:30-32). "And it shall a statute for ever" (V. 21:7.) The divine principle of holiness does not change. (Matt. 5:8) and (Heb. 12:14.)

ITS PURPOSE (V. 19-21). V. 18 ". . . water therein.")

To wash the priest's hands and feet daily. We need a daily washing in the Word of God. The priests had already been washed all over for their consecration (Ex. 29:4), and this was not repeated. (Titus 3:5); (John 13:10), but the necessity for the daily washing of hands and feet remained. So, too, we need a daily cleansing from daily defilement.

Our Saviour is the Word of God (John 15:3); (Eph. 5:25-27.) A practical application of God's Word cleanses us from conscious and unconscious defilements. (Lev. 1:8); Peter 1:22); (Heb. 4:12-13.)

ITS MATERIAL (Ex. 38:8).

Brazen mirrors given by the women of Israel. God's Word is a mirror—a truthful mirror, in which we see ourselves as we really are in all our un loveliness. (James 1:23-25.) But the mirror of God's Word not only reflects our denied condition, but will also wash that defilement away, by our willing obedience to it. (Prov 27:19); (John 15:3); (1 Peter 1:22). Brass— representing the Word in its judgment of our ways. (John 12:48.)

It would seem that the water first used in the Laver was from the smitten Rock. (Ex. 17 and 1; Cor. 10:4) — type of Christ crucified, from whose pierced side flowed water and blood. (John 19:34.)

ITS JOURNEYINGS.

There is no mention of any covering for the Laver in its journeyings through the wilderness. (See Numbers 4:1-14.) The Word of God must not be hidden. (2 Cor. 4:1-6.)

N.B.—The Laver stood on its own foot. (V. 18), needing no prop or steadying hand even in the fiercest storm. The Word of God needs no human hand to protect it. It carries its own credentials.

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