LESSON 35
THE LAVER, THE ANOINTING OIL, AND THE INCENSE
By E. L. Bynum, Pastor
Memory Verse: 30:37————Lesson: Exodus 30:17-38
The brazen altar speaks of salvation through the cross of Christ, while the laver of brass speaks of sanctification through daily cleansing, that we might be ready to serve Him.
I. THE LAVER. v. 17-21
A. The Plan and The Place Of The Laver. v. 17-18
1. It was made out of brass which is a type of judgment.
a. Sin has to be judged and cleansed by the water (word) of cleansing. Unless the defilement of sin is removed, there can be no acceptable worship.
b. This is largely ignored in these days of feel good, shallow gospel preaching, which makes no demands of holy living on the people.
c. People stream into the house of God, who have not come by the brazen altar, the cross. Many others who have been saved approach God with dirty hands and feet.
d. All the vessels outside of the tabernacle in the court were made of brass, which speaks of judgment. All the furniture inside was gold which speaks of the Divine Son of God.
2. It was made of the looking glasses of the women. Ex. 38:8, And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
a. The looking glass was often a symbol of vanity and pride.
b. Women are often first in the service of God. They were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb. Lydia was the first convert at Philippi.
3. Its place was between the altar and the tabernacle.
a. The brazen altar speaks of salvation by the cross.
b. The laver of brass speaks of the believers need of sanctification in order to serve.
4. It was the only piece of furniture of which no dimensions are given. God’s cleansing power cannot be measured when we wash in the word of God, and confess our sins unto Him. I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
B. The Purpose Of The Laver. v. 19-21
1. It stood midway between the brazen altar where sin was put away, and the golden altar where the service of worship and intercession was made.
2. It was the place where believer priests washed their hands and feet for service. v. 19. All believers now are priests and need daily cleansing. Rom. 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…. Heb. 12:15-16, Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. I Pet. 2:9, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. I John 1:8-9, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
a. The hands were to be cleansed to work.
b. The feet were to be cleansed to walk.
3. God’s order is salvation, sanctification, and then service.
a. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Heb. 9:22
b. Without holiness no man can see the Lord. Heb. 12:14, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. I Pet. 1:16, Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
4. The laver filled with water, a type of the Word of God. v. 20. Eph. 5:25-27, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
5. There was no floor in the tabernacle. Their feet in contact with the world and their hands of service became defiled.
6. The laver and the water, like the Word of God today, reveal the need of cleansing.
a. Some believers only look and that is all. James 1:22-24, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
b. God expects His servants to be clean. Psa. 24:3-4, Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Psa. 119:9, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Isa. 52:11, Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
7. Notice that the washing preceded their offering for others on the brazen altar and also before their service in the tabernacle. v. 20
8. Notice the penalty for failure. v. 20
9. The water of the word cleanses. John 15:3, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Eph. 5:26, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
10. The truth of cleansing illustrated by Jesus Christ. John 13:2-20. John 13:8-10, Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11. Our hands of service and our walk to be cleansed. v. 21
II. THE ANOINTING OIL AND THE SWEET INCENSE. v. 22-38
A. The Anointing Oil A Type of The Holy Spirit. v. 22-33
1. The directions for making the anointing oil. v. 22-25
a. The spices listed would add fragrance to the olive oil, and would indicate the sweetness and fragrance of the Holy Spirit in all true worship and service. v. 23-24
b. The completed mixture was a type of the Holy Spirit. v. 24-25
2. The directions for anointing the tabernacle. v. 26-29
a. The tabernacle and all the furniture to be anointed.
b. All worship is vain unless it is blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
c. The tabernacle and all of its furniture are typical of Christ who was anointed by the Holy Ghost. Acts 10:38, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
3. The directions for anointing the priests. v. 30-31
a. Aaron a type of Christ our High Priest who was anointed of God. Psa. 45:7-9, Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Heb. 1:8-9, But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
b. Aaron’s sons may be seen as a type of the believer priest today, who is anointed for the work and worship of God. John 4:23-24, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. Phil. 3:3, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Eph. 2:18, For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
4. The directions for avoiding trouble. v. 32-33
a. Only the priestly family to be anointed. v. 32. The Holy Spirit only abides upon those who are in the priestly family, through a right relationship with Christ. Rom. 8:9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
b. It was not to be used for any other purpose.
B. The Sweet Incense. v. 34-38
1. The incense for the golden altar to be made according to God’s directions. v. 34-35. This incense typified High Priestly work of Christ, in all His perfections and fragrance.
2. It was holy and for God’s service, and thus was not to be imitated. v 36-38. It is a sin to try to imitate the work Christ and the Holy Spirit, as is being done in many church services today.
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What was the laver made of and where did they obtain the materials for making it?
2. Where was the laver located?
3. What was the laver used for, and when was it used?
4. What spiritual application can be made today, in regard to the laver and its use?
5. The brazen altar stands for the and the laver stands for .
6. What was the penalty for a priest failing to use the laver?
7. How did Christ’s washing of the feet of his disciples illustrate the need for cleansing today?
8. What was the anointing oil made of?
9. List the two uses of the anointing of I?
10. In what way does this illustrate spiritual truth for us today?
11 . Only the family were to be anointed.
12. What is the meaning of the incense and its use?