The Bronze Laver

It was here at the bronze laver that the priests washed their hands and feet before entering into and coming out of the holy place. The laver was made from the bronze mirrors of the women and filled with water for the continual cleansing of the priests as they ministered in the work of the Lord. “Thou shalt make also a brazen laver with its foot, to wash in: and thou shalt set it between the tabernacle of the testimony and the altar. And water being put into it, Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and feet in it: When they are going into the tabernacle of the testimony, and when they are to come to the altar, to offer on it incense to the Lord, Lest perhaps they die. It shall be an everlasting law to him, and to his seed by successions." (Exodus 30: 17-21, also see Exodus 38:8). This symbolized the Word of God first of all. James 1:23-25 says that God's word is like a mirror. When the the priests came to the laver they could see whether their faces were dirty and they could see whether their faces were dirty and they could wash and be clean to serve the Lord in the holy place. Christ also washes us with the word of God (as we hear and obey it), so that we can serve Him in holiness (Ephesians 5:26).

The laver also symbolizes water baptism.

God cleanses us by water first and them by the fire of the Holy Spirit-even as gold is cleansed both by water and by fire (Numbers 31:21-23). Washing by the word external sins in the outer court gives us a good testimony before people. But if we do not press on into the most holy place and allow the fire of God to cleanse us inwardly, we will never become spiritual. We will remain forever as religious people.