The Laver
The Laver in the Jewish tabernacle was a highly polished bronze basin, circular or oval in form. It was made from the mirrors the women of Israel gave as a freewill offerings: “He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting” (Exodus 38:8).
The laver was used for washing. The priests were required to perform cleanings each time they entered the tabernacle or sacrificed at the altar of burnt offering. The Lord instructed, “When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die” (Exodus 30:20). For they must be free from the desecration of sin themselves before they ministered on behalf of others (Psalms 51:7; Isaiah 52:11; John 13:10, 11).
In Solomon’s Temple, the “molten sea” and “ten lavers” replaced the original one (1 Kings 7:23-26, 38). It stood on its “foot,” or base, in the court of the tabernacle between the entrance to the tabernacle and the altar of burnt offering.
What the Laver Symbolizes?
Typically, the laver represents the washing away of our sins through the service of baptism. The apostle Paul wrote, “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11 also Ephesians 5:26; Revelation 7:14).
Baptism is the outward sign, acknowledgement, or approval of the inward experience of elimination of sin that has taken place in the repentant sinner. The washing of sin is the miracle of rebirth experienced by the individual whose sins have been forgiven through faith in the blood of Christ. The Savior said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28 also Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:14, 22).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
