Note: Thanks to Doug Small and Pastor Chuck from New Hope at newhope-ag.com
Title: The Brazen Altar & Laver
Introduction
Review:
When we are looking at the tabernacle we are not just looking at a history lesson. We are not here to try to study the worship system of the Jews. God used the tabernacle to show the Israelites and us a pattern to get into the presence of the Lord.
This is a shadow of something that is greater.
Why the tabernacle?
Exodus 25:8-9 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (9) According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
Hebrews 8:4-5 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; (5) who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
1. He wanted to be near them! The tabernacle was all about access. Ex 25:8, Ex 29:44-46
John 1:14 "word became flesh and dwelt among us." dwelt (gk. Skenoo - tabernacle)
2. He wanted to bring this relationship to the world. In the shape of the cross. Numbers 22
Talking about making the enemy run.
3. The problem was that he was a holy God and they were a stiff necked people.
Pattern for worship, not a religious way but an entrance. As the Lord's prayer. Matthew 6:9-13
Hebrews 8-9 and Revelation give us description of a tabernacle in heaven.
“ A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” (Hebrews 8:2-5 AV)
Révélation
The Altar - Ex. 27:1 … Revelation 8:3
The Laver - Ex. 30:18 … Revelation 4:6
The Table - Ex. 25:23 … Revelation 19:9
The Lampstand - Ex. 25: 31 … Revelation 1:12
The Golden Altar - Ex. 30:1 … Revelation 8:5
The Ark of the Covenant - Ex. 25:10
The Mercy Seat - Ex. 25:17 … Rev. 11:19
So there is a connection between this tabernacle and activities in heaven.
So tonight I want us to begin looking at this tabernacle in the context of worship. Getting into the presence of God. Getting into the Most Holy Place. That is our goal. It should be our goal. We should desire to get into his presence. We should desire to get to the Mercy of God and allow him to cleanse us and make us whole.
We are called to be priests:
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1. Carry to presence of God
2. Minister to God
3. Work the Tabernacle
Worship:
It so easy to get into the ritual of worship. Going through the motions with realizing the weight of what we do. If we are not careful we are just left with a religious shell.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous (terrible) times will come: (2) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, (4) traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
God's Desire
John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
God is looking, seeking for something.
The Lord told King Asa through the prophet in 1 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. "
This is not about some ritualistic worship. It is not about God putting some restrictions on you but giving you a pattern to come into the presence of the Lord. Give us a model.
God wanted to be near the people.
Exodus 25:8-9 reminds us that God gave Moses a tabernacle so that he "dwell among us". And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (9) According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
Hebrews 8 - 9 reminds us that the tabernacle is a shadow of the Lord Jesus.
John 1:14 "word became flesh and dwelt among us." dwelt (gk. Skenoo - tabernacle)
Benefits of Worship
When we seek the giver, we get the blessings, the presence, the healing, the peace of mind.
Entering the Tabernacle
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4.
Tabernacle Overview
Three segments
Outer Court
Holy Place
Holy of Holies
The trinity is woven throughout the tabernacle.
Outer Court - Picture of Jesus and His work on the Cross
Holy Place - the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the lampstand, the bread, wine, and prayers of incense
Holy of Holies
tradition says that the Jews referred to the three parts of the tabernacle also by a different name. The outer courts - the Way, the holy place - the truth, the Holy of Holies - the life
This would make sense. To get in to the Holy place you had to go through the way, only one way and that was through the gate (door) into the court yard by the altar and laver. Then you would see the truth, the word of God, the holy Spirit. Finally you could experience real life.
John 14:6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Curtains of Separation
Entrance Curtain - the gate, John 10:9
Entrance to Holy Place - the door
The veil to the Holy of holies - the vine, John 15:1
The Cross
Of the Tabernacle
Inside the Tabernacle
There is only one way and that is through Jesus Chris
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We have now left the gates of praise. We are now into the outer courts. Again, remember, our desire is to get into the holy of holies. We want to get into his presence. We have this unction in our hearts that almost pushes us to get into his presence. There is something that draws us closer to God. If only we will listen and obey.
Notice it is not enough just to stand at the gates of praise. There is more to this relationship. Yes we were created to praise but as we will see praise is more than just action and emotion but it is a lifestyle. Too many people stay at the gates of praise. They sing there, they dance there, they pray there, they worship yet there is not a life change. They do this every weekend but there is no change. To see a change in your life you have to keep going in.
The Brazen Altar
The Brazen Altar measured 7.5 X 7.5 wide by 4.5 feet high. It is made of wood covered over with brass (copper). On the four corners there are horns. Horns to hold down the sacrifice? NO! The sacrifice was dead. This was a telling us that this was a beast. You see this is the place of judgment. It is the place where sin is judge and there must be a sacrifice to replace it.
The Sacrifice
In this tabernacle there was a sacrifice. Because of my sin or trespass I would be required to bring to the altar a sacrifice without spot or blemish. I would meet the priest at the door and I would slay the sacrifice. This reminds us of the power of personal sin. I would be there to see the effects as an innocent life is taken because of sin.
Hopefully it would make my heart hurt and me to say, “I don’t never want to go back to there again”. That is the same as the Christian. When we sin we should be repentant and hurting and guilty. We should say, “I don’t want to go back there again.”
Sin equals death and if there is no sacrifice then we will die. That is what happened to Adam and Eve. When they sinned God promised death. Now some say it was delayed and meant that there was a spiritual death. That is true and physical death. But they deserved death at that moment. Yet God offered a sacrifice of a lamb.
God suspended the sentence of Adam and Eve and of every sacrifice until the time Jesus came. They were looking forward.
Why a sacrifice?
People ask, “Why a sacrifice?” Isn’t it cruel to kill an innocent animal? Isn’t it inhumane? Yes. That is why God required it. So that we may never get used to it.
Why?
1. God wanted us to learn that every sin destroys.
2. He wanted us to see that spilled blood equals wasting of life.
3. He wanted us to see that Sin Costs
4. He wanted us to see that sin destroys innocent victims.
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death
Symbolism
1. a place of sacrifice
2. symbol of cleansing from death
For a sin offering a person would bring their sacrifice their to the gate. They would enter in and approach the altar. They would lay their hand on the burnt offering. Leviticus 1:4. The person was identifying with the sacrifice. He would confess those sins. Then he would slit the throat and the blood would be sprinkled on the horns on the altar.
Leviticus 17:11 for the life of any creature is in its blood. I have given you the blood so you can make atonement for your sins. It is the blood, representing life, that brings you atonement.
Hebrews 9:22 without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
His answer, Rom 10:9-10 NKJV that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:26 If that had been necessary, he would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us.
Altar represents salvation, forgiveness of sins
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
5 Basic offerings
Offerings of Consecration-giving of oneself to God-setting apart
A. The Burnt Offerings (Lev 1; 6;9-13)-This is the offering of complete surrender. Giving all to God. As we learn from Romans 12:1 to offer our bodies as a sacrifice.
B. The Meat or Meal Offering (Lev 2; 6:15-16,20-21). This is an offering of service and work for the Lord. On this offering was sprinkled incense-a symbol of prayer, oil-a symbol of the Holy Spirit, flour-talents and gifts, no leaven-void of sin, no honey-symbol of mans effort, salt-preserve.
Notice it was offered in the morning-We should get up daily and give our serve to the Lord.
C. Peace Offering (Lev 3:1-2; 7:11-16,20-21)-This is a shared offering. After the sacrifice the offerer receives something back. With this there is a sense of unity. Fellowship with the Lord. Gathered together with the family. I believe that this is truly created by the leader of the home.
Offerings of Reparation-repairing the relation between God us and others
D. The SIN offering (Lev 4)-This is an offering for repairing that broken relationship. This sin offering are things that are done usually by accident or omission. Social Irresponsibity-not being a witness to a trial, Hygiene- touching a unclean thing, Relational sin-touching a defiled man, Breaking of an oath,
E. The Trespass Offering (Lev 5)-This is an offering given for purposefully breaking the commands of God. In this there is an opportunity for restitution for certain kinds of sins.
It can be applied to the Christian life in this order. Paul deals with this in Romans. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” he deals with the Sin issue.
This is the issue of original sin. We may not like it but in our lives there is a nature to sin that must be dealt with, it came from the fall. Next he deals with the issue of Sins Romans 9-11. That is the transgression we make of the law. Our own sin. As we commit sin. Finally we are told in Romans 12:1
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
that we are to give our bodies as a living sacrifice.
Next we are to be ministers to others using our gifts Romans 12:6-8.
Rom 12:6-8 NKJV Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; (7) or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; (8) he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Finally in Romans 12 & 13 we see this in relation to others. As we deal with others. It should be seen through our Christian walk.
Rom 12:10 NKJV Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Rom 12:14 NKJV Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rom 12:20 NKJV Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
Rom 13:1 NKJV Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Rom 13:8-14 NKJV Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. (9) For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (10) Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (11) And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (13) Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. (14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Rom 14:1 NKJV Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
Rom 14:17-19 NKJV for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. (19) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Finally I want us to notice one last point before we move on. The priest had the responsibility to keep the fire burning at all times. Even when the tabernacle was being moved the coals were taken, there was always a fire at the brazen altar. It should be our desire to keep that fire burning. The fire for repentance and sacrifice in our lives. The fire to offer up our selves for service. It dies from our neglect, from carelessness, and from no use.
As far as the Israelite was concerned you would stop here. Unless you were a priest you would go no further than the brazen altar. Yet through the sacrifice of Christ was now can continue on. Peter tells us that we are a “royal priesthood”. Hebrews tells us to go boldly. Now there are still some steps to go through.
The Laver
Right past the Brazen Altar is this Laver. This is a huge basen made of copper, bronze or brass mirrors. It was two parts a bowl and a basin or stand. In the basin was water. From the bowl you could see your reflection. Because it came from the donated mirrors of the women. Exodus 30:17 - 21, 38:8 (mirrors of women) Who you are and what you life is. That was the purpose of the water for cleansing.
At the Altar we see what God has done for us in cleansing by the gift of his son Jesus Christ. At the Laver we see our appropriate response, to cleanse our self. At the altar I am sanctified legally. At the laver, I am sanctified practically.
So there is a major role that we play in changing. We must wash our hands and clean our feet. Our hands represent our work. That is why in Psalms we are told to “lift our hands in the sanctuary of God”. It is us giving our work to God. Our feet represent our walk. Here we are cleans our “coming forth and our going away”. This is how I behave and my lifestyle.
What in the NT do we see as this Laver?
Eph 5:26 NKJV that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Tit 3:5 NKJV not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
John 17:17 NKJV "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
It is in this word that I see what I should be and what I could be. Notice we are comparing ourselves to the word of God and not to one another. Paul said it is not smart to compare ourselves one to another.
2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
We must compare ourselves to Jesus!
James said in Jam 1:23-24 NKJV For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; (24) for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Jesus said “ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3 AV)
The problem is when we don’t examine ourselves and cleanse ourselves we will be indicted by the word.
1 Corinthians 11:28-29 NKJV But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (29) For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
This means that people were eating and drinking not paying attention to the sins in their life.
The effect are:
1 Corinthians 11:30-32 NKJV For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Washing - sanctification, daily cleansing, daily separating
Why is the brazen laver after the altar of sacrifice?
First the atonement for our sin, then the preparation for our service. As we enter into the next faze we are called into service.
Tit 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration (spiritual rebirth) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
1 Corinthians 1:30 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
Born again. Spirit is made new but the soul carries the scars. Bodies are made knew in the end.
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (26) that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (27) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
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