Day #273 - Wash
The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. 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. So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them—to him and his descendants throughout their generations.””
Exodus 30:17-21 NKJV
Did your mom always make you wash up before dinner?
My wife is always making sure our kids have clean hands. She gets them to wash regularly or she passes out hand sanitizer. Sometimes I think its on the extreme end, but it is actually a good habit. I’m thankful she keeps them clean.
The tabernacle furnishings include the laver or a wash basin for the priest to wash their hands. The priests needed to wash their hands and feet to minister to the Lord. Nothing unclean could withstand the intensity of God’s glory and one could die without washing their hands and feet. Those giving an offering to the Lord and ministering in the tabernacle were not only properly clothed and consecrated but also needed to be clean.
Having clean hands spiritually is a pre-requisite to enter “the Presence.” “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully (Psalms 24:3-4 NKJV).” David knew that to enter the holy place you needed to have clean hands, which he connected to a pure heart.
O saint, I have good news for you! We as believers in Jesus receive the washing we need to be clean before His presence by Him! In Ephesians when Paul is instructing the church about marriage he likens Jesus to a groom that cares for His bride, the church. He says, “that He (Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse her (the church) with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26 NKJV).” Jesus is the perfect husband who washes and cleanses his bride with His Word.
Coming into “the Presence” is always coming through Jesus. How do we come through Jesus? By the Spirit and the Word. It is so important to spend time in the Scripture to cleanse our hands and our feet so to speak. The Word washes us and cleanses us and ushers us into the holy place.
Jesus thank You for Your Holy Word. Let Your Word wash over me. Wash me and I will be clean. Wash me and renew me. Your Word ushers me into Your presence. It’s through Your Word that I know You Jesus and even know who I am. Wash me to be fit for Your presence. In Your holy name, amen.
Pure heart, clean hands, His Presence - such joy! 🍷💖🍞🕊✝