CLEANSING

^[p. 187] CLEANSING

John 13:2 - 11; 1 Kings 7:23 - 39

These scriptures deal with the thought of cleansing, which may be considered as a great service. However spiritual we may be and apparently free from all blame, the need of cleansing is constant. The passage in John 13 furnishes us with the full spiritual thought involved in the Old Testament scripture and stands at the threshold of the house. The Lord in the succeeding chapters is furnishing instruction for us as to the Father and our part with Him in relation to the Father, and so the section in 1 Kings helps to amplify the truth of John 13 because it shows how much water there is, how plenteous it is. The lavers are portable, so much is made of the bases of the lavers. It may be helpful to consider it because it has in view those of us who would use water to help others. The sea is that each might help himself, cleanse himself from all filthiness; the sea is stationary whereas the lavers are portable, having wheels.

You will observe that the sea is a large containing vessel that held 2,000 baths, suggesting the plenteousness of the water. It is on the right side of the house over against the south, it would be where it would be needed. It is said elsewhere that the priests washed in it. Sometimes God has to allow things to happen to remind us of the need of carefulness, the need of washing is always present. The sea means there is plenty of water for us to be used.

Attention is called in John 10 to the place where John was baptising at the first. The Lord went there where John baptised first, and many believed on Him there. I suppose the waters of Jordan are the best waters, there was much water elsewhere but where He baptised first the water was running. In ^[p. 188] John 13 the Lord brought water to them; wonderful grace that He should go on round the table carrying the basin all round. You may say, ‘nobody comes to visit me’, that means you are complaining, it does not excuse the brethren, but you are complaining and overlooking that there is the sea you can go to yourself, plenty of it. ‘Having wheels’ — whilst you carry the water in love to a person who needs cleansing the element of judgment is with you, if you do not bring the ‘brass’ with you you will not help them. This water should only be used by clean persons in one sense, it is not for the sinner, but for the christian. We have to learn everything from the Lord. The Lord after He served sat down, “as I have done unto you” John 13:15 — it is example. First the sea is to be considered, abundance of water so that no one should assume to be unwashed or complain that the brethren are not helping, the water is there for yourself, plenty of it. When we come to the antitype the supply is infinite. The idea of the water is always present whether we are together or not. The water is for moral cleansing, there is no idea of its ever running short, it is infinite. The water is the moral side that one is purified in oneself from the influence of sin, there is constant need of it. The blood is applied once, it relieves the conscience, cleansing us from all sin, but the need of washing is constant. In 1 Kings you get a much greater description of these vessels than in Chronicles. Here it is typically the whole heavenly system with which we are connected, great stress is laid on building. Much is made of the house of God and what is inside it, specially the folding doors, as if we are reminded that God will have us near to Him; so He gives these instructions about the sea and the lavers. A christian should not be at a distance for want of water, there should be no stain upon us that would rob God. The wonderful patience in the divine system is borne ^[p. 189] witness to in the oxen bearing the thing day and night. All is borne up by divine patience. The whole divine system is marked by that, God waiting on us, providing for us. The “Rock that followed them ... was Christ”. 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Naaman’s servants helped him to get down from his high horse. He wisely came to it and used the water as it was, the most effective waters for cleansing. Naaman’s washing is more general than that we are dealing with; rather more the water in John 13.

There is enough to cleanse the universe but the application here is to a people who draw near to God. If we do not draw near to God we do not come into contact with these vessels at all. The idea is that in all our approach, whether personally or in serving, there is the need of the application of the water, however spiritual we may be, it must be constant. God is the judge of all, no one can escape that. “Our God is a consuming fire”. Hebrews 12:29. The Father judges no one, for that name gives more the side of grace and privilege. The type in Kings is so helpful, there is so much water, it is for all, the most spiritual have to wash. If you are a priest you will wash in the sea, you will not expect the brethren to do it for you. It is a large vessel, not a common thing, it is ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high. This is no ordinary matter, it is a wonderful vessel and one that requires energy to get to. Ten always involves responsibility. 1 Kings 7:24 speaks of the ornamentation, denoting the power of life attached to this service; there is great moral elevation and beauty attached to it.

There were lions, oxen and cherubim in the construction of these vessels. The lion turns not away from any; if you go to a brother to help him you are apt to be timid. The cherubim is the well-known figure of the government of God — I am here in relation to the government of God. Then the palm trees would ^[p. 190] mean that you gain the victory. One finds in oneself a want of courage in speaking to the brethren, not in public but in private. “The righteous are bold as a lion”. Proverbs 28:1. The brass would mean the judgment of God has been executed in the death of Jesus. If you are in accord with the brass you show you are judging yourself and then you can be bold.

In 1 Kings we are in the presence of the great heavenly system of things; things are on a much wider scale. The tabernacle is a question of getting through, it is not the full thought of God in the wilderness, but provisional and therefore much more reduced. There was no cedar in it, only shittim wood, a wilderness thought. Here you have the cedar and all the great woods, it is a question of dignity as well as approach to God. When you have a fixed state of things which the temple means, you have largeness. Whilst we may have outward order we may be neglectful of the cleansing side. “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me”. Although right outwardly we may be wanting inwardly as to this service and thus miss the enjoyment of our great privilege in the assembly of part with Christ. God is patiently reminding us of the sea so that you may never draw nigh to Him apart from the use of it. “Bodies washed with pure water”. Hebrews 10:22. It can only be understood spiritually. It is the death of Christ maintained in spiritual power and reality among the people of God..