Sanctuary Wash basin in WRONG PLACE

[ClubV12]

I've been studying the sanctuary of late and it looks to me like every picture I've seen of the sanctuary has the wash basin (laver) placed between the alter of sacrafice and the Holy Place. So the Priest enters the outer court, walks around the alter, gets to the basin and then washes his feet/hands before entering the Holy Place, or going about his work in general.

Now consider this 2nd Testimonies quote, page 614 paragraph 2.

"The laver was placed between the altar and the congregation, that before they (the Priests) came into the presence of God, in the sight of the congregation (the people OUTSIDE of the court yard), they might wash their hands and their feet. What impression was this to make upon the people? It was to show them that every particle of dust must be put away before they could go into the presence of God; for He was so high and holy that unless they did comply with these conditions, death would follow. {2T 613.2}

This is consistent with Exodus 30:17 KJV. Many other translations may be misleading on that verse.

The people OUTSIDE LOOKING INTO the courtyard were to SEE the Priests washing their hands and feet in preparation for their work. With the basin BEHIND the alter, the people would not have been able to see them clearly, if at all.

The symbolism here is that before rendering service to God (worship) come with clean hands (literally and figuratively). Dress nicely, be clean physically and spiritually. Your entering into "Gods house" show some respect!

[Gordon1]

Or 'God's Presence', as at the burning bush.

[ClubV12]

Gordon.... huh? I don't get it. :)

[Gail]

If you Google for images of the tabernacle, you will see the basic structure is common but with slight variations in the laver and the altar. Most have the laver as directly behind the altar but in Leslie Hardinge's book, Jesus in the Sanctuary, the picture there shows the laver behind and slightly to the side while slightly to the other side is the stake where the next sacrifice is tethered.

The door in the outer curtain looks wide enough to see what's going on in the courtyard. Other pictures show the altar as low enough to see what's behind, or the laver higher. I find it varies.

[Gail]

Gordon.... huh? I don't get it.

Where the Shekinah was in the bush but not burning it. Moses was instructed to remove his shoes because the very land where God was talking to him was considered holy ground.

I've heard of people taking off their shoes in church because they considered themselves meeting with God there. I don't do that but personally I don't have a problem with that.

[ClubV12]

Yup, like you said Gail, every image on the sanctuary I've seen some slight variations. But ALL of them place the alter first, laver second. As it concerns height, good point, you could see over one or the other. The laver would need to be low or have steps or seats near it for washing. Can you imagine a foot washing sink at chest height?

Anyway, the 2T quote sounds pretty straight forward as to where the laver should be placed. Between the entry to the sanctuary court and alter. FIRST thing you do when enter the temple court is wash your feet/hands.

"The laver was placed between the altar and the congregation,"

...and the congregation is WHERE??? That would be a bunch of folks congregrating right outside the sanctuary entrance looking in. Only certain select folks at certain select times could actually enter the court yard itself. But many would show up to watch the morning and evening lamb sacrafice, as they congregated outside, looking in, to do so.

[Gail]

You don't think she meant the other altar, the altar of incense that was inside the Holy Place and before the veil to the Most Holy? Before they could even enter the first apartment the priests needed to cleanse.

[ClubV12]

Oohh,, good one!!! That would fit the pictures we always see. Hmmm, I'll have to give that some thought.

Exodus 30 verse 20

When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: .

I think this points to the alter of sacrafice (burn offering).

"....tabernacle of the congregation", what IS that exactly???

[John317]

Now consider this 2nd Testimonies quote, page 614 paragraph 2.

"The laver was placed between the altar and the congregation, that before they (the Priests) came into the presence of God, in the sight of the congregation (the people OUTSIDE of the court yard), they might wash their hands and their feet. What impression was this to make upon the people? It was to show them that every particle of dust must be put away before they could go into the presence of God; for He was so high and holy that unless they did comply with these conditions, death would follow. {2T 613.2}

This is consistent with Exodus 30:17 KJV. Many other translations may be misleading on that verse.

By "presence of God" is meant the holy places, that is, inside the sanctuary.

KJV--Exodus 30:17-18:

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [18] Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

ESV--

Exodus 30:17-18

The Lord said to Moses, [18] "You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it,

The Tent of Meeting-- or tabernacle of the congregation-- consisted of both the Holy and Most Holy places. So these texts are saying that the laver was between the altar and the Holy Places.

Check out the following quote from Ellen White:

Quote:

The sacred tent was enclosed in an open space called the court, which was surrounded by hangings, or screens, of fine linen, suspended from pillars of brass. The entrance to this enclosure was at the eastern end. It was closed by curtains of costly material and beautiful workmanship, though inferior to those of the sanctuary. The hangings of the court being only about half as high as the walls of the tabernacle, the building could be plainly seen by the people without. In the court, and nearest the entrance, stood the brazen altar of burnt offering. Upon this altar were consumed all the sacrifices made by fire unto the Lord, and its horns were sprinkled with the atoning blood. Between the altar and the door of the tabernacle was the laver, which was also of brass, made from the mirrors that had been the freewill offering of the women of Israel. At the laver the priests were to wash their hands and their feet whenever they went into the sacred apartments, or approached the altar to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord. {PP 347.3}

[ClubV12]

Thanks John, that clears it up real good. I hate to be a doubting Thomas, but if possible, it's nice to have clear and convincing evidence. When it's not possible, you can exercise faith and/or go with the "counsel of the brethren" until the issue does become clear.

...plenty of issues remain to be resolved of significantly more value than where the Priests washed their feet.

Like the 28 fundamental beliefs, I can give a reason for my faith using just 6 books of the bible to do so. With some single texts supporting more than one belief. A surprisingly small number of texts is involved when you boil it down to the smallest possible number.

[John317]

[John317]

I think the reason that God placed the altar first, even before the laver, is that without the sacrifice of Christ, nothing else would be either possible or relevant.

[ClubV12]

God knows best,,, of course. I was thinking in terms of the courtyard as if you were entering "church". As such, the first step would be to make yourself clean, in body and of course heart.

This sanctuary study I'm doing is really clairifying some issues with righteouness by faith, which is SO easy to misinterpret and difficult to explain to others in a balanced way. And yet,,, as Sky would say,,, so simple. Uh huh...

The "law" is not to be taken lightly, Jesus is our friend, our best and most loving companion, He is also "God". There is a certain respect, "fear" (reverence) that should not be underestimated. He means what He says and says what He means.

[Gail]

God knows best,,, of course. I was thinking in terms of the courtyard as if you were entering "church". As such, the first step would be to make yourself clean, in body and of course heart.

The "law" is not to be taken lightly, Jesus is our friend, our best and most loving companion, He is also "God". There is a certain respect, "fear" (reverence) that should not be underestimated. He means what He says and says what He means.

The water could represent the regeneration process, which we all need and do in Christ, whose words are the water of life (living water).

Re: reverence- I got that feeling, too, when studying the sanctuary. As one made one's way through the process, first by taking the life of the sacrifice and then by proxy through the priest, one got closer to God's presence and holiness. If a priest did not follow the protocol he was under the penalty of death. It was very serious business!

Very awesome and humbling

[ClubV12]

Thanks Gail, I kind of wondered if I was the only one that was getting that impression, the "awesomeness" of the Lord.

Contemplating the meaning(s) of the various parts and pieces of the sanctuary could take several years! I'm looking at the fundamentals now, but you can't help but be drawn into the deeper meanings of the rights and rituals.

[Gail]

Yep! Let me know if a couple of things happen as you study:

1) You see Jesus all through the system, and

2) You begin seeing references to the sanctuary throughout the Bible

Ezekiel and Revelation are just two examples of a view of heaven that are sanctuary-like. They, though, are depicting the "true sanctuary", and show the throne with the living creatures that cry Holy, Holy, Holy. The more you see it in Scripture, the bigger and more glorious the picture becomes.

I get goosebumps, do you?

[ClubV12]

Well, not yet, but I see that possibility, at this point I'm still pretty focused on the mechanics, structure, rituals of the whole thing. I gotta redo my drawing and put the basin back where it's supposed to be... Every once in awhile I catch a glimpse of the magnitude of how deep this study can go. It's a rich mine field with precious gems of truth just waiting to be uncovered.