The tabernacle was the Israelites’ place of worship in the wilderness as they were leaving Egypt and heading for the Promise Land. It was a temporary place of worship. When they settled in the land that God gave them, under King Solomon they built a permanent place of worship called the Temple. In I Corinthians 3:16 God said to the church at Corinth (and every true New Testament church) through Paul, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” In the Old Testament God had a temple for His people, but in the New Testament God has a people for His temple. The New Testament teaches us of the priesthood of the believer, and the High Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In I Peter 2:5 Peter said to believers who, I believe, made up assemblies in the areas named, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” You don’t have to go through a priest, or a pastor, or a preacher to talk to God, you go directly to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . . ” Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” The tabernacle had several pieces of furniture in and around it. It had: (1)The Brazen Altar - which speaks to us of Christ’s sacrifice and our salvation; (2) The Table of Shewbread which speaks of Christ Who is our sustenance (3) The Altar of Incense which speaks of prayer and Christ our supplication. But between the Brazen Altar and the Tabernacle of the Congregation was the laver, which speaks of our sanctification. The Tabernacle of the Congregation was the place of service and of worship. Before the priest could enter that tabernacle, he had to stop by the laver and wash his feet and his hands. There were dire consequences if he did not. This carries a wonderful picture and wonderful instruction for us today. And (I will mention this again in a moment) this tells us, I believe, why that may be so much dead “worship” and so little witnessing and working for the Lord in His churches today. So, first let’s look at:

I. THE PICTURE OF THE LAVER.

II. THE PLACEMENT OF THE LAVER.