Laver before Labor

“Thou shalt also make a laver of brass… and thou shalt put water therein.  For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat… when they come near to the altar to minister… And he made the laver of brass… of the looking glasses” (Exodus 30:18-20, 38:8).  “It is time… LORD, to work: for they have made void Thy law” (Psalm 119:126).  “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction” (Proverbs 3:11).  “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). 

The tabernacle was complete

With patterns by the Lord’s commands

To minister where God would meet

With men who washed their feet and hands.  

The laver, made of polished brass,

Portrays our cleansing and correction,

Constructed from the looking glass

To judge ourselves by its reflection. 

It is the washing by God’s Word,

Which brings conviction and confession. 

Our hearts should thus be cleansed and stirred;

The laver illustrates this lesson.   

It’s right for us to stand in awe

As we have heard God’s admonition,

Who gives us, by His perfect law,

A knowledge of our true condition.

The work before us in our day

In which we ought to be employed

Is great, since sinners blindly say

The Word of God has been made void. 

Now let our Lord be sanctified

As He has cleansed our hearts within

That we may answer those who lied,

Exposing their deceptive sin. 

And let us answer those as well

Who ask us to declare the reason

For hope, which we may gladly tell,

As we convey a word in season. 

The Word of God should be our laver

Providing cleansing that we seek,

That we may show the lost our Savior

As we are prayerful and are meek. 

O Lord, we thank You for Your grace

Equipping us with all we need

As in Your Word we seek Your face

And find Your cleansing as we read.

The time to labor, Lord, is here;

The laver of Your Word is true.

O cleanse our hearts with godly fear,

That we may draw the lost to You.