Part 3 – The Furnishings in the Outer Court 

1. The Brazen Altar of Burnt Offering

And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof. And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it. Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it. Exodus 27:1-8

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:2

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God… Hebrews 10:12

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28

The Brazen Altar – Explanation

When an Israelite entered the Tabernacle, it was with the intention of repentance, forgiveness, and coming closer to God. When we enter into salvation, it is with the same intentions. The Israelites had to perform their sacrifices again and again, each man bringing his own animal, because the blood of animals is not eternal. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. Once He became our sacrifice, we became clean and able to enter into God’s presence. We no longer need to perform endless sacrifices. Jesus did it once for everyone.

2. The Laver

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. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 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: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. Exodus 30:18-21

And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Exodus 38:8

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word… Ephesians 5:26

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  James 1:23,24

The Laver – Explanation

Once the sacrifice was performed, the offerer came no further. The priest became his intercessor and continued the sacrifice process. Because the priest was continuously sanctified, he did not need to wash his entire body but only hands and feet. The Laver was the place where the priests washed their hands and feet. In addition, it was polished to a high shine so that they could examine themselves to make sure they were worthy to be God’s priests.

Blessings your way,

Chandra Lynne