1 Kings 7:27-39 – Living a progressively sanctified life

In 1 Kings 7:23-26 was the description of how Hiram made the huge bronze tank known as the Sea. First Kings 7:27-39 describe his third project. He had ten elegant moveable bronze lavers complete with stands made. They were made smaller than the Sea so that they could be placed around the temple.

Here’s a simple version of verses 27-37 which describe how the stand was made. Each of the stands was made like a six feet square cart, four and a half feet in height. On the side panels of each stand were cast lions, oxen, and cherubim. On top of each cart-like stand was a circular cradle to hold the bronze basin. Each stand also had four wheels complete with rims, axles, and spokes.

Verses 38-39 then describe the ten bronze basins. Each removable basin was about six feet in diameter and had the capacity of storing 230 gallons of water.  The ten bronze basins were then mounted each on ten cart-like bronze stands. They were placed five on the right side of the temple and five on the left. The Sea was placed on the right side of the temple facing eastward.  

The function of the bronze lavers was for the priests to purify themselves before and after they had performed the sacrifice. One lesson can be drawn from the function of the lavers. It is God’s call to live a sanctified life. Sanctification as we know is the process that we all need to undergo after becoming a child of God. We are justified by the blood of Christ, but we need the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our walk with Him. Justification frees us from the penalty of sin. Sanctification is the process that progressively frees us from the hold and power of sin. Water as we know is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. As the Old Testament priests who needed the water to cleanse themselves in the service of God, we need the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit in our Christian journey.  Romans 8:1 tells us that our victory in life is for us to walk every day by the Spirit of the Lord. Then we will experience the principle of life in Christ Jesus, setting us free from the principles of sin and death. Let’s live a progressively sanctified life!