Cleanliness

Exodus 30

My wife and I have had the privilege of raising six children, two daughters and four sons. Growing up, it was never a battle getting our daughters to take their baths. They actually liked to be clean. My boys? A much different experience. They would do anything they could to get out of baths. They would go all week if we let them. Thankfully, they hit junior high (ok, high school for one of them), discovered girls, and willingly cleaned themselves.

Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Some people think it’s a verse in the Bible, but it isn’t. And certainly being outwardly clean does not make one godly. Not smelly, but not necessarily godly. Holiness is another word similar to godliness. Exodus 30 gives us a picture of cleanliness and it’s association with holiness.

In Exodus 29 we saw that the robe sprinkled with blood allowed the high priests to stand in the presence of a holy God. Today in chapter 30, we learn that cleanliness is required as well. Look at v. 21, “They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.”

Every instruction given about the tabernacle, and eventually the temple, has meaning and purpose, even for us today. The washing of hands and feet was a sacred ceremony. The water was to be contained in a bronze basin between the tent of meeting and the altar. The high priests washed themselves before making offerings to the Lord.

The worship practices God instructed the Jewish people to observe were intended to ultimately point to Jesus. Hebrews is a New Testament book that helps make for us the connection between Jesus and the Law. Jesus was the ultimate High Priest, pure and clean, who cleanses us so that we could live in the presence of God.

Hebrews 10:22 says, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Jesus’ blood sprinkled us clean. His resurrection allowed us to go from death to life.

This is why baptism is so meaningful. It’s a symbol of what we believe about Jesus- He died, was buried, and rose again. He was baptized from death into life. And if you have repented of sin and placed your hope in His death and resurrection, you have been baptized from death to life. The water of baptism is a reminder of being cleansed from our sins.

And yet practically speaking, we do not always live clean and pure lives. Sometimes we stumble into sin. But praise be to God, we have a God who forgives. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Struggling with sin? Draw near and be cleansed. How? I John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confess your sin before the Lord, and because of the finished work of Christ, you will be forgiven and cleansed. What a glorious truth to cling to today!