Brass Couplings

In the scriptures there is a strong correlation between the subject of judgment or justification and the biblical use of the metal, brass.

In the building of the tabernacle the curtains of the tent were coupled together with brass: Ex. 26:11 "And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one." Thus, there is a coupling together that is brought about through the work of justification. This is manifest in the following verses:

1. Eph. 2:14-16 "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"

2. John 10:16 "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
3. Eph. 4:15-16 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

In the first two references there is an effectual joining together brought about through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ upon the cross for the justification of his elect children. In the third reference there is a joining together in worship and service brought about through the preaching of the gospel that tells us about what Jesus has done for us through his atoning blood. Much like the coupling of the curtains of the tent together with the brass taches, so we are coupled together through the justification brought about by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 

Pillars of Brass

In the scriptures there is a very strong correlation between the subject of judgment or justification and the biblical use of the metal, brass.

In the building of the tabernacle and the building of the temple there were pillars of brass:

1. Ex. 27:9-10 "And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side: And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver."

2. 1 Ki. 7:15-16 "For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:"

Pillars serve as structural support and foundation to carry the load of other things. The pillars in the court of the tabernacle supported the hangings of the court. The hangings were of fine twined linen. Linen in the scriptures is closely associated with righteousness: Rev. 19:8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." The hooks of the pillars and their sockets were of silver. Silver is closely associated with redemption. The word picture being painted for us in the description of the pillars and their hangings is that of the work of justification (brass) being accomplished by the redemptive (silver) work of Jesus Christ, making the elect family of God righteous (fine linen). 2 Cor. 5:21 carries this exact thought: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The foundation of our righteous standing before God is the justification before God brought about by the redemptive blood of Christ upon the cross.

The two pillars at the front of the porch of the temple were made of brass as well as the two chapiters on the top of the pillars. At the top of the chapiters were placed pomegranites. There are many things that could be said about the pillars, their chapiters, and the pomegranites, but that is outside the scope of this study. First, the pillars served as a foundation for the porch of the temple. Since brass is associated with judgment or justification, a great pillar of the church (the temple would represent the church: Eph. 2:21 "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:") The church, its worship, and its service is founded upon the work of justification wrought by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Brass Laver

In the scriptures there is a very strong correlation between the subject of judgment or justification and the biblical use of the metal, brass.

Placed between the brazen altar and the tabernacle was a laver of brass in which the High Priest and his sons were to wash: Ex. 30:17-21 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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."

The laver was a wash pot and since it was of brass it ties together in type the subject of justification and the subject of cleansing. Later we read that the High Priest and his sons were to be washed at the laver before they went into the service of the Lord and then afterwards they were to wash themselves:

1. Ex. 29:1 "And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office:… 4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water."
2. Ex. 30:17-21 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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."

The first washing was to hallow them to minister unto the Lord in the priest's office. Similarly, we as children of God, have been made kings and priests unto God in order that we can offer up spiritual sacrifices unto God:

1. Rev. 1:5, 6 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

2. 1 Peter 2:5 "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." 9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

In reference one above; we see the connection between being washed from our sins in the blood of Jesus and being made kings and priests unto God. While this washing legally took place on the cross, it experientially took place when we were born of the Spirit of God:

1. Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

2. 1 Pet. 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

3. Heb. 10:22 "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."

4. John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Thus, we conclude that when we are born again our souls are washed from sin by the applied blood of Christ and that we are then made fit subjects as kings and priests unto God to offer up spiritual sacrifices. This ties the new birth to both justification by the blood of Christ and to cleansing in the regeneration of the soul.
The second washing of the priests was to be performed by the priests on themselves. They were to wash themselves. This applies also to us today:

1. 2 Cor 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

2. James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

This act of cleansing is often referred to as the individual sanctifying himself to the service of God: 2 Tim 2:21 "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

The order of washing in the Old Testament was that the priests were first washed and then later they were to continually wash themselves. Likewise, the order of washing that takes place in the life of an elect child of God is that they are first washed by the Holy Spirit in the new birth. Then, having been born of the Spirit of God, they are to continually cleanse themselves from ungodly living and ungodly practices. This is done because they have been justified by the blood of Jesus.

BRASS Continues