Ceremonial Cleanliness - A Fresh Perspective

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze washbasin with a bronze stand.  Place it between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water.  Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and feet there.  They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the Lord and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the Lord—or they will die! [Exodus 30.17-20]

A little note for coming into the presence of God: Wash your hands or die!

Although this rule of ceremonial cleanliness had specific instruction for Israel, there may indeed be something for us to learn from it as well.  The first thing that comes to my mind is that coming into God's presence is no nonchalant event.  There is something required in order to survive the presence of God.  That something has to do with cleanliness and, cleanliness has to do with Godliness.

But who is the cleanliness for?  God?  No, the cleanliness is for man as, without it, the presence of God will destroy him.

Why is cleanliness so important to God?  Well, it would seem that dirt doesn't bother God, but sin does.  Dirt represents sin (dirt is not sin, but a physical reminder to us of a spiritual condition).  Therefore, sin must be removed to be in company with God.  

Taking this a step further, it will be prudent to comprehend that sin, according to the best Bible definition, is anything that is not faith.  It makes sense then that dirt would represent sin, because dirt is most usually secured on our person through our efforts - our work.  And so, even in the Old Covenant way of doing things, there is a picture that our work (or works) are unacceptable to God and therefore must be removed in order to be in God's presence and therefore, favor.

It would at first appear a "work" to wash before meeting with God.  But, to the contrary, washing signifies cleansing oneself of his "work" in order that he might please God (and not be destroyed).

Wow.  This is a fresh perspective for me.

Father, help me to come to You in absolute faith.  Help me to understand that my efforts give me no access to You, but to the contrary, make me detestable to You.  Help me to come to You with 'clean hands' - free from any indicators of my own futile efforts (and subsequent failures).