Did You Wash Those Hands?

“When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.” (Ex 40:32 AV)

The priests were required to wash prior to, and following ministry.  Hygienically, this would make perfect sense.  The priests handed blood sacrifices all day.  They would be intermingling with blood.  But there is a spiritual significance to this washing as well.  Washing prior to ministry or approaching God was a physical reminder of what the supplicant should be doing when approaching the person of God.  Those who relate to the world should also cleanse themselves of all that could offend.  The saying ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ perhaps has this passage in mind.  Those who are affected by the sins of others in the form of offering their sacrifice need to cleanse themselves of that which adheres to them.  Those wishing to seek God must cleanse themselves of sin so that it does not inhibit this choice.  God deserves our best.  Not that which we are comfortable doing.

Things sure do change.  Watching older family sitcoms like Leave It To Beaver or Andy Griffith, we witness a standard forgotten over the decades.  There was a standard of personal cleanliness that we do not see today.  The activity dictated the level of cleanliness expected of them.  If they were working in the field, they were expected to be dirty or smelly.  However, if their activity did not result in a constant state of untidiness, then cleanliness was the standard.  One of those practices is washing up before dinner.  In particular, Mom or Dad would do a full body inspection, but especially the hands.  It didn’t matter if the meal was eaten with tableware.  It didn’t matter if the child came home from school and spent the afternoon in his room apart from the dirt and grime of the outdoors.  Washing up for dinner was commanded.  My own mother used to do this until there were too many of us and it took much time and argument to get it done.  Fingernails especially were under the microscope.  There was no way a child was coming to the table and being around food that others might eat with unwashed hands.

Hygiene was not the only factor.  Cleanliness meant respect for those around you.  Coming to the table filthy from the outside was not respectful toward one’s siblings.  Especially if there was odor involved.  On our way to our grandparent's home, Mom did an inspection and cleansed any smudge with spit on a Kleenex.  The same with going anywhere.  But most of all, to church.  If we were not in the best possible condition, Mom made a fuss.  As she should.  We were going to church.  We were to be at our Sunday best.  Church was a special place.  It was where we went to meet with God.

God asks that we cleanse ourselves as best we can by repentance and prayer prior to approaching Him.  At least in our hearts.  If we went to the presence of God with sin in our hearts or in our lives, we disrespect His very person.  This was the warning to the priest.  If you are going to approach God, it better be in the best condition you can muster.  Otherwise, it shows a lack of respect for the God whom you claim you serve.