He then made ten bronze basins, each holding forty baths and measuring four cubits across, one basin to go on each of the ten stands. He placed five of the stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north. He placed the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple. – 1 Kings 7:38-39

Today's Scripture Reading (November 30, 2025): 1 Kings 7

Several years ago, I was involved in a bottle drive for a Christian organization. I had been involved in other similar drives, but this one came with some extra rules. The organization had made a stand against alcohol. The thought process wasn't that they somehow believed that drinking was against what the Bible taught, but that alcohol had become a real problem in our culture. In essence, their message was that drinking in moderation may not be a problem, but in our culture, excess and abuse were more likely to be the norm. Under those circumstances, abstinence seemed to be the better choice. However, they took that line of thought one step further. They didn't even want to profit from it, which, for the bottle drive, would mean no beer bottles (or any alcohol bottles) could be collected for our fundraiser.

While the policy seemed extreme, it actually had biblical precedent. The example came out of the temple ceremonial washings. The priest had to be clean to offer the sacrifice, and for that purpose, there was the massive metal sea. But there were also smaller basins that lined each side of the temple. It was in these basins that the other things used in the sacrifice would be cleansed, including the sacrifice itself.

We often understand the message that we need to be clean. It is the thought behind the sentiment that we need to "clean ourselves up before we can go to church." But what we forget is that the cleanliness of the offering is also essential. It isn't what is left over that God requires; it is our best. So, the giver and the gift both need to emerge from clean hands and clean hearts, or clean intent. For the bottle drive, those in power had decided that bottles from alcoholic beverages, which may have damaged the lives of many of those from whom we were collecting them, could not be considered a clean offering.

It is so easy to give God what is easy to give, and to give it without a thought. Maybe that is why the temple was designed to provide more thought to the sacrifice, ensuring it was both perfect and clean.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 8

See also 2 Chronicles 4:6