Back in the days when 'Rinso White' was a commonplace ditty around the house, the art of hanging out the clothes on the backyard clothesline became an exact science. The influence of the depression was apparent in the skills my mother taught me. The sheets were to be hung carefully by the corners, never looped over the line, as that would place stress on the middle of a sheet. Shirts were hung by the side seams upside down to prevent undue wear as well as mis-shapened shoulders.
How clothes were laundered in Moses' day we can't be sure, but from the very many references in Exodus to such washing, we can safely conclude that it was a commandment of the Lord. When the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sinai, we read: "So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes." (Exodus 19:14) Clean clothes were a required part of consecration toward a holy God.
The New Testament writer of Hebrews urges us to "draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . and our bodies washed with pure water." (10:22) When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, more transpired than the removal of road dust. His example of humility showed the way of putting love into action, a willingness to help others.
The scene shifts into heaven where the Apostle John is shown a great multitude of people from all nations, tribes and tongues. They are arrayed in white robes. One of the elders who stand before God's throne identifies them, saying: "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Revelation 7:14 NKJV
Cleanliness may not actually be next to godliness, but it pictures a greater cleansing, one of which John testifies in Revelation 1:5: "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood . . . be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
How clothes were laundered in Moses' day we can't be sure, but from the very many references in Exodus to such washing, we can safely conclude that it was a commandment of the Lord. When the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sinai, we read: "So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes." (Exodus 19:14) Clean clothes were a required part of consecration toward a holy God.
The New Testament writer of Hebrews urges us to "draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . and our bodies washed with pure water." (10:22) When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, more transpired than the removal of road dust. His example of humility showed the way of putting love into action, a willingness to help others.
The scene shifts into heaven where the Apostle John is shown a great multitude of people from all nations, tribes and tongues. They are arrayed in white robes. One of the elders who stand before God's throne identifies them, saying: "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Revelation 7:14 NKJV
Cleanliness may not actually be next to godliness, but it pictures a greater cleansing, one of which John testifies in Revelation 1:5: "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood . . . be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
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