Date: 02-21-2021

Title: Day of Atonement

(S) cripture:
    Leviticus 16:3-10 (NLT2) “When Aaron enters the sanctuary area, he must follow these instructions fully. He must bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He must put on his linen tunic and the linen undergarments worn next to his body. He must tie the linen sash around his waist and put the linen turban on his head. These are sacred garments, so he must bathe himself in water before he puts them on. 5 Aaron must take from the community of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 6 “Aaron will present his own bull as a sin offering to purify himself and his family, making them right with the LORD. 7 Then he must take the two male goats and present them to the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 8 He is to cast sacred lots to determine which goat will be reserved as an offering to the LORD and which will carry the sins of the people to the wilderness of Azazel. 9 Aaron will then present as a sin offering the goat chosen by lot for the LORD. 10 The other goat, the scapegoat chosen by lot to be sent away, will be kept alive, standing before the LORD. When it is sent away to Azazel in the wilderness, the people will be purified and made right with the LORD.

(O) bservation:
    The Lord gave Moses specific instructions concerning the “Day of Atonement” that Aaron was to follow. All of chapter 16 outlines these instructions. They are specific and in a certain order. This was to bring forgiveness to the people of Israel through the sacrifice of one goat and the sins being laid on another that was released away from the camp into the wilderness. This was done once a year.

(A) pplication:
    I am so thankful that our forgiveness is not this complicated and yet we still have instructions to follow to experience God’s forgiveness. Since we are covered by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we no longer need to sacrifice an animal. As I think about this I am struck by the fact that Jesus was both the sacrifice and the scapegoat. Paul tell us in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB) He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Our sins were laid on Jesus on the cross. Now to experience forgiveness I must receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord and then I am to confess my sin as I am made aware of them so I might walk clean before God. My atonement is experienced every day not just once a year.

(P) rayer:
    Father, thank you for giving me a way to walk clean with you each moment of each day. Amen