Our Daily Scripture – 1/24/23

SCRIPTURE:  LEVITICUS 16

BIBLE VERSES:

““This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves[c] and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.  It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance” (Leviticus 16:29-31)

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (vs. 1-34)

The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron that he is forbidden to come into the most Holy Place whenever he chooses. When the Lord will appear in the cloud on the atonement corner, if he is there, he will die.

HOW CAN AARON ENTER INTO THE SANCTUARY?

  1.  He is to bring a young bull for sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
  2.   The is to ut on the sacred linen tunic of linen undergarment next to his body.
  3. He is to tie the liene sash around him and put on the linen turban.
  4. He must bathe himself with water before he puts on.
  5. He is to take two male goats for sin offering and a ram for burnt offering from the Israelite community.
  6. He is to offer the bull for his own sin offering and make atonement to himself and his household by slaughtering the bull.
  7. He is to take two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
  8. He is to cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.
  9. The lot that falls to the Lord should be sacrificed for a sin offering.  He shall slaughter the goat and make atonement at the Most Hight place.
  10. The other goat becomes the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement by sending it into the desert as scapegoat.
  11. He is to go to the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Most Holy place for himself , his household and the whole community of Israel.
  12. After making atonement at the Most Holy Place, he shall bring forward the live goat.  He is to lay both hands of the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and sins of rebellion and put them on the goat’s head.  He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task.  The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place and the man shall release it in the desert.
  13. Before Aaron comes out from the Most Holy Place, he is to leave his linen garments and bathe himself in a holy place and put on his regular garments.

LASTING ORDINANCE:

Every 10th day of the 7th month, they must deny themselves and not do any work.  It is a Sabbath of rest.  This is the day of atonement to cleanse all the sins of Israelites.

THOUGHTS:

  1.  The annual Day of Atonement is very significant to the Israelites because their sins will be atoned on that day.  It was also the only time the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies.
  2. Aaron had to spend hours preparing himself to meet God.  Today, we can approach God anytime.  But we must never forget that God is holy.  Therefore, we must not approach God carelessly. We need to prepare out hearts as we draw near him in prayer.
  3. The scapegoat was set free which pictues God’s forgiveness of their sins.  However, this required the death of a goat.  Salvation is free but it entails sacrifice.  Christ’s death had replaced the old system once and for all.  We can have our sins forgiven and guilt removed by placing our trust in Christ.