Leviticus 16
New International Version (NIV)
The Day
of Atonement
1 The LORD
spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they
approached the LORD. 2 The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to
come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front
of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in
the cloud over the atonement cover.
6 “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make
atonement for himself and his household.
18 “Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the LORD and
make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the
goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. 19 He shall
sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and
to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.
20 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place,
the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. 21 He is to
lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the
wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the
goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone
appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place;
and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
29 “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— 30 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. 31 It is a
day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. 32 The
priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to
make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments 33 and make
atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for
the priests and all the members of the community.
34 “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be
made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.”
And it was done, as the LORD
commanded Moses.
Daniel’s Thoughts:
If you struggle as I have with the meaning and
significance of the law, Leviticus and
sometimes the Old Testament then I encourage you and myself to study this
chapter. For Leviticus 16 is central to understanding Christ’s sacrifice and
death on the cross.
In Leviticus instructions are given here for
the day of atonement where the high priest of Israel made atonement by
sacrifice first for himself and then for this sins of the people of Israel.
This is a very serious day for Israel. The beginning of the chapter starts out
remembering how two of Aarons sons were struck down for not taking their responsibilities
seriously and approached the Lord carelessly. Aaron and the high priests to
follow are at risk of death constantly in this holy place. Yet they are also
called to minister there.
These sacrifices were necessary to redeem and
atone for the sins of the people. The blood of these animals atoned for the sin
of the people. Yet these sacrifices of animals made by human high priests were
temporal and not complete. They were ordained by God, but they were required
each year and the high priest himself had sinned and had to atone for himself
before offering for the sins of the people. This was a lasting ordinance for
the people, there sins were never cleansed and removed completely for they kept
sinning and the sacrifices had to be made again and again.
I am so thankful to live in your new covenant
and be free from this cycle of sin and atonement. God you intervened and sent your Son!
Hebrews
7:26-28
New International Version
(NIV)
26 Such a high
priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from
sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the
other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first
for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their
sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law
appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came
after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Christ is our one and only high priest forever
and he has offered himself on the cross as the eternal sacrifice that has
atoned for sin once and for all! There is no need for yearly atonement or a high priest from men. And the curtain has been torn and God you are present with us in all places and in our hearts. Praise be to you Lord!
Daniel’s Prayer:
Lord
Thank you for teaching me and us your ways.
All of scripture is valuable for us
Give us a heart to love scripture especially the Old Testament
And to understand the story is complete together
God you are one and the old and new testament and covenant are one in
you!
Thank you for this chapter in Leviticus
For using this scripture to reveal the full extent of
Your wisdom and love in sending your Son
Christ as our merciful high priest
To sacrifice himself on the cross for our sins once and for all.
Let us now live to you!
Amen
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