The Day Of Atonement
Atonement. It is the act of repentance and reconciliation that in a religious sense, covers/forgives sin and brings man back into right relationship with God. The Day of Atonement was a religious observance commanded by God for the purpose of covering over Israel’s sins and cleansing them and the tabernacle. In Leviticus 16:11–19, God’s instructions for the High Priest to make an annual atonement for himself, his family and the whole community of Israel. These instructions included specific animal sacrifices, the sprinkling of their blood on the altar and mercy seat, and the release of a “scape” goat to carry Israel’s sins away from her. Failure to follow these instructions would result in unforgiveness of Israel’s sins and transgressions by God, and could even result in the death of the High Priest. I pray that, knowing how serious sin is in the eyes of God, we would give thanks and praise to Him, for He has made a way for the atonement of our sins through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Amen
“Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover. (Leviticus 16:11-14)
Aaron was only allowed to make atonement for Israel after he had atoned for his own sins and the sins of his household. Two of Aaron’s sons died because of their violation of God’s protocol regarding priestly conduct in the tabernacle and how sacrifices were to be made. God told Moses to remind Aaron of these things “lest he (Aaron) die”. Aaron was to make a burnt offering as atonement for he and his household. He was also instructed to burn fine fragrant incense on the fire from the altar before the LORD. The smoke of the incense would prevent Aaron from dying as he entered the Most Holy Place within the tabernacle. Additionally, he was to sprinkle blood on the front of the atonement cover (mercy seat), from the bull slain for the burnt offering.
“He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. (Leviticus 16:15-17)
After atoning for his own sins, Aaron was to slaughter the goat for the sin offering for Israel. This was one of two goats selected for the offering. One of the goats (the scapegoat) was chosen by lot to be released outside the camp. The other goat was sacrificed as a sin offering and its blood was sprinkled on and in front of the atonement cover as atonement for all of Israel’s sins. Aaron was also to do this to cleanse the tabernacle (tent of meeting) from Israel’s sins to keep those from intruding into the sacred places where God made His presence. Aaron was the only person allowed in the tabernacle while he was making atonement in the Most Holy Place for himself, his family and the entire community of Israel.
“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. 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. (Leviticus 16:18-19)
Finally, Aaron was told to make atonement for the altar. Both the bull’s and goat’s blood were put on the horns of the altar and sprinkled on the altar. This was the altar used for burnt offerings and the blood was used to consecrate it and cleanse it from the uncleanness of Israel.
The Day of Atonement was an important time each year for Israel. It was mandated by God so that the whole community of Israel could have their sins covered over/forgiven and be brought back into right relationship with Him. While there were prescribed sacrifices that the individual could undertake, the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement made sure that entire nation of Israel was covered and forgiven for their sins and transgressions… whatever they may have been. Aaron was no exception when it came to sin and transgression, thus he had to make a sacrifice for himself and his household so that he was in right standing with God before he could make the sacrifice of atonement for the sins of Israel. But what we see in Jesus, is the High Priest who was already without sin. And He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins and transgressions… whatever they may have been. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, our sins are atoned for and we enter into right relationship with God. And because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, His sacrifice was accepted by God once and for all time, on behalf of all who have faith in Him. Thank God for the atonement we have in Jesus’ sacrifice that day on the cross…. because it was a day of atonement that didn’t just “cover over” our sins, it removed them so that we are forgiven forever!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
