February 7, 2006
Read Leviticus 16
In Today's
Day of Atonement; the scapegoat; the eating of blood forbidden; civil and religious laws; immorality forbidden
On the annual Day of Atonement, the high priest, beginning with Aaron, was first required to present a young bull as a sacrifice for his own sins before he could proceed with the sin offering for the people. After that, God had said: Thus shall Aaron . . . . take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation. . . . Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail . . . and sprinkle it upon the Mercy Seat, and before the Mercy Seat. . . . And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear (carry) upon him all their iniquities. . . . For on that day shall the priest make an atonement (a covering, a reconciliation) for you (Leviticus 16:3-30).
Two goats were necessary to express our Lord's twofold atonement. One goat was sacrificed upon the altar for a sin offering. Then the high priest laid his hands upon the head of the remaining goat, the scapegoat, and confessed the sins of the congregation, thereby transferring their sins to the scapegoat which was led away by a fit man . . . unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness (16:22) where it disappeared from sight, a symbol that as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). This act prefigured Christ, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29; compare II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 3:18). There was no justification but merely a "covering" of another year's sins for the Israelites. But Christ, our great High Priest, did not need to present a sacrifice for Himself, for He is holy . . . separate from sinners, and . . . needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself (Hebrews 7:26-27).
We should also forgive and choose not to remember offenses against ourselves or others. Therefore, let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:31-32).
Word Studies:
16:29 afflict your souls = humble yourselves, practice self-denial; 17:4 cut off = excommunicated from family and the nation; 17:14 the blood of it is for the life thereof = its blood sustains its physical life; 18:6 uncover their nakedness = have sexual intercourse.
Christ Revealed:
Through two goats used on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:8). The slaying of the first goat typifies that our peace with God was restored by the blood of Christ (Rev. 5:9). The second goat represents the precious mercy of God in forever removing from His sight the sins of His people — as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more (Hebrews 10:17).
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Mrs. Audrey M. Johnson · The Spanish International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Mrs. Sue Moore · The Arabic International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Ruth Day · Staff: Beth Carlton · Government Officials: Rep. Richard (Doc) Hastings (WA) and Sen. Herbert Kohl (WI) · Country: Haiti (7 million) in the West Indies · Major languages: French and Creole · Religious freedom · 75% Roman Catholic; 17% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to reveal what is not pleasing to Him (Psalm 139:23-24).
Optional
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 12:2