March 18, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Israel’s Good Friday

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Opening Prayer

Sovereign One, I ask for the enthusiasm of Your Spirit, that I may be filled with Your love so that others will be attracted to Your rule.

Read Leviticus 16:1-22

[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. [3] “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. [4] He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. [5] From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. [6] “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. [7] Then he is to take the 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] Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. [10] But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat. [11] “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. [12] 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. [13] 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. [14] 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. [15] “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. [16] 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. [17] 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. [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.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exod. 3:5). A reminder not to rush in and out of God’s presence.

The Day of Atonement was Israel’s most holy day. People abstained from work while its unique and elaborate ceremony was performed. Much was hidden from their view, but there came a point where they knew the sacrifices had been effective.

First the high priest underwent several ritual washings and offered sacrifices for himself, before daring to function as Israel’s representative. At the heart of the ceremony were two goats, one of which was slaughtered as a sin offering and one, the scapegoat, set free in the wilderness. On this day alone, the blood of the sin offering was sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place, after the high priest had taken precautions to ensure he was not overcome by God’s holiness on entering it. After this, the other goat was sent out of the tabernacle to the wilderness. Each action has obvious spiritual meaning. The high priest had to be in a pure state to function in leadership. The purpose was to overcome separation from God. The place of atonement was at the throne of God: its means, the shedding of the blood of a substitute; its requirement, confession of sin. The confirmation of forgiveness came when the scapegoat carried the people’s sins away, never to trouble them again. When they saw the scapegoat leave, the people cheered.

Numerous sacrifices were offered throughout the year, but the Day of Atonement was designed to ensure that nothing was missed but that “all their sins” (22)–a rich vocabulary of sin occurs here–were pardoned. That’s why when the goat was led out of the tabernacle the people cheered. This day anticipates Christ’s death in several unmistakable respects, but especially in the completeness of its achievement” (Heb. 10:1-18). “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psa. 103:12).

Apply

God himself is the source of our holiness (Lev. 11:44a). Can you think of anything you need to do to draw you closer to him? Prayer, Scripture, solitude, slowing, confession, or ….? Make your resolves to him.

Closing prayer

Father, forgive my sins and draw me closer to You. Make me like Jesus in all things so that I may be a worthy disciple, and bring glory to Your name.

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