Day of Atonement

Introduction

Introduction

The Holy Creator God Sought a Relationship with His People

- God is Holy

“On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightening, a think cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.”

- God desires relationship

“Therefore tell all the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgement. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.”

Sin Defiled the Israelites and their Environment

The Israelites though they knew better than God

Abram sleeping with Hagar

Abraham lying about his wife being his sister to keep him safe

Jacob’s deception

Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery

The Israelites complaining to Moses after God rescued them from the oppression of the Egyptians

Aaron and assembly of Israel created an idol for worship while Moses was receiving the Law from God himself on Mt. Sinai

Their sin caused suffering and pain

Tabernacle/Ark of the Covenant/Presence of God

- God is Holy

“On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightening, a think cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.”

The interaction of the holiness of God and sinfulness of man requires atonement from sin.

- God desires relationship

“Therefore tell all the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and recuse you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgement. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.”

God Provided the Atonement from Sin (Leviticus 16)

Unholy people

God Provided the Atonement from Sin ()

God Provided the Atonement from Sin (Leviticus 16)

The very act of God instructing his people on how to have atonement from their sin illustrates the gracious nature of God.

He could have left the Israelites and let them experience what they deserved.

The Process of Making Atonement

God gave thorough instructions - speech of God

Come into God’s presence with care”

Preparation

Aaron was warned not to enter into the presence of God without preparation like his sons, who were consumed with fire for flippantly entering the his presence (v. 2)

Aaron was instructed to put on the holy linen garments, and prepared a sin offering and burnt offering for himself

Purification

High Priestly preparations: Sacred linen clothing, personal sin offering.

Aaron has to be purified of his sins before he could participate in the purification of the sins of the congregation of Israel

Aaron also is instructed to purify the Holy of Holies, the very place God would make his presence known.

“He will purify the most holy place in this way for all their sins because the Israelites’ impurities and rebellious acts. He will do the same for the tent of meeting that remains among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities” (v. 16).

Atonement

This begins with the distinction of the two male goats

“Next he will take the two goats and place them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord, and one for Azazel, he is to present the goat chosen by lot for the Lord and sacrifice it as a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot for the Azazel is to be presented alive before the Lord to make purification with it by sending it into the wilderness for Azazel” (vv.7-10).

The casting of lots - a way of determining the will of God. Likely two stones, one marked for Yahweh and one marked for Azazel to determine the destiny of each goat.

Azazel - “abstract term signifying a complete removal.” Meaning completely gone, or removed.

The goat chosen for Yahweh is to be sacrificed during the sin offering . The goat chosen for Azazel, to be removed from camp, and to have sin confessed upon it and then remove it from the camp.

“Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the Israelites’ wrongdoings and rebellious acts-all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on it the wrongdoings into a desolate land, and he will release it there” (vv. 21-22).

Aaron is then to remove his holy garments and bathe in water once again.

He is then to perform the burnt offering for himself and the people.

God graciously provided a way for the Israelites to have atonement from their sins.

Imagine the Israelites after the Day of Atonement

“What a release to know that the heavy accumulation of sins was atoned for! What a joy to know that God’s dwelling place, cleansed anew, was a fit place for God to commune to dwell among them! What a cheering section they must have become as the goat was led off into the wilderness, never to be seen again!” (Gary Demarest)

Just like the Israelites....

The Holy Creator God Seeks a Relationship with Us

The same God who sought a relationship with the nation of Israel, actively seeks to have a relationship with you and me this morning.

Sin Defiles Us and Our Environment

Just like the Israelites, we think we know better than God.

Since last Sunday, when we heard a sermon on the 10 Commandments, how many times have we idolized something more then God? Told a half truth? Harbored anger in our hearts? Had lustful thoughts?

Yeah… we are a sinful people just like the Israelites.

The Holy Creator God Seeks a Relationship with Us

God Provided the Atonement from Sin

God has provided a way for the atonement of our sin!

However, this is where we differ from the Israelites in Leviticus

You and I did not bring a goat for the sacrifice this morning because God has already provided the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world!

“But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Jesus is the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice

Aaron had to make sacrifices for his own sin; Jesus had no sin that required atonement.

He had no sin that required atonement.

We can trust the work of Christ because of his sinlessness!

The Israelites had to make continual sacrifices; Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice once for all eternity

The eternal Son of God has made an eternal sacrifice!

On the Day of Atonement, the priest offered the blood of animals; Jesus offered up his own blood

· On the Day of Atonement, the priest offered the blood of animals; Jesus offered up his own blood

Jesus is the perfect sacrifice

Our atonement in Christ cost God - Jesus payed his own blood!

The Israelites sent the scapegoat into the wilderness to have their sins removed; the atoning work of Jesus removes our sin as far is the east is from the west! ()

Not only has our sin been atoned for, but it has been completely removed!

You and I can trust the atoning work of Jesus on the cross for all eternity!

Application

Acknowledge the privilege it is to commune with a Holy God; There is no one like Him!

Recognize your sinful state, and need for the atonement for your sin!

Praise God for his gracious nature - He has made a way for the atonement for our sin!

Confess your sin and experience the freedom found only in Jesus!