Day of Atonement

Our Theme for 2020 is “Seeing Spiritually.”

We are in the Fall season and The Lord’s Feasts.

The Feasts of Israel and the biblical calendar are not just for Jews, but they outline God’s plan of redemption through history.

The Fall Feasts then represent events which are yet to come - the second coming of Christ to His people.

The Feast of Trumpets reminds us that Jesus is coming again.

The Day of Atonement reminds us that we will all stand before God and be judged, not on the basis of what what we have done, but on the basis of what He has done for us.

The Feast of Tabernacles then is the celebration that follows.

If we are going to “see spiritually” we need to be looking not only at what God is doing, but also have a sense about what God is about to do.

Of all the Jewish feasts, this is the one that was called “The feast” or “The Great Feast” because it was the most important of all of them.

The Day of Atonement is the single-most important day of the year. It is the day when sin is forgiven, when people are cleansed and hope is renewed.

But all of the sacrifices throughout the Old Testament would point to one sacrifice that Jesus, the lamb of God, would make once and for all.

The Preparation

These are days of reflection.

Leviticus 16:29 AMP

29 It shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month [nearly October] on the tenth day of the month you shall afflict yourselves [by fasting with penitence and humiliation] and do no work at all, either the native-born or the stranger who dwells temporarily among you.

The Day of atonement happens ten days after the new moon Feast of Trumpets.

These ten days are supposed to be a time of introspection and self-examination.

It’s no coincidence that we have had ten days of prayer this year during this time.

The Return was meant to be a day of prayer and repentance just as was the Day of Atonement.

However, repentance is not something that you do quickly or something that you do only once.

Isaiah wrote about how the feasts, or fast in this case, had become something other than what God intended.

Isaiah 58:5–10 ESV

5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Repentance is not the same as remorse.

Remorse means you feel sorry for what you did, but feelings can change.

Repentance means that you have changed you mind and your actions follow.

That is why it is good to give some time to reflection and repentance.

If it’s just a passing feeling, you may feel differently tomorrow.

But if you are willing to stay and listen while the Lord shows you your heart, you are more likely to come out of that encounter a changed person.

Even more, if you are able to take some action steps to apply what you have learned.

These are days of cleansing.

Leviticus 16:30 ESV

30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.

On of the concepts that is central to the day of atonement is that of holiness.

Holiness means to be set apart. To be kept apart from things that could make you unclean.

This was long before we had an understanding of germs and viruses, but the thinking is the same.

Wash frequently, change your clothes, keep your distance.

On the day of Atonement the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies three times.

He would bathe and change his clothes a total of five times.

The High Priest would bathe in view of all the people (actually it was behind a curtain) but everyone was to know that he was clean.

The people who were involved in various parts of the ceremony would bathe and change their clothes before and after their duties.

I think anyone attending the ceremony would come away with a greater appreciation for personal hygiene.

Do you practice good spiritual hygiene?

The real point of all the washing is that we become aware of our sin and that we know when we have been cleansed.

These are days of humility.

Leviticus 16:31 ESV

31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.

The Day of atonement was to be a day of fasting and of rest.

There’s that word “afflict” again. Is the Bible being harsh?

Other translations say that you should deny yourself.

Jesus said something like this too.

Matthew 16:24 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

It simply means to control your impulses.

Fasting is one way that we learn to say “no” to our desires by exercising our will against the impulse of hunger.

Resting can be a kind of fast too. We often feel like we always need to be doing something.

Paul teaches us the sin comes from giving in to the desires of our fallen human nature which he also calls the flesh.

If God offered forgiveness without any discipline or change, what would be the benefit of that forgiveness?

It’s like this kid who reasons that it is better to steal a bike than to ask for one.

God’s forgiveness is meant to change you.

But in order for it to do that, you are going to have to learn some discipline.

Just how costly is forgiveness? Let’s find out what it takes to be forgiven.

The Ritual

A bull is offered for the Priest’s sin.

Leviticus 16:11–14 ESV

11 “Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 13 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

Mitch Glaser in “The Fall Feast of Israel” Cites extra-biblical sources as saying that to be chosen as High Priest was a great honor, but also a great responsibility.

Several days before the feast he would appear in gold robes with the jeweled breastplate and an enormous crown.

But when it came to the night before the fast while everyone else was feasting, he was not allowed to eat.

He was being grilled by the Rabbis as to the law and was expected to memorize everything that he was to do or say the following day.

He was not allowed to sleep because his duty was to begin at the first light of dawn and he must be alert and ready in every sense of the word.

It makes me think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He didn’t get any sleep either. But his disciples who were supposed to be helping him prepare were the ones sleeping.

Before Aaron or the High Priest can perform the ceremony for the atonement of the people, he has to atone for his own sin and that of the priesthood.

A bull is offered. - That’s a pretty big sacrifice.

There was multiple options for a sin offering and a bull was the biggest.

It’s not uncommon to have a flock of sheep or goat that might number in the hundreds. But most village farms that I have seen would only have a handful of bulls. And they weren’t just for food, they were your farming equipment and your transportation.

Before a priest can atone for the people, he needs to come to terms with his own sin.

There is a temptation for leaders to think that they are above the rules, that the standards which everyone to which everyone else is held somehow don’t apply to them.

The Bible makes it clear that leaders are held to a higher standard.

On tour of Israel, I was told by an Israeli General that their officers wear their insignia on the back of their helmets. There rank is irrelevant unless they are willing to go first.

Also, no officer starts with a higher rank than private. Everyone goes through the same training so that they can relate to those whom they lead.

The writer to the Hebrews expresses a similar thought.

Hebrews 5:1–3 ESV

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.

Jesus became one of us. He is that High Priest who can truly identify with our weakness only He didn’t sin.

Jesus didn’t need to offer a sacrifice for his own sin.

He was the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice.

A goat is offered for the sin of the people.

Leviticus 16:15–19 ESV

15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.

The High Priest goes behind the veil three times.

The High Priest first goes into the Most Holy Place with a coal from the altar and with incense. - Prayer goes first!

Then he goes in a second time to sprinkle the blood of the bull to atone for himself and for the priesthood.

Then he goes in a third time with the blood of a goat to atone for the sin of the people.

Each time he comes out the people are relieved to see him.

Supposedly, if he were to get something wrong, even the number of times he is to sprinkle the blood, he might be struck dead.

That’s the problem of the Old Covenant and of the Law; doing everything right is supposed to make up for what we have done wrong.

But that kind of perfection is humanly impossible.

What if the High Priest dies in the course of his duty.

Somewhere it is suggested that they tie a rope around his ankle so they can retrieve the body.

A second high Priest was always on hand unless the first should somehow be disqualified.

We are going to learn in a bit that the whole sacrificial system was inadequate to do what it was supposed to do, but what it does do is teach us about the seriousness of sin.

The killing of the goat was an object lesson to remind us that sin leads to death. Therefore death is required to atone for sin.

But there was also a second goat and that is a lesson as well.

The scapegoat is released into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:20–22 ESV

20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

So there were two identical goats, one was to live and the other was to die and they were chosen by lot.

You might think that it would be nice to be the live one, but not so fast.

The two goats were considered to be one sacrifice; they enacted two aspects of the same ritual.

The first goat was killed to show that sin is deserving of death.

The second goat was sent away to show that sin was effectively removed.

The sin of the people was ceremonially conferred onto the second animal and it was led out into the wilderness.

There are differing accounts as to what happened to the second animal (or perhaps it changed over time.)

One story is that they would chase it off a cliff so that it would fall to its death.

Kinda sounds like what they tried to do to Jesus in Luke 4:28-30

The other is that they simply released it into the dessert, a domestic creature to roam among the wild animals, and presumably become their prey.

The goat had a name, the Azazel. It was also said to be the name of a demon that roamed the wilderness They were sending the sin of the people back to the devil where it came from.

The Result

Atonement means that sin is covered.

Leviticus 16:32–34 ESV

32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. 33 He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.

All this time we have been using the word “atonement” but what does it mean?

Atonement simply means to cover.

It’s first use in the Bible was of the pitch that covered Noah’s ark, making it waterproof.

God also made coverings for Adam and Eve out of animal skins to cover their shame and their nakedness.

The blood was to cover the mercy seat, the representative presence of God, so that God’s Holy Presence would not result in the death of corrupt humanity.

There’s a problem here. Sin is never fully dealt with.

The same sacrifice has to be done year after year.

By the time of Jesus, the High Priesthood was becoming increasingly corrupt.

High Priests in Jesus’ day were appointed by Rome, usually after receiving some payoff or favor.

Imagine how conflicted the people must have been at each Yom Kippur, wanting God to atone for their sin but also knowing that the High Priest was anything but holy.

Not only that, the Holy of holies was empty.

The Ark was missing since the exile

Only the foundation stone remained and the blood was sprinkled on it.

The glory had departed.

Only Jesus can remove sin.

Hebrews 9:11–14 ESV

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Imagine how the words of the writer to the Hebrews must have expressed the sentiments of so many Jews.

If the whole show at the Temple had become a show and a sham, what a relief to know that what Jesus did was real.

The whole sacrificial system was a foreshadowing of Christ and His atonement.

Hebrews 10:1–4 ESV

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The point that the author is making is that if the Day of Atonement really worked, they wouldn’t need to keep on doing it year after year.

Yom Kippur is able to cover sin, it is not able to remove sin.

Yom Kippur is able to enact the sending away of sin through a goat, but Jesus is “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Yom Kippur kept the knowledge of God’s holiness and the problem of sin fresh in the minds of the Jews until God sent a Savior.

Yom Kippur tells us about that Savior and what He accomplished on the cross for our sake.

Our work is to apply His work to our lives.

Hebrews 10:11–14 ESV

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Christ’s work is done and this scripture says that He is now waiting for the result to be fully realized.

Theologians often speak in terms of the “already” and the “not yet.”

Jesus has already paid for sin, but sin is not yet eradicated.

You are already forgiven and made righteous, but you are not yet made perfect.

You are already justified, but you are not yet sanctified.

You are already in Christ, but you have not yet become all that Christ has made you to be.

Elijah House is an inner healing ministry, but one of the first things that we learn is that this ministry does no new work.

Jesus has already done the work of healing, redemption and restoration through His death and resurrection.

We are applying that work to specific areas of our lives that do not yet resemble what Christ has already done.

o what is it that we should be doing?

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Communion/ Questions for reflection:

1 Corinthians 11:27–32 ESV

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

As we prepare for communion, the scripture says that we should examine ourselves. Are you allowing God to to search your heart now so that you don’t have to be afraid to stand before Him at the final judgement? Is there anything that you want to confess to him now?

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

2. As we take the bread, remember Christ’s body which was the ultimate sacrifice for sin. He did not need to offer a bull for himself. He was already walking in victory over sin. Where do you need a victory? What are some specific action steps that you can take?

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

3. The blood of Jesus not only covers sin; it effectively removes sin. When we take sin to the cross, we never take it back. That goes for both our sin and the sin that is committed against us. What are you bringing to the cross today? What are you leaving behind?