Day of Atonement

September 16, 2021 (Thursday)

 

Today is “the day of Atonement” (Yom Kippur).  It was the ONLY day the High Priest (the ONLY one allowed) could enter behind the curtain into the “holy of holies.” The procedures for this day are found in Leviticus 16.

 

Behind the curtain was the “ark of the covenant.” Sitting on top of the ark was a lid known as “the mercy seat.” After offering a sin offering for himself and his household, the High Priest would take two goats. One goat would be a sacrifice, the other goat was the “scape goat.” Modern translation read, “And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel.” [Leviticus 16:8 ESV] After this blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat.

 

There has been some confusion about “azarel.” Some have suggested this was a demonic entity, which makes no sense. If this is an entity, it is the only mention of this individual in the Bible. The Hebrew word here means “dismissal” or “removal.”

 

What happened is the High Priest would place his hands on the head of the chosen scapegoat, symbolically transferring the sins of the nation to the goat. The goat would them be sent into the wilderness. The Law was filled with rich images. When the goat left the camp, it physically (symbolically) carried the weight and guilt of the people away.

 

Time for us to connect the dots. Jump to Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” [Isaiah 53:6 ESV] Isaiah 53 is a prophecy concerning Jesus. Because of our sin, described as going astray and turning our own way, God laid on Jesus our iniquity. Catch the image… As the High Priest laid the sins of the people on the goat and dismissed it into the wilderness, God laid our sins on Jesus. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)

 

The Hebrew word translated “iniquity” in Isaiah 53 suggests a twisting, perverting, or distorting. It is about us being distorted (C.S. Lewis “bent”) into something unnatural due to our willful sin. The Law covered sacrifice for sins committed unintentionally. The Day of Atonement was the only time a sacrifice was made for willful sin.

 

The trouble is the Day of Atonement was a yearly event. Despite the sacrifice and its significance nothing permanent was accomplished. “But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.” [Hebrews 10:3 ESV] The Day of Atonement was designed to remind people of their sin, never to take it way permanently. It was designed to point to something, someone, greater.

 

The image of the scapegoat points us to Jesus. “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” [Hebrews 10:14 ESV] This verse, in itself, is a sermon series… let me quickly pull three things.

 

First: Jesus death on the cross was the single offering. This single sacrifice was “once for all” (see Hebrews 10:10). Second: this offering “perfected.” The gist of this is that salvation under the blood is completed. Third: the process of sanctification is continual. The reality we live with is the scapegoat knows where to find us…

 

While this is the Day of Atonement, set aside for an annual purging of sin. It reminds us that Jesus has purged the guilt and consequences of our sin (“once for all”) with the expectation of the follow through of our continual sanctification.

 

While we are ALREADY saved, the by-product of that salvation is NOT YET completed. (The caps are for the theology students.) Or as Paul stated, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” [Philippians 1:6 ESV]