Day 52, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Leviticus 16
It's Time for a Cleanup
Many people do spring and fall cleaning. They clean their yards, garages, and they begin or finish up outside projects. They also have their windows cleaned, carpets shampooed, and their entire house cleaned. Everything is done before the hot summer days or before the holidays. Spiritually speaking, this was the reason for the Day of Atonement instituted in Israel—a cleanup of their souls before the holiday of their Thanksgiving festival. Is it time for a spiritual cleanup in our lives? How?
The need for cleansing
In today’s Bible reading, offerings for dedication, unintentional sin, guilt, and thanksgiving were made in the Israelite community. However, early on, there was a problem—things were not done right! Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, the high priest, were taking censers (firepans) with incense to offer “unauthorized fire” (Leviticus 10:1). This may mean they filled their censers with coals from the altar and entered behind the Most Holy Place’s curtain. Only the high priest (their father, Aaron) was allowed to enter on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:11-12). Another possibility is that they were drunk and disorderly (Leviticus 10:8-9). God exercised capital punishment.
Immediately after this incident, God tells Aaron that he must distinguish between the clean and unclean, i.e., what is ceremonially holy from what is unholy because the LORD is holy (Leviticus 10:10). He further instructs him, “You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them” (Leviticus 15:31, NIV).
A spiritual cleanup day
For whatever reason, some sins were not dealt with during the year, and many Israelite lives weren’t clean. We have read about the sacrifices for unintentional sins. The Day of Atonement is for all kinds of sin, for intentional and unintentional wrongdoing. God instituted a Day of Atonement, a day of spiritual cleanup in the fall of the year (in the month of Tishri, late October, or early November). Some churches have spring and fall revivals for this same purpose.Humility and Sacrifice
For this ceremony, the high priest doesn’t wear his special vestments. After he bathes in the bronze basin, he wears only his linen tunic, undergarments, sash, and a linen turban—it is a day of humility. It is preceded by fasting and a Sabbath day’s rest.
The high priest's offering
On that particular day, the high priest offers one bull as a sin offering to atone for his sins and one ram for a burnt offering (a dedication offering). One ram is sacrificed as a burnt offering, and two perfect male goats are chosen for the Israelites to atone for their sins. Then, lots are cast (sort of like drawing straws). One of the two goats is offered for their sin offering, while the other is released into the wilderness.
On the Day of Atonement, the sin offerings are performed differently than at other times. For the ceremonial cleansing of the tabernacle, himself, and the Israelites, the high priest must do this alone. After sacrificing the bull for his own sins, he makes three entrances behind the Holy of Holies (the Most Holy Place, separated by a thick ornate curtain).
Sanctifying the tabernacle
First, Aaron takes coals in a censer, adds a handful of incense to a firepan to create smoke. The smoke goes before him as he enters the Holy of Holies, and it hides the mercy seat (the golden lid with angels on top of the Ark of the Covenant). This is so he can’t behold the glory of God, which is present. Then he goes back to the altar to bring some of the bull’s blood with him behind the curtain. He sprinkles blood on and before the mercy seat seven times to symbolically purify it from the sins offered there.
Afterward, the high priest comes out from the Holy of Holies and sprinkles blood seven times on the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and then on the bronze altar. This is to ceremonially purify them as well. Last, the high priest takes the blood and smears some on the bronze altar’s horns, and pours the rest of it at its base.
The sin offering for the Israelites
Next, the high priest repeats the procedure for the goat—the sacrifice to the LORD for the sins of the Israelites. Then, God leaves these instructions:
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. 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 desert in the care of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert. (Leviticus 16:20-22, NIV).
The scapegoat ceremony symbolically portrays what Jesus does for us—he carries our sins away, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)
The LORD tells Aaron that this Day of Atonement
will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins…. and [to] make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting [the Holy Place] and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community, (Leviticus 16:30,33, NIV).
Jesus, our high priest
Complete forgiveness leads to joy and thanksgiving. This fall ceremony pictures Jesus Christ, who purifies us from all sin (Hebrews 9:7-14, 24-26; 1John 1:7). Jesus is the high priest who goes behind the veil of the Holy of Holies. He doesn’t offer a bull’s blood for a sacrifice for his own sins because he is perfect. However, he provides something better for us. He doesn’t sprinkle the blood of bulls and goats on and before the mercy seat because they only ceremonially cover sin. Jesus goes into the Holy of Holies in heaven, having offered his own blood on the altar, the cross of Calvary. He makes atonement for and does away with all our sins, both intentional and unintentional. “God presented him [Christ] as a sacrifice of atonement [a reparation for removing our sins], through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:25, NIV). His forgiveness is available to all who trust in Christ’s blood to cleanse them from their sins!
Christians, have we been lax in coming to God for regular cleaning of our spiritual lives? If so, it’s time for a spring or fall cleanup! It’s time to get rid of the dirt and clutter of sin which we have let accumulate. Let’s turn away from our sins and come to God in humility, genuine sorrow, and confession for thorough cleansing of all our sins. Jesus Christ offers complete cleaning and forgiveness (1John 1:9). If we call upon God to clean us up, we can be really clean and ready to celebrate with thanksgiving!Discussion
What was the preparation for the spiritual cleanup known as the Day of Atonement? Why is this important?
How can we have complete forgiveness of our sins? Do we need animal sacrifices? Why or why not?
Endnote: The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T. by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.198)
Focus Verse
1Corinthians 6:11 (NIV) “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (NIV)
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Looking Ahead: Now that we have had a spiritual cleanup, how do we stay clean? Our Next Lesson will help us: Staying Clean; a Practical Guide to Holiness. Join us!
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