The Day of Atonement

March 30, 2025 Background Scripture: Leviticus 16 Lesson Passage: Leviticus 16:11 - 19 God gave the instructions in the Background Scripture for today's lesson in response to the death of Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu. They were supposed to succeed their father as Israel' s high priest. However, they attempted to go into God's presence burning incense using fire God had not approved. A fire went out from God and devoured them. It was after this that God gave Moses instructions concerning those who approach Him. God must always be regarded as holy. People who are given the privilege of approaching God's presence must do so respectfully and according to God's instructions on how to do so. Then others who note it will glorify God. After that incident, God spoke to Moses concerning an annual day of atonement. God specified the month and day of the month for its observance. This day recognized that God in His holiness was dwelling among unholy people, Israel. The unholiness of the people made them enemies of God. The Day of Atonement was to bring "at - one - ment” between the two parties who were enemies. God prescribed very precise steps to be taken by the high priest to ensure that holiness was respected and the expected outcome of His people during this reconciliation. The high priest bathed himself in water and put on the special garments that were anointed for him to wear as he approached God's presence in the Most Holy Place. The death of his two sons no doubt underscored the sacredness of this process for Aaron. The high priest had to receive two young goats and a ram from the people of Israel. He had to provide a bull and a ram for himself. The high priest first offered a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household. This reconciled him and his household with God. This process required him to take fire from the altar along with incense and the blood of the bull into the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. After this, the high priest killed the ram, or goat, as a sin offering for the people of Israel. The blood of the goat was also presented in the same manner in the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. This made atonement for the Holy Place because of its location among unholy people as well as for the sins of the people. This work could only be completed by the high priest with no one else present. Then he had to make atonement for the altar in the Holy Place by placing some of the blood from the bull and the goat on its corners all around. Then the high priest took the second goat and placed both his hands on its head. In this posture, the high priest then confessed all the sins, transgressions, and iniquity of the children of Israel. God accepted this as placing all their sins on that live goat. Aaron then delivered that live goat to a physically healthy man who carried it far away into a land not inhabited by people and released it. Aaron left the Holy Place and entered the tabernacle of meeting and removed the holy garments and washed his body in water. Aaron put his own clothes back on and then offered the fat of the sin offering as a burnt offering upon the altar for himself and the people. The remainder of the animals was burned outside the camp of Israel. The person who burned these and the man who led the goat away had to remain outside the camp of Israel until they washed their clothes and their bodies in water. After this, they could return to the camp. During this entire process, the people of Israel were required to be repentant and prayerful. No work was to be performed during the process by any others than those so specified. When there was a transition of men in the high priest office, the incoming high priest had to repeat the same steps annually on the Day of Atonement. The solemnity of the ritual was a reminder of God's holiness and the unholiness of the people He dwelled among. Robert C. Hudson March 20, 2025