Christ in all the scriptures The Day of Atonement

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Day of Atonement   Leviticus 16

The natural progression of thought links chapter 10 directly with chapter 16, which begins with "And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died".   The intervening chapters deal with the issue of cleanliness in the worship of God.  Chapter 11, cleanliness in diet; chapter 12, cleanliness in childbirth; chapters 13-14 cleanliness in health; chapter 15, cleanliness in personal hygiene.  Approach to God demands cleanliness in all forms, lest they defile the sanctuary.  The summary is in chapter 15v31, "Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them".   Only thus will the holiness of God be acknowledged by a worshipping people.  These were stringent demands, none of which have been laid as a burden on New Testament believers.  However the present work of Christ on our behalf ensures that all defilement is removed.  This does help us understand the Holiness of God, and our personal uncleanness.  It underlines the need for confession of sins, as we draw near to the Lord, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"-1st John 1v9.  The defilement of this fallen world, and the imperfections within us demands a reverent approach.  This is to be our attitude in prayer and worship each time we draw near.  Never was there a day, like today, when the importance of this needs to be understood and practiced.  This is why Jesus, in His pattern prayer, begins with "Hallowed be thy name".  Perpetual approach with unconfessed sin, or lack of personal judgment, may incur the displeasure of God in our lives (refer 1st Corinthians 11v28-32).  

In the transition from Judaism to Christianity, much of ritual ceremonial cleanliness demands have been rendered obsolete in Christ, but the need for moral fitness in His service remains (2nd Cor. 7v1).   The consensus of opinion of bible commentators is that God laid these ceremonial demands on Israel for a number of reasons: 1) that thus they would demonstrate in fine detail, their obedience to the Lord; 2) that they would be different from the pagan nations around them; 3) that thus they would be a testimony to the Godless world. True sanctification is not about superior status, but about being different, apart, from the normal.  The greatest compliment our neighbours can pay us is to say "but you are different".  Sanctification, literally means "apart", "separate", "different".   He is apart in His wisdom, in His power, in His judgments, in His mercy, in His lovingkindness, in His posterity.  He draws us to this higher, greater, life that only He can give.  

Introduction to the Day of Atonement

This is by far the most holy, and most observed day in Israel's ceremonial calendar.  It takes place from the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri) and is a time for fasting and soul searching for the whole nation.  Leviticus 23 places it as the sixth of seven festivals in the calendar each year, and is a time for confession and repentance for sins in the year that is past.  This is crucial further evidence that the worship of God demands humility of spirit in turning away from evil ways.  When we come to chapter 23, and see this day in its prophetic setting, we shall understand that it will happen way into the future of Israel's existence when the true Israel will repent of the greatest sin of all, namely the rejection of Jesus as Messiah.  This will take place before the festival of tabernacles when repentant Israel will take up their position as head of nations, as the world enters the protracted period of millennial bliss.  The day is all about the forgiveness of sins and consequent blessings, but first they must acknowledge their sins before the Lord.  In this introduction to the Day of Atonement we can outline the principal meaning for us today.

The repetition of the word "atonement" sets the tone of the occasion.  Out of 102 occurrences of this word in O/T scripture, 41 appear in Leviticus, and 13 in this chapter alone!  The Hebrew word is kaphar and is akin to the English word "cover", which is what it means.  This is an exclusive word to the Old Testament, and means that through the blood of chosen animals, sins are covered, removed from the sight of the Lord until the time when they can be eradicated altogether.  Atonement is not the same as New Testament remission leading to reconciliation.  It is important we understand this that "the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins".  New Testament truth is clear that it was only the Lamb of God (Jesus Himself) who could take away sins (John 1v29).  Without the blood of Christ, there can be no remission of sins.  Until Christ died, sins were only covered, put to the side, put out of sight until the death of the Saviour.  Paul explains this in Romans chapter 3v25-26, "Whom God hath set forth a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.  To declare at this time His righteousness: that He might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus".  Note the two time markings-"sins that are past", full remission of O/T sins; and "at this time" N/T justification by faith.  God covered the sins of the past in awesome forbearance, until the blood sacrifice of Christ removed them altogether.  So the biblical word atonement simply means to cover sins in prospect of the sacrifice of Christ removing them altogether.  The atonement would be futile without the death of Christ and so this chapter is directly linked to Him.  Forgiveness of sins is only possible if we see it in Christ.  Anyone approaching God must be free from sin altogether, and this is the message of the chapter.  Leviticus 16, the day of atonement, is meaningless without the sacrifice of Christ.  Thus the whole ritual before us points to Christ.

The first mention of the word kaphar in the bible is in Genesis 6v14, to do with the the construction of Noah's ark, "...thou shalt pitch it within and without with pitch".  This is the equivalent of our black tar to make watertight to deter the ingress of water.  No water penetrated the pitch lining the ark during 40 days and nights of tempestuous wind and rainfall, the like of which has never been seen since.  The thought is of complete cover, and so the atonement completely covered sin until Christ died.  This makes N/T remission of sins all the greater, that by simple faith in God's word, our sins are not only covered, but removed forever.  We are now able to enjoy the ultimate meaning of what the day of atonement prefigured-repentance, remission, reconciliation, rest.