Today's passage: Leviticus 16
Helpful thoughts:
- God gives the laws concerning The Day of Atonement.
- The timing of the giving of this law implies Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu had not just offered “strange fire” or unauthorized fire, but that they had also entered the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. This occasioned God's instruction about who may enter, how they must enter, when they must enter, and what they must do inside.
- The sacrifices of The Day of Atonement were necessary (Served as an annual prerequisite) for all other service, offerings and sacrifices made. If this day was not observed, the rest of what the priests did would be null and void, even disobedient.
- The people “afflicting” themselves had to do with denial of desires and was primarily observed through fasting and prayer.
Questions to consider:
- How was this blood sacrifice different than the rest? Where was the blood taken? How often was it given? By whom and with what preparations?
- What appears to have been the purpose of the goat which was released, the scapegoat? What did he carry away with him? What did the other goat (Which was chosen by the Lord) have to do? In what way could they both represent what Christ did for us?
- How did Jesus end the need for an annual Day of Atonement and therefore also end the need for any other sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7-14)?