2025 March 23 - March 29: The Day of Atonement

Costly Sacrifice (March-May 2025)

Unit I: Tabernacle, Sacrifices, and Atonement

Lesson 5/5: The Day of Atonement

Daily Bible Meditations by Angel Floyd

Sunday, March 23: Psalm 40:1-8

David illustrated his experience of waiting on the Lord while in a state of despair, emphasizing that the Lord lifted him out and established his steps. Reflecting on my own experiences during difficult times, I recognize how challenging it can be to wait patiently on the Lord. Frequently, I have found myself attempting to expedite the process, which often exacerbated the situation or proved to be a waste of my resources. Conversely, I have had moments where I successfully practiced patience and witnessed God manifest His power in remarkable ways. How can you practice patience in your waiting on the Lord, especially during times of difficulty or uncertainty?

Monday, March 24: Psalm 40:9-17

David stated that he had not withheld God's righteousness in his heart but had faithfully spoken of God and shared His loving- kindness and truth to the great congregation. Then David asked that the Lord not withhold his compassion but preserve him with God's lovingkindness and truth. David knew that God was his help and deliverer and that he was safe in God's love and faithfulness. Remember to honor God and share His truth, so you can have the safety of knowing you can rest in His love and faithfulness. In what ways can you share God's faithfulness and truth with others, and how does that strengthen your own faith?

Tuesday, March 25: Hebrews 9:1-14

In Hebrews, the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant is dis- cussed as well as the earthly sanctuary. This is followed by the revelation of Christ as the high priest of greater things to come. Jesus entered a more perfect tabernacle once for all time, offering Himself without blemish to cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God, thus establishing a preferred, non-physical sanctuary for our spiritual renewal. Have you ever been caught in the trap of trying to earn your own salvation? If so, what changed your mind?

Wednesday, March 26: Hebrews 9:15-22

In these verses, the author presents a deeper understanding of the rationale behind Jesus Christ being the ultimate sacrifice, beyond merely fulfilling the criteria of a sacrificial offering. Verse sixteen indicates that, similar to a will, the individual who establishes a covenant must pass away for it to become effective. The Pulpit Commentary notes that many translations prefer the terms "will" or "testament" rather than "covenant." Consequently, through His death, Jesus, as God in human form, fulfilled the Old Covenant (or will) associated with the sacrificial system and subsequently became the mediator of the New Covenant. What are the differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?

Thursday, March 27: 2 Corinthians 5:12-21

Paul discussed reconciliation with God (vertical) and with one another (horizontal). Anyone in Christ becomes a new creation; former things pass away, and new life begins. God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ. Thus, we are to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Furthermore, Paul wrote regarding horizontal reconciliation in Ephesians 4:31-32, saying we are to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (NIV). How can you foster reconciliation in your relationships - both with God and with those around you?

Friday, March 28: Leviticus 16:1-10

Leviticus chapter sixteen opens with God speaking to Moses following the deaths of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord and paid for it with their lives. God told Aaron that he could not approach the holy place casually and provided specific instructions for approaching God with awe and sincerity, highlighting the need for obedience in such sacred interactions. What practices can you incorporate into your life to approach God with the awe and sincerity He deserves?

Sabbath, March 29: Leviticus 16:11-19

On the Day of Atonement, the blood of a slain goat was used to cleanse the sanctuary from the sins of the Israelites. This practice foreshadowed the ultimate blood sacrifice of the Messiah, emphasizing the necessity of atonement for sin and the significance of a singular sacrifice for the congregation's sins as a means of purification. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice that provided atonement for us with God. How can the concept of atonement through sacrifice deepen your understanding of grace and influence your relationship with Jesus?

Reading:

Study: Leviticus 16:11-19

Background: Leviticus 16

Devotional: Psalm 40:9-17

Key Verses:

 "He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their unlawful acts regarding all their sins; and he shall do so for the tent of meeting which remains with them in the midst of their impurities" (Leviticus 16:16).

Heart of the Lesson:

People seek reconciliation when relationships have soured. What can we do to heal broken trust? Yahweh established an annual Day of Atonement that symbolized for Israel the substitutionary atonement God provided for their sins and the total removal of their guilt.

Questions for Studying the Text:

1. How does broken trust impact relationships? What kinds of things are effective in restoring trust in broken relationships?
2. What can you discover about word "atonement"? What does it convey about the nature of this ritual? What is the significance of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) in the Israelite calendar and worship practices? (See also Leviticus 23:26-32.)
3. Why was it necessary for Aaron to make atonement for himself first? Why was it important for the high priest to approach God with reverence, following strict instructions? What does this teach about God's holiness and justice?
4. The sprinkling of blood is a key element in verses 14-15. What does the act of sprinkling symbolize in ancient Israelite worship? How does Hebrews 9:22 relate to this concept?
5. How does this passage connect with Hebrews 9-10? What parallels exist between the Day of Atonement and Jesus' sacrifice? How can we see the superiority of Christ's sacrifice as the full and final Day of Atonement for the sins of people?
6. How can the seriousness with which God deals with sin here influence how you approach confession and repentance? What steps can you take to ensure that your worship and relationship with God reflect this same holiness and sincerity?

Understanding and Living - Jerry Johnson

The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16 has been labeled "The Day of Atonement" by commentators for centuries. In the larger narrative of the book, it comes right after five chapters that detailed cleanliness concerns with respect to food, birth, different skin dis- eases, death, mildew, sexual discharges, etc. Distinguishing what was clean and unclean was marked by actual common physical conditions in every- day living, which also served to remind people how blood sacrifice would be necessary to both cleanse and sanctify.

This instruction came after Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu died immediately after offering "profane fire" before the Lord. The actual "Day of Atonement" (Yom Kippur) was commanded to take place on the tenth day of the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar, which roughly corresponds to early fall in modern times (v.29-34). It is further delineated in 23:26-32. Richard S. Hess helpfully noted:

The preparation of the priest (v.2b-5), with details about his clothing and the ongoing concern for the animals to be sacrificed (v.6-10), correspond to the return from God's pres- ence (v.23-28), which again focuses on the priestly vestments and the disposal of the remains of the animal sacrifices. The priest's purification offering followed by Israel's purification offering, and the atonement of the Most Holy Place followed by the atonement for Israel (v.11-19) form the focus of the ceremony (Expositor's Bible Commentary: Leviticus, p.321-22).

Instructions for Aaron

The chapter involves several movements. First, the preparation for Aaron. He had to be careful not to enter the Holy Place "at any time" (lest he die) without a bull for a sin offering, a ram for a burnt offering, and holy garments that were to be put on only after washing himself in water. The blood of the young bull would be for his sin and that of his household. He then had to take two goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, on behalf of the people for their sin. Note in verses 6-10, he was to present these two goats at the entrance of the tabernacle and cast lots. One would be sacrificed and the other would serve as "the scapegoat" to be sent into the wilderness (see also v.20-22). Verses 11-19 form the crux of Aaron's responsibilities before the Lord on the Day of Atonement. Note that he had to do this by himself, which is reiterated at least 20 times in the chapter. He was to first sacrifice the bull, but before placing its blood on the altar had to take two handfuls of finely ground incense and a firepan full of coals inside the veil, in order to form a cloud of incense over the mercy seat. W.H. Bellinger noted,

"The coals and incense produce smoke to conceal the ark so that Aaron will not die while seeing God (see Exod. 33:20). Possibly the smoke would shield God from seeing Aaron and perhaps divert di- vine wrath. The smoke is also associated with the cloud of divine glory" (Understanding the Bible Commentary: Leviticus, Numbers, p.144).

He was in the presence of God, and the term " testimony" symbolized the Ten Commandments. Aaron would sprinkle blood on and in front of the mercy seat seven times, indicating completeness of cleansing. In like fashion, he would sprinkle blood from the goat on and around the mercy seat to atone for the sin of the people. In this sacrifice, he was cleansing the Most Holy Place "because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their unlawful acts regarding all their sins" (v.16).

Additionally, he was to sprinkle blood on the bronze altar for burnt offering with his finger seven times, covering all of the horns on the four corners. This completed the atonement of the Holy Place, the altar, and the tent of meeting as a whole, leading Allan Mosely to ask:

"How does one make atonement for an inanimate object, and why is that necessary? God was communicating the mes- sage that sin defiles us and our environment. Therefore, part of the Day of Atonement was devoted to cleansing the space where the people had brought their sins to God all year. In the minds of the people that space surely was associated with sin, since sacrifices were offered for sin constantly" (Exalting Jesus in Leviticus, p.198).

The scapegoat was released into the wilderness after Aaron layed on hands to carry Israel's sins away.

"First, it symbolizes the purity of the camp and its holy state despite the sins of the people. Second, the departure of the goat outside the camp and the subsequent removal of all impurities to the same region (v.23-28) demonstrate the danger of leaving the holy community and separating from the holy place that Israel's God provided for meeting with his people" (Expositor's Bible Commentary: Leviticus, p. 339)

Christ's Atonement

For the New Testament Christian, Christ has made atonement for sin with His perfect sacrifice. R.C. Sproul helpfully defined a couple of important theological aspects.

"On the cross, Jesus not only took that curse upon Himself, but He became "a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13, ESV). Orthodox Christianity has insisted that the Atonement involves substitution and satisfaction. In taking God's curse upon Himself, Jesus satisfied the demands of God's holy justice. He received God's wrath for us, saving us from the wrath that is to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:10) (Reformation Study Bible, ESV Edition, p.1983).

Another way of looking at it is through the term "propitiation", as in more literal translations of the Bible. Christ has provided a perfect sacrifice that puts away our sin by satisfying the wrath of a holy God (see Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2 and 4:10). He is our literal high priest, who is more qualified than Aaron because His sacrifice was so much superior (Hebrews 7:11). No wonder John the Baptist said at the appearance of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Hints for Teaching:

Lesson Goals:

1. Explore the Day of Atonement as an annual purification of the sacred space, the people, and their environs.
2. Appreciate God's work to repair the relationship with His covenant people.
3. Commit to disciplines that nurture the spiritual practice of confession of sin.

Teaching Activity:

Create a large chart or whiteboard diagram showing cross-references for atonement from Leviticus 16, Isaiah 53, Hebrews 9, and 1 John 1. Have participants place sticky notes or index cards with relevant scriptures around the main diagram, connecting them to the concept of atonement. Ask: How does the theme of atonement evolve from the Old Testament to the New Testament? Discuss ways we can practice atonement in our daily lives today?

Looking Forward:

In this Unit, we have explored the Old Testament sacrifices, offerings, and rituals designed to maintain Israel's relationship with a Holy God and looked for applications of these principles for those living under the New Covenant.