Leviticus 15 & 16: Are You Atoned For Your Sins?
Verse of the Day: (16:34) And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
1. Atonement (15:1-33)
And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue. (15:15)
The sin of immorality is nothing new since the beginning of time, and it has caused many including great men of God to fall from His grace. God commanded Moses and Aaron to institute the law of cleansing especially in dealing with the sexual diseases that are contagious and infectious. The law of cleansing include cleaning themselves both outwardly as well as inwardly by atoning for their sins with offerings before the holy God.
2. Aaron (16:1-28)
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. (16:2)
The Day of Atonement was the most important day for Israel as God commanded Aaron, the high priest, to atone not only for his own sins, but for the sins of Israel, once a year, so that God shall forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Aaron shall put on the holy garments and offer a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, before the mercy seat at the holy place of the tabernacle. Aaron must truly confess and repent his sins before God, otherwise God shall strike him dead in the holy place. Indeed, the Day of Atonement was practiced throughout the years until the day God sent His only begotten Son as the final sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of the whole world reconciling man to Himself. Since then we can directly go to God’s throne of grace pleading for His mercy and asking for His help in time of our needs, without the high priest or the priests, as we are now His priests and saints. (Hebrews 4:16)
3. Afflict (16:29-34)
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: (16:29)
The Day of Atonement was to be held on the tenth day of the seventh month of the year and it was a day of affliction as it was a prophesy that the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, shall be shed, not for His own sins, but for the sins of the world, so that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (1 Peter 1:19)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am atoned for my sins by Your precious blood.
