Highlights:
Day of Atonement; the scapegoat; the eating of blood forbidden; civil and religious laws; immorality forbidden.
Verses for Today:
Aaron . . . shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: and he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the Mercy Seat that is upon the Testimony, that he die not. . . . Then shall he kill the goat of the Sin Offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail . . . and sprinkle it upon the Mercy Seat. . . . And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel . . . putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away (Lev. 16:11-21).On the annual Day of Atonement, the high priest, beginning with Aaron, was first required to present a young bull as a sacrifice for his own sins before he could proceed with the Sin Offering for the people. Then he offered incense on the Altar of Incense, morning and evening every day of the year, symbolizing praying to God without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17). He put the incense on live coals from the Altar of Burnt Offering. This signified that all acceptable prayer is based on the redeeming love of a forgiving God. God will, and does, answer prayer.
Only as we read the Word of God can we know how to pray and what to ask for — what pleases the Father. What a privilege — and a responsibility — we have to offer acceptable prayers to God day and night for those things which the Holy Spirit lays upon our hearts. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Matt. 21:22). We are able to pray to God and hear Him from His Word.
Two goats were necessary to express our Lord's twofold atonement. One goat was sacrificied upon the altar for a Sin Offering. This act prefigured Christ, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29; comp. II Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 18). The other was sent into the wilderness, a symbol that as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us (Ps. 103:12).
We should also forgive and choose not to remember offenses against ourselves or others. Therefore, be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Eph. 4:32).
Thought for Today:
And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13).
Christ Revealed:
Through two goats used on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:8). The slaying of the first goat typifies that our peace with God was restored by the blood of Christ (Rev. 5:9). The second goat represents the precious mercy of God in forever removing from His sight the sins of His people — as far as the east is from the west (Psa. 103:12). Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more (Heb. 10:17).
Word Studies:
16:29 afflict your souls =humble yourselves, practice self-denial; 17:4 cut off =excommunicated from family and the nation; 17:14 the blood of it is for the life thereof =its blood sustains its physical life; 18:6 uncover their nakedness =have sexual intercourse.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by a Family that loves Jesus • Executive Director of the IBRA in our Washington DC Branch: Reverend Michael Hall • Government Officials: Rep. Richard (Doc) Hastings (WA) and Sen. Herbert Kohl (WI) • Country: United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, & Wales) (59.4 million) off the coast of western Europe • Major languages: English and Welsh • Religious freedom • 55% Anglican; 16% Catholic; 6% Other Protestant; 2% Muslim; .9% Sikh; .8% Hindu; .6% Jewish; .2% Buddhist; 10.5% Other; 5% Unaffiliated • Prayer Suggestion: Do not worry about your material needs (Matt. 6:25-30).
Optional Reading: Mark 10
Memory Verse for the Week: Exodus 20:7-11