Yom Kippur (Part 1)

Posted on Sep 10, 2021 in Devotions |

Introduction: Do you recognize the title? It is otherwise known as the “Day of Atonement.” Moses, after being informed by the Lord, instructed the Jewish people concerning the 6th of the 7 Jewish Feasts. This is recorded in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus.

“26And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 27Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.” (Lev 23:26- 28)

More specific instructions are given in Leviticus chapter 16.

1. First, Aaron was to make atonement for himself and his house with a SLAIN GOAT!

“2And 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. 3Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 5And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.” (Lev 16:2-6)

This first goat (slain) would atone for both he and his household.

2. Next, Aaron would cast lots to see which goat would be the SLAIN Goat and which would be the SCAPEGOAT!

“6And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin. 8And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 10But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.” (Lev 16:23)

3. Then Aaron would lay his hands on the SCAPEGOAT and confess the people’s sins and then lead the goat into the wilderness.

“20And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21And 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, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.” (Lev 16:20-22)

Conclusion: Both of these goats – SLAIN and SCAPEGOAT would be prototypes of Jesus Christ. Looking back in retrospect, Jesus fulfilled both requirements to be SLAIN and with His blood to take away sin – not just cover, and needed to be repeated year after year. In addition, Jesus fulfilled the SCAPEGOAT which symbolically took away the people’s sins.

Bottom line: A holy God made provisions for sinful man to have forgiveness and fellowship with Him.

Praise the Lord!

Love y’all,

Dr. Randy Reese