WEEK TWENTY SIX
June 13, 2010 – June 19, 2010
READINGS: Leviticus 11-17:9
DAY OF ATONMENT – TENT OF MEETING
“And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, "Speak to the people of Israel, saying…"Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.”,
Do you know what I noticed as I listened to God speaking to the nation of Israel? I noticed that everything He said about being unclean was part of nature or a natural occurrence. Take a look; the animals in chapter 11, the blood of childbirth in chapter 12, the disease of leprosy in chapters 13 and 14 and the bodily discharges in chapter 15, were all part of nature. None of the uncleanness came from any choice, decision, attitude, thought, word, or deed of anyone or anything. It’s like it was part of their DNA. But the problem was that if they remained in their uncleanness they would die because it defiled the Presence of God. What now??
DAY OF ATONMENT – TENT OF MEETING
“The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died, and the LORD said to Moses… And this shall be a statute forever for you that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins." And Moses did as the LORD commanded him” Leviticus 16
Well I knew God wasn’t going do all that talk about uncleanness and penalties without making a way to become clean. That’s what chapter 16 is all about - offerings, sacrifices and days set aside so that “atonement may be made for the people of Israel."
But notice what He told them in chapter 17: And you shall say to them, Any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it to the LORD, that man shall be cut off from his people. I had to wonder about that one – why so specific? An offering was an offering right – what difference did it make where it was made?
DAY OF ATONMENT – TENT OF MEETING
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world” Romans 5:12
Ah, I am beginning to see the connection here - the uncleanness we inherited from Adam penetrates deeper than any choice, thought word, deed or attitude we might have. Just like the nation of Israel, uncleanness is in our DNA – it’s part of our human nature (Psalm 51:5). I bet you can guess where this is going….it’s the classic Sunday school answer – JESUS!!
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
It makes sense doesn’t it? In Leviticus, God was setting the stage for Jesus. Our Day of Atonement was completed when Jesus died. No longer would we have to fear the wrath of God because of our uncleanness, no longer would our uncleanness defile the presence of God, and because Jesus rose from the dead we no longer have to fear the death that our DNA uncleanness deserves.
DAY OF ATONMENT – TENT OF MEETING
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
And of course, God had to be very specific about WHERE the sacrifice would be made because He knew that JESUS would become our “tent of meeting” and would be the ONLY way through which we can come to Him – clean and undefiled. Now that is a reason to celebrate – not just once a year on the Day of Atonement, but with every single breath we take. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
