READING FOR AUGUST 28, 2024: LEVITICUS 16, LUKE 17, PSALM 88                              LEVITICUS 16 There was one day each year that was by far the most holy: The Day of Atonement. It happened on the tenth day of the seventh month. God told Moses and through him all Israel that on this day “atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.”  As in chapter 15, this chapter is a chiasm: ABCB’A’. The structural outline used is taken from British theologian Derek Tidball.                                    A. Prologue: a solemn warning from God (1-2). God approached Moses after the death of Aaron’s sons. He emphasized that Aaron could not go into the holiest place anytime he felt like it. If he did not enter when God prescribes and prepare in the correct way, he would die. Surely Aaron’s attention was rapt. We today must enter God’s kingdom through Jesus as Lord and Savior: “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).       B. Drawing near: instructions from God (3-14). Aaron entered the Holy Place taking with him the animals to be offered for himself and for the congregation. Before proceeding, Aaron prepared by cleansing and humbling, taking a ritual bath and putting on very simple clothes. He formally presented the animals before the Lord. Something similar happens each Sunday in church when the offering is presented to the Lord, and we sing the Doxology. After this, Aaron slaughters a bull as a sin offering for himself and his family. He then offers incense to the Lord, making sure the smoke covers the atoning lid of the ark. It must cover or else he will die, likely by seeing the Lord’s presence. “No man can see Me and live” (Ex.33:20). Next, he sprinkles blood on the atoning cover of the ark seven times. Now, he can make atonement for Israel.                             C. Making atonement: purification from God (15-22). Aaron has two goats with him to atone for all the community's sins. First, he slaughters one goat and sprinkles the blood as he did with the bull. He then lays two hands on the live goat while confessing all the sins of Israel. This goat (from which we get the term scapegoat) is then released into the wilderness representing the carrying away of all Israel’s sins. The slaughtering of the goat points to Jesus being the propitiation for our sins, meaning bearing the Father’s wrath in our place. The releasing of the goat points to Jesus expiating our sins, meaning taking away our guilt. B’. Taking Leave: withdrawing from God (23-28). Aaron bathes again, puts on regular priestly clothes, burns the fat of the sin offerings, and has the remains of the animals disposed outside the camp.                    A’. Epilogue: a lasting ordinance from God (29-34). God makes clear that this activity must occur every year just as he prescribes and that all Israel participate: “It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, so that you may humble yourselves; it is a permanent statute” (vs.31).                                                                             Related Point of Controversy: The following excerpt is from Outreach Judaism (OJ), an organization that equips Jews to reject Jesus: “The Talmud states that there was a strip of scarlet-dyed wool tied to the head of the scapegoat (See Leviticus 16:7-10.), which at times would turn white in the presence of the large crowd gathered at the Temple on the Day of Atonement. When this phenomenon occurred, the Jewish people perceived this miraculous transformation as a heavenly sign that their sins were forgiven. The Talmud relates, however, that 40 years before the destruction of the Second Temple the scarlet-colored strip of wool did not turn white.” This date, of course, is when Jesus’s atoning death on the cross occurred, eliminating the need for this practice. OJ states, without evidence, this color change stopped happening due to the sinfulness of Jews at this time. Is it just a coincidence? 

READING FOR AUGUST 28, 2024 CONTINUED: LUKE 17, PSALM 88                                          LUKE 17 In the first 10 verses, Jesus interacts with his disciples. Jesus is aware that sin is inevitable. Jesus colorfully suggests we are in big trouble, though, if we influence others to sin.  Vanessa Bohns states, “As a social psychologist who has studied social influence for many years, I see all the time how much influence we have over other people.” Let’s consider if we are influencing others toward holiness or sin. Jesus says we need to be on guard about it. He also says if another believer sins, we are responsible to point it out them. (It really says this in verse 3!) If the believer repents, we must forgive—no matter how often. 

Jesus suggests we need to exercise the faith we have rather than worry about getting more. Also, we should be happy for the honor to serve Him and not seek thanks for it from anyone. (That might take some spiritual rewiring.) The incident of the 10 lepers has some interesting details: the lepers maintained their distance as per Leviticus 13, Jesus affirmed the Leviticus 14 cleansing still applied before His death, and saving faith was only exercised by the Samaritan. 

Jesus replied to the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God was in their midst because He is king. He then pivoted to His second coming, warning them and us that, like Lot’s wife, we will not experience Kingdom life by looking to this sinful world for meaning. He reminds us also that His coming will be unexpected by us but will happen as surely as vultures descend on roadkill. 

PSALM 88 This Psalm represents the reality that a person can have great faith in God while experiencing no apparent blessing from or closeness with God. Let’s analyze this dichotomy:   

As we learned from our study of Job, a person of faith can experience total desolation and not know why. We do know there was good intent for Job that God in His wisdom did not share with Job. We also know that the only sinless person in history, Jesus, experienced all of the above and much more than the Psalmist because of His love for this Psalmist and all of us. We not only have His gift of eternal life, but we have His Holy Spirit indwelling us, and His word to strengthen us. We can meditate on this goodness during our times of pain and isolation.