Making Sense out of Leviticus #9

Today's reading: Leviticus 16-17.

Chapter 16 covers the "Day of Atonement." Understanding this is crucial to understanding the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some, think this is yet to be - but nothing could be further from the truth. I encourage you to read Hebrews 9-10 to begin to understand this chapter.

The High Priest was to enter the Holy of Holies, with incense, and blood on one day in the year. On that day, he entered twice - once with the blood offering of the Ram for his own sin and that of his family, then the second time with incense and the blood of the sacrificed goat for the sins of the people, while the "scapegoat" went free into the wilderness. All of this is a picture of what our Lord did for us on the cross. We find in Hebrews 9: 7 "But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance." This entire celebration was a statement of grace. God was covering every mistake. He is like that. I am so grateful!

This was done for the outward cleansing of His people. Hebrews 9:9 "This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper." Then in Hebrews 9:14, "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"

Notice back in Leviticus 16, the High Priest placed his white tunic, undergarments, turban (along with bold headband - "Holy to the Lord" and sash. He did not wear the blue garment, nor the garments associated with the breastplate, nor the breastplate. These were his references to the people from God. Before God's presence, he stood as a man for men.

In chapter 17 we have a new understanding given to us about blood. It has already been commanded earlier that God's people should not eat blood, now it is explained why. 17:11, "for the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." We know from modern medicine that the interior health (or lack of it) of a person can be read through the blood. The blood contains the life. If the blood is healthy, then the life body will be healthy and of course the reverse of that is true as well.

They were never to eat the blood of any animal. We can, of course, immediately know the health issues of this, simply because of the diseases etc... that we know are carried there. The only New Testament verse we have addressing this is Acts 15:29 in the letter the Apostles wrote to the gentile Christians about what would be bound upon them from the Old Testament and its laws. We read, "You are to abstained from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things." I think that last statement should be remembered. While what we eat or drink is never the criteria by which we are saved or judged, the advice of the Apostles and elders was that we would "do well to avoid these things." I think we would be healthier if we did, but that is a matter of personal opinion.

Tomorrow's reading: Leviticus 18-19.