6 February | EVERYONE
“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord." Leviticus 16: 29,30
You can hear the song of the people. Prayers are lifted to heaven as the repentant Israelites gather in the temple courtyard. No one works on this day. They are only engaged in the worship and contrition of the soul. It is a very solemn day. It is the Day of Atonement. A day that illustrated the final divine solution to the problem of sin. The tabernacle was cleansed. Both the holy place and the holy of holies. “So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins" (Leviticus 16:16).
Why was the sanctuary contaminated? Because of Israel's impurities, transgressions, and sins. Remember that the sins confessed in the daily ritual were transferred to the sanctuary by the blood sprinkled on the altar. On the Day of Atonement, all these sins were symbolically removed from the sanctuary. It regained its original purity. It was completely free from any blemish and, in this sense, symbolized the day when the universe will finally be free from the horrible stain of sin.
What did God expect of His people on that day? “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord” (23:27). For Israel, it was a day of judgment and a day of grace. The people only needed to trust God through the intercession of the high priest.
On the cross of Calvary, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, was sacrificed, and today, Jesus, our High Priest, intercedes for us in the heavenly sanctuary. Today is our Day of Atonement. Let us confidently approach the throne of His grace. Humanly, we feel that we only deserve death. We all sin, but Jesus intercedes for those who trust in Him and His atoning sacrifice so that we may have abundant life.
Take Action
Tell God today about your mistakes and sins in the certainty that Jesus is in the heavenly sanctuary as a high priest ready to listen to you and fill you with peace.