Sermon # 681 Leviticus Sermons
Title: The
Scapegoat
Text: Leviticus 16:8
Introduction:
(Leviticus 16:8) "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat."
The most important and most instructive of
all the typical ceremonies of the Old Testament was The Day Of Atonement.—The
day of atonement pictured, foreshadowed, and typified the sin-atoning work of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our great High Priest, our substitutionary Sacrifice
for sin, our Scapegoat, our Altar, and our Mercy-Seat, through whom alone
sinners have access to and find acceptance with the Holy Lord God.
What the prophets
proclaimed, the psalmists sang, the apostles preached and what the Savior did,
here takes a shape, and through the eye impresses the soul. Faith looks at each
type and event sees our Savior. Each sight gives being to some text.
Mercy and Truth
In order for the holy Lord God to deal with sinful
men in mercy, grace, and peace, without compromising his character and
violating his justice, there had to be a day of atonement. A holy, just, and
true God could never allow fallen, sinful man to live before him, unless a
suitable atonement is made for man’s sin. Justice must be vindicated. Sin must
be punished. Else, God and man can never come together in peace. Therefore, God
ordained that a day of atonement be observed in Israel once a year, as a
picture and pledge of the great day of atonement to be accomplished at Calvary
by the slaying of the Lamb of God for the redemption of God’s elect.
The Lord God gave Moses meticulous, detailed
instructions about how the Day of Atonement was to be observed in this 16th
chapter of Leviticus.
1.
The
Day of Atonement was ordained and initiated by God himself – No
human invention (Job 33:24).
(Job 33:24) "Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."
2.
The
Day of Atonement was set for a specific time each year (v. 29) - “The
seventh month, on the tenth day of the month.” God’s great day of
atonement was set, fixed, appointed, and determined by God himself – “Mine
hour.”— “When the fullness of time was come.”—“Father, the hour is come.”—Nothing
was left to chance!
3.
There
was only one day of atonement each year.—Christ was to make only
one offering for sin.—“Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to
put away sin by the sacrifice of himself…Christ was once offered to bear the
sins of many” (Heb. 9:26, 28).
4.
The sacrifices offered on the Day of Atonement were only typical. They could never put away
sin. Hebrews 10:1-4.
5.
All these typical, ceremonial sacrifices were fulfilled by Christ and
have ceased because Christ fulfilled them. Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 – “No more offering
for sin.”
6.
All
was done for a specific, chosen people and resulted in God’s blessing upon
those people.
Two Victims
On this day many victims
died. The stream of blood flowed deep. Each holy altar and each holy place
received the reconciling sign. This visible display attests, that death is the
dread curse of sin. Each sacrifice proclaims, that substitute’s sufferings are
effectual and satisfying. Sounding this truth, they are as heralds that precede
the Lord. If such be not their intent, they would only puzzles to perplex and
confuse.
But year after year these
shadowy rites recurred. Their note was to predict. They were as morning stars
of a far brighter sun. The law and its types are now dead. They have now
vanished. The cross of Christ dug their grave. Their need is past. The temple’s
veil is rent. The way into the most holy place is open.
Christ, their full truth,
has once laid down His life. That once is all-sufficient for all the sins of
all His happy flock. That once fills to the full the cup of satisfaction. That
once seats all the ransomed on the high rock of everlasting pardon. “There
is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” There
is no more offering for sin, no more sacrifice, no more curse, no more
condemnation!
Two
Goats
But in the service of the
atoning day, one part stands singularly forth, and singularly asks survey. Two
goats are brought for a sin offering. The priest receives them at the
tabernacle door. Then lots are cast. No man makes the choice. By his unseen
hand of choice in the lot, the Lord God takes one for death, and bids the other
live as the Scapegoat.
The scene reveals the
council of eternal love.—Before the worlds, God's will called his own dear Son
to the saving work. Each portion of the scheme was resolved and fixed by divine
purpose and arrangement. Each was consigned to His receiving hands. This truth
is precious comfort. They, who feel sin, need much to win their trust. They
will not grasp a straw. Without credentials, Christ seeks their heart in vain.
But when the Father ushers in the Son—when His voice seals the chosen Lamb—then
pyramids of doubt sink low and dissolve. He, whom God sends, is able for God's
work. This rock is raised by God. It is enough. It must stand firm. What sinner
can ask more? Let’s look at the work of this great day.
The
Priest
The atonement was made by a specifically appointed
man, Aaron, the great high priest of Israel—The great high priest (v. 3).
(Leviticus
16:3) "Thus shall Aaron come into
the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a
burnt offering."
A. He was a chosen man.
(Psalms
89:19) "Then thou spakest in
vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen out of the people."
(Isaiah
42:1-4) "Behold my servant, whom I
uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit
upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (2) He shall
not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (3) A
bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he
shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (4) He shall not fail nor be
discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait
for his law."
B. He was robed in garments of humility (v. 4).
(Leviticus
16:4) "He 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."
On this great day Aaron laid aside his gorgeous,
glorious garments and put on the garments of humility.— No Bells And
Pomegranates!
(2
Corinthians 8:9) "For ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
(Philippians
2:5-11) "Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no
reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
(11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
C. Israel’s great high priest was a ceremonially
holy man (vv.
3, 4, 6, 11, 12).
(Leviticus
16:3-4) "Thus shall Aaron come
into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram
for a burnt offering. (4) He 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."
(Leviticus
16:6) "And Aaron shall offer his
bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement
for himself, and for his house."
(Leviticus
16:11-12) "And Aaron shall bring
the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an
atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin
offering which is for himself: (12) And he shall take a censer
full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands
full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil."
Though Aaron was a sinner like us, he had to be a
ceremonially holy man to act as God’s high priest, picturing the Lord Jesus
Christ. In order to approach God as the high priest of his people, Aaron
had to have in type, and Christ had to have in reality, these four things…
1.
Personal cleanness – Aaron bathed his flesh in
water. Christ had no sin.
2.
Holy garments – Linen garments, garments
woven by the hands of a man. Christ’s righteous obedience to God as our
Representative (John 17:4).
3.
Divine approval – The incense smoke
pictures Christ is a sweet-smelling savor to God – Meritorious! – This incense
also portrays Christ’s intercession1 for us
(Rom. 8:34). We are accepted because of God’s approval of our Substitute!
4.
Blood atonement – Aaron could not come into
the Holy of Holies without blood. – Christ could not obtain eternal redemption
for us without his own blood (Heb. 9:12).
D. In all his work on the Day of Atonement Aaron
acted alone (v. 17).
(Leviticus
16:17) "And there shall be no man
in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in
the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for
himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel."
No one else was present. No one was allowed into the
holy of holies but Aaron. Aaron was alone with God to make atonement for the
people. The whole nation was entrusted to one representative man. The
whole nation rested upon the shoulders of one man. If that man
succeeds, the nation shall live. If he fails, the nation must die!
(Psalms
69:20) "Reproach hath broken my
heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity,
but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none."
(Isaiah
63:3-5) "I have trodden the
winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will
tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be
sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. (4) For the
day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
(5) And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there
was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and
my fury, it upheld me."
In all things, Aaron, the high priest, typified our
great, sin-atoning High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s Goat
Next, let’s read verses 5, 7-10. We will consider
the meaning of the scapegoat in a few minutes. Right now I want you to get a
picture of the goat that was slain
as a victim for a sin-offering to God.—This goat represents the Lord Jesus
Christ as the Lamb of God. Christ is both our High Priest and our Sacrificial
Lamb, the victim, not of man’s will, but of God’s justice!
(Leviticus
16:5) "And 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."
(Leviticus
16:7-10) "And he shall take the
two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation. (8) And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats;
one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. (9) And Aaron
shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a
sin offering. (10) But 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."
A. It was an innocent victim.
B. It was taken from among the people.
Divine justice must be avenged upon and compensation
must be made by man, for man sinned.
C. It was chosen and ordained by God (vv. 7-9—Pro. 16:33; Acts
2:23; 4:26-28; 13:29).
(Leviticus
16:7-9) "And he shall take the two
goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one
lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall
bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin
offering."
(Proverbs
16:33) "The lot is cast into the
lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD."
(Acts
2:23) "Him, being delivered by the
determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain:"
(Acts
4:26-28) "The kings of the earth
stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against
his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou
hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people
of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and
thy counsel determined before to be done."
(Acts
13:29) "And when they had
fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree,
and laid him in a sepulchre."
D. It was slain by Divine order as a sacrifice
for sin (v.
15; Zech. 13:7).
(Leviticus
16:15) "Then shall he kill the
goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood
within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the
bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:"
(Zechariah
13:7) "Awake, O sword, against my
shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of
hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn
mine hand upon the little ones."
Thus the Lord Jesus Christ our Substitute, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed for us…
1.
A
Sacrifice of infinite merit.
2.
A
Sacrifice for a particular people – “The Israel of God.”
3.
A
Sacrifice that actually made atonement and put away sin.
(Galatians
3:13-14) "Christ hath redeemed us
from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of
Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive
the promise of the Spirit through faith."
(Hebrews
10:11-14) "And every priest
standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which
can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one
sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From
henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by
one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
E. The blood of this slain goat was sprinkled
upon the mercy seat seven times (vv. 14-15)
(Leviticus
16:14-15) "And he shall take of
the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy
seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with
his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin
offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil,
and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it
upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:"
·
A
Covering—To Hide
·
A
Propitiation—To Cancel
·
A
Reconciliation—To Unite
Having died in our place, the Lord Jesus Christ
entered immediately into heaven itself and offered to God the merits of his own
precious blood, obtaining eternal redemption for us!
1.
His
sacrifice was perfect and complete.
2.
His
sacrifice was final and accepted.
3.
His
sacrifice made a way of access for sinners to come to God.
(Hebrews
9:12) "Neither by the blood of
goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us."
(Hebrews 10:19-22)
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having
an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
Illustration: The Rent Veil (Matt. 27:50-51).
(Matthew
27:50-51) "Jesus, when he had
cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the
veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth
did quake, and the rocks rent;"
4.
His
sacrifice is of infinite, perpetual merit.
·
Romans
8:32-35
·
2
Corinthians 5:18-21
·
1
John 2:1-2
Both the high priest and the slain victim represent the Lord Jesus, who is both our Savior Priest and our Sacrifice, the Lamb of God sacrificed for us.
The Blood
The sentenced goat died. It
was violently slaughtered. Its blood was spilt at the altar, caught in a bowl,
carried by the holy hands of a holy man into the holy place, and sprinkled upon
the mercy-seat. Now mark, my soul, the uses of its blood. With
this the high-priest ventures within the mystic veil. The mercy-seat receives
the drops. The holy tent is also strewn throughout. Seven times the golden
altar's horns are touched.
·
Seven
times, portraying our great need.
·
Seven
times, portraying God’s infinite perfection.
·
Seven
times, portraying God’s fulness of grace.
·
Seven
times, portraying complete atonement.
Our
Great Need
How fearful, yet how
comforting, this sight! Great is our need! Greater is Christ’s fulness! Where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound! Man cannot move, but sin moves with him. Yet, man
cannot move beyond the reach of Christ’s blood. There is wide remedy for the
wide malady.
God’s
Great Provision
Hear the Gospel of this
blood-red scene. Blood is our purchase-price. Justice has claims. The law has dues.
Our debts are countless. Every breath swells the amount. How can we buy our
souls from wrath? Our best is only sin. But let all creditors bring forth their
books. Christ sprinkles every page. The dreadful writing disappears. Let heaven
suspend its scales. Sin's load is an exceedingly great weight. But here is
blood—Divine Blood!—Precious Blood!—Christ’s Blood! It outweighs the debt!
(1
Pet 1:18-20) "Forasmuch as ye know
that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
(19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation
of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."
Praise the Lord for full salvation!
God still reigns upon the throne!
And I know the blood still reaches
Deeper than the stain has gone!
Reconciliation
The blood is our peace. Sin seen in its true
light—sin felt in its strong, damning power—is misery's misery, and anguish
more than scorpion's sting. The broken heart is a dungeon of woe. The wounded
conscience writhes, and cannot rest. But when the Spirit sprinkles the blood,
all dread forebodings cease. It proves, that peace is signed in heaven. It
waves an olive-branch throughout the soul. It places pardon in the happy hand.
Sin
Slain
The blood has a sin-killing
power.
It disarms Satan and slays sin. Sin is a weed with many roots. They spread
everywhere, and ever strive to rise. But touch them with the blood. Let the
heart feel, that sin slew Christ, and nailed the God-man to the accursed tree.
How can that now be loved, which pierced that brow, those hands—those feet—that
side? A holy feeling shudders at the thought. It clasps the Savior, and treads
down His foe.
Accuser
Silenced
The blood drives Satan back. There is no place
impervious to his tread. There is no moment free from his approach. No palace,
and no hut exclude. He has a key for every chamber—every pew. No busy hours are
too full for him; no stillness is too still. Nothing can daunt him, but this
blood. The messengers of wrath passed not the lintels marked from the paschal
lamb. So when this ensign is displayed, temptation starts and flees. The
fiend of hell is a vanquished foe. The dragon is slain. The roaring lion has no
power to hurt.
(Rom
8:28-33) "And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then
say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
(32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay
any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
Law
Silenced
The blood silences the law
and the tormenting conscience of guilty souls, and bars hell. Those cells cannot admit a
blood-washed soul. If it be possible, let such approach. The chains refuse to
touch. The fires curl back abashed. The gnawing worm can find no prey. The
jailor drops his keys. My soul, see to it, that this blood is yours. It is sure
safeguard against hell-pains.
(Rom
8:34-39) "Who is he that
condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who
is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As
it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord."
(1 Pet 4:1)
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh
hath ceased from sin."
Heaven
Opened
The blood removes the
hindrances to heaven, opens a Door in heaven, robs the grave and hell of its
prey, and brings ransomed sinners to glory. Behold the countless
multitudes before the throne. All nations, kindreds, people, and tongues swell
the vast throng. But every robe is white, and every hand uplifts a palm. The
question was raised, "Whence came they?" The answer tarried
not. "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb." My soul, is not your one desire to join this company, and
share their joy? See to it, that this blood is yours. No other cleansing can
remove the heaven-expelling guilt.
The blood fills heaven with
songs.
The ransomed fall before the Lamb. This is the substance of their mighty song.
"Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood."
Angels swell the strain, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain."
My soul, is time fast bearing you to raise this chorus higher? It is so, if
this blood is yours. They cannot sing above, who have not washed on earth.
The
Scapegoat
Look at the scene again. It
changes. There is a great message in the lost scapegoat.
(Leviticus
16:20-22) "And 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: 21 And 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: 22 And the goat shall bear
upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go
the goat in the wilderness."
The other goat appears. This goat also portrays
our Savior. The other goat portrays him as the Lamb slain. This scapegoat
portrays him as the buried Substitute. The scapegoat is a picture of the
complete removal of our sins by Christ. The first goat, the Lord’s goat, the
slain victim gave us a picture of the atonement. The second goat, the scapegoat
gives us a picture of the result of the atonement.
With anxious eye the multitude
intently gaze. It is a moment big with results. The high priest comes. His
outstretched hands are pressed upon its head. This gesture is token of
transmitted guilt. He then tells out the fearful catalogue of Israel's sins. In
sign the substitute receives the mass of sin. What a deep feeling would pervade
the camp! How many lightened hearts would say, 'My burden leaves me. The
Scapegoat takes it, and I am relieved.'
A
Fit Man
The laden victim is then led
away by a fit man. That fit man is the Judge of all the earth who must do
right, the very justice of God. The scapegoat is borne beyond the camp—beyond
all sight—beyond the track of man—to the far borders of a desert wild.
Released, it disappears in rocks and thickets of an uninhabited desert. Unseen,
unknown, forgotten, it departs from mortal view. It is now buried in oblivion's
land.
Full
Pardon
There is no brighter picture
of the full pardon of all sin in Christ. Faith knows this Scapegoat well. Daily
it uses the relief. It hides no sin. It cloaks no guilt. It tells out all upon
the head of Christ. Thus have I done. Such is my wretched state. But I cast all
on one, who waits to bear, and bears it far away. Christ hastens away with the
accursed load, and God's all-searching eye can no more find.
Oh precious tidings! Oh
heart-cheering truth. The spirit wills, that this full comfort should most
largely flow, and hence by frequent testimony He confirms the truth. Is the
east distant from the west? Can we move through the intervening space? As
we advance the horizon still recedes. Infinite separation infinitely separates.
Thus far our Scapegoat bears our guilt away (Ps. 103:12; Mic. 7:19).
(Psa
103:12) "As far as the east is
from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
(Micah
7:19) "He will turn again, he will
have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all
their sins into the depths of the sea."
Can we recover what the
ocean buries?
No line can reach to the unmeasured depths. It has sunk downward, never to
arise. Deep waters hide it, and it must be hidden. Such is the grave of sin.
Our Scapegoat drowns it in a fathomless abyss. The word is sure. "Thou
wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Mic. 7:19).
Can that be seen, from which
the eye is turned? Are objects visible, when the front shuns them? Our
Scapegoat hides transgression in the distant rear. Is it not said, "You
have cast all my sins behind your back?"
(Isa
38:17) "Behold, for peace I
had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from
the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back."
Who has not seen a mass of
blackening clouds? They threaten to wrap all the skies in one vast midnight of
darkness. But suddenly the rays of sun dart forth. The darkness melts, the
gathered mists are gone, and one clear robe of transparent blue decks the pure
arch of heaven! Thus when Christ shines upon the mountains of our guilt, they
vanish, and no eye can behold them. It is so. Hear the Spirit's voice, "I
have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and as a cloud your
sins" (Is. 44:22). The thick cloud of my guilt is gone, for the Sun of
Righteousness has risen upon my soul with healing beneath his wings!
The tender Shepherd seeks
each straying sheep. He never rests, until all are found. But no search finds His
people's sins. A land of infinite forgetfulness conceals them. Mark
well the word, "In those days, and in that time, says the Lord, the
iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none: and the sins
of Judah, and they shall not be found, for I will pardon the remnant I spare"
(Jer. 50:20).
The covenant of grace has
precious articles. They are all wonder, wisdom, and love. The Father plans
them—the blood of Christ obtains—the Spirit is the seal. This code declares,
"I will remember their sin no more" (Jer. 31:34). The
Scapegoat ordinance confirms the truth. Redemption is holiness imputed—sins
forgotten.
Do you need comfort. Drink
deeply of this stream of joy. Live pondering this gospel type. Lie down in
pastures of delight. Your sins, so many, vile, and hateful, pass to your
Scapegoat, and so pass away. God has thus transferred them. Christ thus removed
them. God sees you in the glories of His Son, and thus sees no defect.
(Psalms
32:1-2) "Blessed is he
whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and
in whose spirit there is no guile."
(Romans
4:8) "Blessed is the man to
whom the Lord will not impute sin."
The People’s
Response.
At the close of the day, when the work of atonement
was finished, Aaron took off his linen garments and put on his glorious,
gorgeous garments again. Then, on the basis of atonement made, he lifted up his
hands and blessed the people (Numbers 6:24-26).
(Numbers
6:24-27) "The LORD bless thee, and
keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious
unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee
peace. 27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I
will bless them."
When the people saw what God did for them, they had
a threefold response.
A. They repented – “Ye shall afflict your
souls” (v.
29).
·
Psalm
51:1-5
B. They rested – “Ye shall do no work at all”
(v. 29).
Illustration: The Sabbath (Heb. 4:9-10).
C. They rejoiced (Lev. 25:9). Jubilee
proclaims…
(Leviticus
25:9) "Then shalt thou cause the
trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month,
in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your
land."
·
Liberty!
·
The
Clearing Of All Debt!
·
Restoration!
Now, let us each perform The Act of Faith symbolized in
verses 21 and 22.
I call upon each of you to join me in the act of faith symbolized on the Day of Atonement. – Lay your hands upon Christ the Scapegoat’s head, confess your sins. Now, watch them go away!
Illustration: Charlotte Elliot – “Just As
I Am”
Have your hands touched the
Scapegoat's head? If not, your loathsome load remains. Christ, and Christ only can
relieve. But Christ neglected is all sin retained. And sin retained is filth
and shame. What if death finds you so? What! Oh! learn not the reply in hell.
Amen.
1 (Romans 8:34) "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that
died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us."
1 Taken from A Message by Henry Law on Leviticus 16:8
Danville Sunday Morning – July 27, 2003
Rock Creek Baptist Church, N. Wilkesboro, NC (Wednesday PM—08/12/03)
Tape # X-65b
Readings: Ron Wood and Merle Hart