Reading
SAA Notes
The Day of Atonement comes right before the Feast of Tabernacles. It reminds us that the door to paradise (the good times after the harvest) is through being made clean in God’s sight – that is, atonement has to be made for us. Hebrews 9:23-28 reminds us that Christ did not have to offer Himself every year, but only once – He is the atonement we need!
SJA Notes
* Almighty God, there is none like You. Please teach us today from Your word.
“For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.”
The Lord spoke these words to Moses.
We read of Him giving instruction to Aaron,
“… And put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.”
We see that God put into place boundaries that both allow for the high priest to make atonement in the presence of the Lord _and_ to make it possible for the high priest not to die in the presence of the Lord.
The presence of the LORD was a powerful and significant thing.
Moses, up on the mountain, only saw the train of God’s glory – where He had been. Even that small fraction of presence was enough to alter Moses in such a way that the people were filled with fear at his own appearance (Exodus 34).
As we think on this – How much of God’s purpose we can then see in Jesus, that God would send Himself to make a full and lasting (forever) atonement as High Priest (Hebrews 9).
Jesus is the only High Priest who could enter the most holy of holies and NOT DIE.
This is our God, this is our Saviour – Hallelujah!
* Great God Above,
Creator. Sustainer. Life-giver.
Thank You for making atonement for us, Your people.
Thank You that Jesus was the once-for-all sacrifice that paid the penalty for our sin.
Amen.