So much sin . . .

 

 

READ Leviticus 13-16

This long reading is mostly about offerings for skin diseases, bodily discharges and burns, and specific instructions regarding their inspection by the priests and how they should be cleansed. Relating them to myself is a challenge. It helps to think of these problems as sin in general. The instructions hint that sin can be a surface problem and once it is brought to the Lord, it is done with. Or sin can run deeper, taking time and much examination to heal. Those of us who battle sin know this reality. Battling the uncleanness in our lives can be a mere skirmish or it can be a life-long war, depending on the depth of the problem. For all though, the solution is the same — bring it to our High Priest Jesus Christ for examination and His resolution. Confess it for what it is and submit to whatever He says must be done.

The last chapter is about the day of atonement, a once-a-year sacrifice to deal with the sins of the people. For this, God gave Aaron specific instructions. He must present a burnt offering for himself and another for the people. This was done once a year on a specific day and again, had specific instructions.

Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel. Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 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. And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. (Leviticus 16:6–16)

One would think that if the people offered sacrifices for their sin all year, why was this once-a-year sacrifice necessary? It seems redundant. However the NT gives an answer. Even though Christ fulfilled all the Old Testament promises as the High Priest and His death and resurrection provides forgiveness and eternal life once and for all, believers are still given this:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Confessing sin that I commit or become aware of keeps open my communication and fellowship with the Lord; unconfessed sin messes with that. Yes, Christ took me from slavery to sin into His kingdom and forever family, but when I sin (and the NT is clear: Christians do sin) I’ve turned away from Him simply because all sin is some form of trusting me instead of Him. The only way to turn back is by confession and repentance.

As this reading reminds me, sin takes various forms. Some of it stems from human weakness, some from deep-seated bad habits, some from inattention, and so on. But for all, the treatment is taking it to my Priest and my Lord for His examination and inviting Him to do what He alone can do — forgive and cleanse it from my life.