HIGH PRIEST PROTECTON Aaron would take a full censer of coals of fire from the altar and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil. A cloud or smokescreen was to form between the high priest and the mercy seat (top of the ark) to prevent death Offer the goat to make atonement for the Holy Place

Leviticus 16

The deaths of Nadab and Abihu necessitated regulations for the protection of those coming into God’s presence. According to verse 2 -3 Aaron could not enter the “Holy of Holies” EXCEPT on “the Day of Atonement”.

Day of Atonement Breakdown The HP was to bring a BULL from the heard for a SIN offering and a ram for a burnt offering. (v. 3) The HP prepared himself by WASHING completely and dressing IN the manner God ordained. These were the “sacred vestments” (v. 4) The HP would get two male goats from the CHURCH for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Day of Atonement Breakdown One bull was a sin offering to make atonement for himself and his house (v. 6, 11) Two GOATS would be brought to the Tent of Meeting and “lots would be cast” One goat would belong to the LORD as a sin offering. One goat would belong to AZAZEL. Azazel – departing goat or escape goat. In modern Hebrew to the word means “go to hell”

The Escape Goat – Transferring of Sins And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness..

A COMMANDMENT Forever The Day of Atonement was celebrated on the 10 th day of the 7 th month. It was a day to be cleansed from all of our sins It was also to be a day of Solemn REST. Each year this statute was to be repeated for the whole community.

Our Day of Atonement

Leviticus 17 – 19 The Place of Sacrifice Laws Against Eating Blood Unlawful Sexual Relations The Lord is Holy Love Your Neighbor Keep God’s Statutes

The Place of Sacrifice Outside the Tabernacle, God constituted the ritual sacrifice of animals and disposal of their blood a capital crime. Only those sacrifices commanded by God and offered at the entrance to the tent of meeting were permitted. God proclaims His dwelling place as the exclusive place for sacrifices.

The Place of Sacrifice God does not want His people running after false Gods. Today we strive to avoid every association with false idols and acts of idolatry. For it is Jesus alone that atones for our sins of idolatry with His precious blood and can only be received by his means (Word and Sacrament).

Laws Against Eating Blood If anyone of the house of Israel or of the aliens among your eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have give it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

What’s The WORST THING that could happen to an Israelite?

Laws Against Eating Blood The Israelites and those who came among them as STRANGERS were permitted to hunt birds and animals to supplement their diets. The BLOOD from these birds and animals were DRAINED on the ground and covered with earth. God forbids the wanton KILLING of birds and animals. God desires that all life be RESPECTED

LIVE DIFFERENTLY And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statues. You shall follow my rules and keep my statues and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 18:1 – 4

God’s View of Sex God is going to detail the sexual practices He REJECTS, in order that the Israelites might live before Him in purity, unlike the Egyptians and Canaanites. Because of their sexual practices, Canaan, the land promised to the Israelites, is defiled, and their people will soon be “vomited out” of the land as God leads the Israelites in. (see v. 25)

The KEY Sexual Behaviors to AVOID Incest (v. 6 – 16) Adultery (v. 17 – 18; 20) Sacrificial Idolatry (v. 21) Homosexuality (v. 22) Bestiality (v. 23)

God’s View of Sex Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things…for everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 18:24, 29 – 30

The LORD is Holy And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, “You shall be HOLY, for I the LORD your God am Holy. Everyone one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves god of cast metal: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:1 - 4

God’s Common Sense Approach to Life – LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR Don’t STEAL (19:11) Don’t DEAL FALSELY with others (19:11) Don’t LIE to one another (19:11) Don’t swear by MY NAME FALSLEY (19:12) Don’t OPPRESS your NEIGHBOR (19:13) Don’t HARM the HANDICAP (19:14) Don’t commit INJUSTICE in the courts (19:15) Don’t SLANDER other people (19:16)

KEEP GOD’S STATUTES Various statutes or rules to live by when the PEOPLE of GOD entered the promise land These were nothing NEW They simply were reminders of God had called them to live as his chosen people, holy and set-apart by God.