February 6
Leviticus 16–18
Scripture Text: Leviticus 16:1–18:30
Series: Read the Bible in a Year
Our reading today begins with the annual Day of Atonement when Aaron makes sacrifices for the entire community. He makes sacrifices to cleanse the sanctuary, the tent of meeting, and the altar. He makes sacrifices to atone for his own sins and for and the entire congregation. The final sacrifice was the ritual placing of the sins of the people upon the scapegoat (escape goat) and releasing it into the wilderness, carrying the sins of the people far away from the camp. These sacrifices allowed the people to be in the presence of God who abided with them in a cloud over the mercy seat.
We may think of Jesus, the scapegoat for our sins, who bore away the sins the world, and becoming the way for believers to come into God's presence.
Chapter 17 makes it clear that the only place where sacrifices may be offered is the place where he dwells. This may be couple with Romans 12:1–2 which speaks of Christians being living sacrices, for the God's Spirit now dwells within us (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The rest of the reading is God's laws prohibiting the eating of blood and acts of sexual impurity.
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Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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