Friday, July 10, 2009
Leviticus 16:9-10 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.
THE SCAPEGOAT
YOM KIPPUR, The Great Day of Atonement, was the highest Holy Day on the calendar God gave Old Testament Israel. This was the one and only day the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place to sprinkle the blood of certain sacrifices on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.
On this day one of the most unique pictures of the work of the coming Christ was placed before Old Testament worshippers. Two goats were presented before the people. In solemn ceremony one was chosen to have the sins of the people confessed upon its head. This Scapegoat was then led away into the desert and left in an uninhabited region--never to be seen again.
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us . . ." (Psalm 103:12).
Jesus Christ was chosen in eternity to be our Substitute, to have our sin and guilt placed upon His head--and to be led away to die. He suffered the banishment--the separation from the Father--which we by our sins deserved.
This striking picture still becomes a fact of our history when by the grace of God we personally trust in Jesus as the One who takes away the guilt of our sins.
My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head, of Thine
While like a penitent I stand
And there confess my sin.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 156:3)
