THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

0. Introduction

a) Feasts played a major role in Israel's culture. Israel's feasts were different from those of any other nation because, being ordained by God, they were times of celebrating with him, not times of moral depravity. God wanted to set aside special days for the people to come together for rest, refreshment, and remembering with thanksgiving all he had done for them.

b) Besides enjoying one Sabbath day of rest each week, the Israelites also enjoyed 19 days when national holidays were celebrated. 

1. The Day of Atonement (1 day)

i) ²⁶ And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ²⁷ “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. ²⁸ And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹ For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. ³⁰ And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. ³¹ You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. ³² It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.” (Leviticus 23:26-32 NKJV)  

2. What it celebrated

i) The removal of sin from the people and the nation.

3. Its importance

i) Restored fellowship with God.

4. What is the text all about?

a) The day of Atonement in the bible is a feast day called yom kippur, which followed 10 days after rosh hashana (new year) upon which the high priest placed his hands upon the scapegoat to transfer all of the sins of the people of Israel to the scapegoat who was then set free to wander in the wilderness, taking the sins of the people with him.

b) Also on that day was the only day in which the high priest went into the holy of holies in the tabernacle. That was the place where the presence of God dwelt.

c) All of that was fulfilled in the atoning blood of Jesus who took upon himself the sin of the entire world like the scape goat, and took all of that sin to hell with him when he died, and left it there when he arose from the dead.