NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.
Bible Passages: Leviticus 16:1-10, 29-30
Discussion Questions:
- Where do you go to connect with God? What makes that spot so special for you?
- How does our culture view sin and its consequences?
- What does it say about God’s character that He has provided a way for us to repent and be forgiven of our sins?
Food for Thought:
Remember living rooms? These were always separate from a family room or den. The living room was used only for special occasions. It always had the nicest furniture in the house, furniture the kids were not to play on! In most houses, the living room was set off by itself, typically behind closed doors. You knew if the doors were all open and the lamps were turned on, someone special was coming over, somebody your parents considered an honored guest. And if you were allowed in, you knew to be on your best behavior.
Earlier in Leviticus 10, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu had approached God without proper respect. As a result, He put them to death.
In Leviticus 16, God gave Moses instructions related to the holy of holies, the most sacred place in the tabernacle.
Even as the high priest, Aaron could not approach God anytime he wanted. Aaron could only go behind the curtain into God’s presence once a year on the Day of Atonement. On that single day, he could enter the most holy place, where the Ark of the Covenant rested, to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat for the people’s forgiveness.
When Aaron entered the most holy place, he had to bring a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. These animals would serve as Aaron’s sacrifices for his own sin. He could not come to God on behalf of the people until he had dealt with his own sin first.
After Aaron offered a sacrifice for himself, another offering came “from the Israelite community” (v. 5). This included two male goats. One of the goats would be slain as a sacrifice, while the other (a scapegoat) would be driven out of the camp.
The need for atonement is based on humans’ sinfulness and God’s holiness. Our sin separates us from God and renders us deserving of wrath. But God’s love compelled Him to provide a means of forgiveness and reconciliation. Aaron would put his hands on one goat’s head and confess Israel’s sins. Then this scapegoat would be driven into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sin. The other goat would be slaughtered. This action pointed to the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Messiah, for our sins.
The Day of Atonement was to be observed as a “permanent statute” (16:29). It was the only required day of fasting on the Hebrew calendar. Because Christ’s death has made atonement for our sins, we do not have to live with a spiritual chasm between us and God. He has graciously made a way for sinful people to find forgiveness and reconciliation.
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life connects the Bible to life for adults, students, and kids. Bible Studies for Life helps individuals and groups know God’s Word through trustworthy content, creates biblical community through engaging and conversational group studies, and helps people engage the culture missionally by unpacking what the Bible says about real-life issues. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife.
