February 21
Lesson 12
DAY OF ATONEMENT
DEVOTIONAL READING: Hebrews 3:1–6
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Numbers 29:7–11; Leviticus 16:1–34; 23:26–32; Hebrews 7:26–28; 9:24; 10:4–18
LEVITICUS 16:11–19
11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
KEY VERSE
He shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
—Leviticus 16:16.
SACRED GIFTS AND HOLY GATHERINGS
Unit 3: Holy Days
LESSONS 10–13
LESSON AIMS
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. List the procedures that God ordained for Israel’s annual Day of Atonement.
2. Explain the concept of atonement, noting the allusions to Leviticus 16:14, 15 in New Testament texts such as Hebrews 9:7; 10:4.
3. Write a prayer of praise for the atonement for sins available only through Jesus.
LESSON OUTLINE
Introduction
A. Forgiveness
B. Lesson Background
I. Atonement for Priests (LEVITICUS 16:11–14)
A. Bull as Sin Offering (v. 11)
B. Incense for a Cloud (vv. 12, 13)
C. Blood for Sprinkling (v. 14)
II. Atonement for People, Places (LEVITICUS 16:15–17)
A. Goat as Sin Offering (v. 15a)
B. Blood for Sprinkling (v. 15b)
C. Places (v. 16)
D. Duty (v. 17)
No Exemption
III. Atonement for the Altar (LEVITICUS 16:18, 19)
A. Blood Applied to the Horns (v. 18)
B. Blood Sprinkled Seven Times (v. 19)
We, the Unclean
Conclusion
A. The Final Day of Atonement
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
Abihu Uh-bye-hew.
Babylonian Bab-ih-low-nee-unz.
Eleazar El-ih-a-zar or E-lih-a-zar.
Ephod ee-fod.
Ithamar Ith-uh-mar.
Levites Lee-vites.
Moses Mo-zes or Mo-zez.
Nadab Nay-dab.
Talmud Tahl-mood or Tal-mud.
Yahweh (Hebrew) Yah-weh.
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What Do You Think?
What can or should Christians bring to the Lord in light of sins forgiven?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Regarding tangibles similar and dissimilar to what the ancient Israelites were to bring
■ Regarding intangibles similar and dissimilar to what the ancient Israelites were to bring
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What Do You Think?
What do the meticulous instructions regarding the work of the priest on the Day of Atonement have to say about providing ministry today, if anything?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Concerning spiritual preparation
■ Concerning mental preparation
■ Concerning physical preparation
■ Other
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What Do You Think?
How does the merciful atonement extended to you by Christ affect your extension of mercy to others? How should it?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ At the office
■ In traffic
■ At home
■ Other
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What Do You Think?
What sinful uncleanliness do Christians grapple with most? How do we help them?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Regarding spiritually mature Christians
■ Regarding backsliding Christians
■ Regarding new Christians
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What Do You Think?
How can the corporate aspects of the Day of Atonement be applied to the church, if at all?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Nehemiah 9
■ Acts 19:18–20
■ Other
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