Scapegoat Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16:1-2 "And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron when they offered before the Lord and died; And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat."

Outline:

v1 How the high priest must enter into the holy place
v11 The sin offering for himself
v15 The sin offering for the people
v20 The scapegoat
v29 The yearly feast of the expiations (expiate: to give satisfaction, atone) (atonement)

The high priest was not exempt from sin. He too must have his sin atoned for to stand before a holy God.

v3 "Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering."

A couple of chapters ago, two of Aaron's sons had died because they did not follow the procedures set down by the Lord. A sinful man cannot stand before a holy God. He must first have his sins atoned for.

Perhaps, since they were priest, there was a certain casualiness about walking around inside making preparations. In verse two caution is given. "...for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat." the Lord told them. It was not just during ceremonies that the Lord showed up. I feel from this passage that he often appeared upon the mercy seat at unannounced times. He had said that he would dwell with the people.

So the priest were not to just casually wonder around in the holy place. They could not wonder in as if saying 'Oh I forgot my lunch in there.' They must have respect for the place at all times for the Lord surely would be there.

Procedure was to be followed at all times.

v4 "He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on."

Again, the priest cannot just run in from a trip to the country, throw on his priestly garments
and dash into the holy place. He must wash himself before dressing in the holy garments. There was no place in the holy place for uncleanness or casualness.

v5 "And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering."

Two goats are brought.

v9-10 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be a scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him gofor a scapegoat into the wilderness."

v14 "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."

The one goat is then killed for a sin offering and the live goat goes off into an unihabited wilderness.

v22 "And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness."

These actions are types which help us understand the New Testament. The goat killed is a type of the sacrifice of death for our sins suffered by Christ while the living Goat is a type of our sins being taken away from the presences of God. The priest represents Christ entering the holy place of heaven with his own blood to atone for our sins. The veil was removed by Christ death and we can now enter 'boldly' before the throne of grace and confess our sins knowing we will find forgiveness because of the shed blood of Jesus. I John 1:9 .

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: or I shall yet praise him for the help of is countenance."