Two Young Goats Leviticus 16
THE big brass altar in the court of the Tabernacle had animals offered on it every day, but there was one sacrifice to be made only once each year. On that day Aaron was to bring a calf for his and his family’s sins, and the people were to bring two young goats. One goat was chosen to die for their sins; the other, called the scape goat, was kept alive. Then Aaron took a censer with live coals from the altar and pure incense in his hand, and went alone into the Holy of Holies and burned the incense at the golden mercy seat. Then he sprinkled blood on the mercy seat for his own sins, then the blood of the goat for the sins of the people. Next he was to sprinkle the brazen altar.
Afterward Aaron placed his hands on the live goat, confessed the sins of the people, then had a man lead it away to a wild land.
The little goat could not really carry away the people’s sins, but God taught them by this, that because the other goat had died, and the blood been sprinkled as He said, He would forgive their sins for the year.
This was a very solemn time, called the Atonement Day. God said,
“It is the blood that maketh atonement, for the soul” (verse 11).
People of the nation of Israel still keep this day each year, but they cannot do as God said, because they have no High Priest, no Holy of Holies, and no mercy seat. But anyone who will read in the Book of Hebrews learns that.
“Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many,” for which His people will ever thank Him.
ML 08/15/1937