Why All These Rules?

Daily Reading: Leviticus 16

Scripture Focus: And the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:2)

Devotional Thought: Health professionals want you to visit patients in the hospital. They know that people who receive care and attention from family members heal more quickly and more completely. But, if you have ever visited in the ICU, you know that - though they want you to be there - you have to follow their rules to get in!

This chapter of Leviticus details the process for the Day of Atonement that was to occur once a year for the sins of the Israelite people. It was a very complex process that had to be done exactly right for the Lord to accept the offering from Aaron, the high priest. It was also a very dangerous process for Aaron. He was required to be completely ceremonially clean to appear in the Most Holy Place before the Lord, or risk his own death.

This may seem extreme to us now, and perhaps even unfair to Aaron. But, this more than anything can highlight for us the amazing privilege given to us through Christ to enter into God’s presence without this cleansing process. When Jesus was crucified, the veil in the Temple was torn in half. This was no coincidence, but a clear indication of our freedom to stand before the throne of the Lord with complete confidence in the sufficiency of Christ’s blood to cover and cleanse us.

We should not do so with a cavalier attitude. The Lord’s standards for holiness have not changed. On our own, we would still be bound to follow every letter and intention of the Law to approach our Creator. Let us in humility, gratefully accept the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, and stand before our God with wonder and holy reverence.

Jenny

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your amazing love for us, that you were willing to lay down your life - a life of innocence and perfection - to clothe us with your own righteousness.

Psalm of the Day: 1 Be not silent, O God of my praise! 2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. 3 They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. 4 In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. 5 So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. (Psalms 109:1-5)