Week 9: Scapegoat

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14
• Monday: Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16
• Tuesday: Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17
• Wednesday: Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18
• Thursday: Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19
• Friday: Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21
• Saturday: Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Leviticus:

Scripture: Leviticus 16:6-10

6 "Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats--one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.

Observation:
Every year, the people of Israel had to designate one day of complete rest and restoration. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement ("Yom Kippur" in Hebrew), the LORD would cleanse his people from all their sins (v.30). Two goats had to be chosen: one as a sacrifice, the other as a "scapegoat". You wonder why it wasn't enough to just sacrifice the one goat, and let its blood symbolize the atonement for sin. Well, I think the other goat is a beautiful symbol of "life" that comes with the atonement. The LORD showed that if atonement was made (symbolized by the death and blood of the one goat), then He would remember the people's sin no more, and they would go free (symbolized by the scapegoat). Yes, the main purpose of the scapegoat was to carry the sin of the people to a desolate place, the goat that would escape/be removed ("Azazel" in Hebrew), see vs. 20-22. But this goat is also the one that lived! He escaped death so to speak. He was free!

Application:
In a very similar way, Jesus took the penalty for our sin. Because of his death and the blood shed on the cross, we, his people can go free. Our sins are cast away to the most desolate place, and we inherit life eternal. We are free! Perhaps the idea of a scapegoat is more positive than you would think at first...

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace and mercy. We thank you that you see us through eyes of atonement. Our sins, though many, will be cast to the most desolate place. Thank you for the freedom you have given us in Jesus Christ. Let us never take that for granted. In His name we pray. Amen.

Have a wonderful week of scripture reading.

In Christ,

Dick