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4/12 Reading Portions: Leviticus 16; Psalm 19; Proverbs 30; 1 Timothy 1
Leviticus 16:21
And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
CONFESSION
On the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, among the several things the high priest does in the tabernacle, and the temple later, is to cast lots upon two male goats. One is selected for sacrifice to Yehovah God, and the other is selected for Azazel. The latter is the scapegoat, or literally, “goat of departure.” Once the first is sacrificed, the high priest lays both his hands on the head of the live goat, the Azazel, and confesses over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel. Both goats reflect the forgiving power of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sacrificial goat slain for YHVH God foreshadows the crucifixion of the Christ upon Calvary’s tree. In trusting Christ for His sacrifice, we have salvation and the forgiveness of sins. The second goat, the live Azazel, foreshadows the reality that, though we are saved by God’s grace, the corruptions of mortal flesh still remain, and we do sin. When we sin, we must confess those sins. It’s not an automatic thing. The high priest’s laying his hands upon the head of Azazel reflects a conscious, willful act in confessing. Likewise, as royal priests in Christ’s kingdom, our confession of sins is like laying our hands upon the thorn scarred head of our precious Lord Jesus, spiritually speaking. Oh, what depths of riches and heights of joy are the eternal provisions supplied in our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is as the beloved apostle writes,
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The details of God’s blest supply
Found in His holy Word,
Exalts Christ Jesus upon high,
With grace, to us, outpour’d.