'Thus we
see that the idea of substitutionary sacrifice, or vicarious death, was not
confined to the Hebrews, but was recognized wherever the efficacy of sacrifices
was acknowledged, which must have been revealed immediately after the fall of
man.
Passing
over many instances of the use of the word, we turn to Lev. 16, to the
prescribed order on the day of atonement, which specially typified the work of
our High Priest and Saviour.
On the
tenth day of the seventh month, the
high priest made an atonement for all the people. The Lord fixed it as a
statute, “to make an atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins
once a year.” Verses 29, 34.
First, he
made an atonement for himself and for his house, that he might appear sinless
before God when he stood for the people.
But this
first act did not typify anything in the work of Christ, for Paul says he was
separate from sinners, and therefore need not offer for himself. Heb. 7:26, 27.
Heb
7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Heb
7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice,
first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when
he offered up himself.
As the
high priest entered the most holy place on the day of atonement, it will be
necessary to take a brief view of the sanctuary to understand this work. The
book of Exodus, commencing with chapter 25, contains an order from the Lord to
make him a sanctuary, with a full description thereof, together with the
formula for anointing the priests and inducting them into their office. The
sanctuary was an oblong building, divided into two parts; the first room was
called the holy, which was entered by a door or vail on the east side. The
second part was called the most holy, which had no outside entrance, but was
- 129 - J.
H. Waggoner
entered by
a door or vail at the back or west end of the holy, called “the second vail.”
The
articles made and placed in the sanctuary were an ark of wood overlaid with
gold, and a mercy-seat, which was the cover of the ark. On the mercy-seat were
made two cherubim of gold, their wings shadowing the mercy-seat. In the ark
were placed the testimony, or tables of stone, containing the ten commandments.
See Ex. 25:16-21; 31:18; 1 Kings 8:9.
Exo
25:16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give
thee.
Exo
25:17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a
half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth
thereof.
Exo
25:18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt
thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Exo
25:19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the
other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends
thereof.
Exo
25:20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering
the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another;
toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
Exo
25:21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the
ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
Exo
31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with
him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with
the finger of God.
1Ki
8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which
Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of
Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
The ark
was put into the most holy place of the sanctuary, and was the only article put
therein.
In the
holy place, or first room, were the table of show-bread, the golden
candlestick, and the altar of incense. When the commandment was given to make
the sanctuary, the object was stated by the Lord, that he might dwell among
them. A holy dwelling-place, or dwelling-place of the Lord, is given as the
signification of the word sanctuary. In accordance with this design, the Lord
said he would meet with the high priest above the mercy-seat, between the wings
of the cherubim, there to commune with him of all things that he would give him
in commandment unto the children of Israel. Ex. 25:22. But by other scriptures
we learn that he would meet with them in the most holy place only once a year,
on the tenth day of the seventh month, which was the day of atonement. He
promised also to meet with them at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation, or holy place, where there was a continual or daily offering. Ex.
29:42, 43; Heb. 9:6, 7.
Exo
29:42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your
generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD:
where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
Exo
29:43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the
tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
Heb
9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always
into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Heb
9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not
without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people
Let it be
borne in mind that although the glory of God was to abide in the sanctuary, it
was manifested only in two places as specified: at the door of the holy where
the table and candlestick were set, and in the most holy, above the ark, over
the wings of the cherubim. Sometimes the glory of God filled the whole
sanctuary; but when that was the case, the priests could not go in to minister.
See Ex. 40:34, 35; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chron. 5:13, 14; 7:1, 2.
Exo
40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of
the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exo
40:35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation,
because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the
tabernacle.
1Ki
8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy
place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
1Ki
8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the
cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
2Ch
5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to
make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they
lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick,
and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever:
that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
2Ch
5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the
cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
2Ch
7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from
heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of
the LORD filled the house.
2Ch
7:2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because
the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
(To be
continued)
(Excerpt
from-) THE ATONEMENT PART SECOND:
THE
ATONEMENT AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
(1884)
BY ELDER J. H. WAGGONER
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