Leviticus 16

So let's just recall where we're at in the context of the book.

The tabernacle is now set up and it is fully operational.

Aaron and his sons, the priests, have been consecrated for holy service.

The tabernacle sacrifices and services have begun.

The people have been given clear instructions on what leads to ritual impurity, what they need to do about that ritual impurity.

And so the first 15 chapters of the book of Leviticus is all about sin.

ritual impurity, and atonement.

And all of that has to do with drawing near to God and maintaining their covenant relationship with Him.

Now, here in chapter 16, Moses and Aaron are given instructions for this once-a-year ceremony that would be like a kind of a yearly annual reset for the tabernacle and for the people.

It would provide full annual ritual cleansing of the sacred space, the tabernacle.

It would provide everything needed to offer atonement and forgiveness for all the people's sins.

This ceremony will be the one day out of the year that the high priest and only the high priest and only on this day that he can enter into the most holy place, the inner room of the tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant is.

This is the one day a year that atonement will be provided on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.