“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work–whether native-born or an alien living among you — because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community.”
Leviticus 16:29-33
After the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, the land was devastated. Large trees were ripped from the ground. Others had their bark and limbs scorched off. Animals and people were incinerated in the blast. Scientists wondered how long it would take for the area to heal. The Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was established to protect the region and let nature take its course. Instead of people replanting and “fixing” the landscape, it would come back on its own. In the roughly thirty plus years since, people have been amazed at the progress. Animals have been moving back into the area. Plants are sprouting up. There were some animals, however, that never left, having survived within the blast zone. How did they do it?
It is the Day of Atonement. It began at sundown. This was the day when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to meet with God and make atonement for the tabernacle and for the nation. I think “atonement” is one of those words that is tossed around in religious circles without a full understanding of its definition. It’s often thought of as simply “forgiveness”, which isn’t a bad connection. However, on this day, not only were the people atoned for, but the tabernacle was, too. How can an object be forgiven? There’s something more behind this word. The Hebrew word “kaphar” (which means “to atone”) carries with it the idea “to cover”. It is covering and cleaning the impurities of the people and the sanctuary. God is holy. The tabernacle was set up as a holy place to meet with him. This day was supposed to clean up the messes of sin so that people could continue to commune with the Lord.
We do not have a tabernacle anymore; we have something greater. Jesus, through his sacrifice, has atoned for our sins. He has covered us. Because of that covering, we can approach God.
Do you know what kinds of animals survived Mt. St. Helens? They were the kinds that live underground. They had a covering of soil over them to protect them from the blast. That is what atonement is. Entering into God’s presence is like entering into the horrific blast zone of a volcano. Sinners like us have no right coming before the Holy One. Only by the gracious atoning blood of Jesus may we meet with the King of the Universe and survive.
(The volcano is to the right of this picture)