Ep 714 – Leviticus 15-16

Chapters 15 and 16 of Leviticus contain an interesting juxtaposition. One has to do with impurity and uncleanness, while the other speaks of atonement, the forgiveness for sin made possible by God through the sacrificial system. Sin was an ever-present reality in the life of the people of Israel. They were the people of God, having been separated by Him from the rest of the world for His use. In other words, they were holy in His eyes. They belonged to Him. But sin had a way of getting in the way of their relationship with God. It made them unclean and unholy and, therefore, unable to come into His presence. Sin made them unacceptable and, in their impure state, they found God unapproachable. But God had made provision for this problem. He had created the Day of Atonement, a single day on the calendar when the people of God could have their sins cleansed for by God. But it required that they humble their souls, bowing down before Him in recognition of their sinful condition and their need for His cleansing.