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Patriarchs and Prophets
their transgression in all their sins; and so shall he do for the tabernacle
of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their
uncleanness.”
“And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat,
and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and
all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of
the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the
wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a
land not inhabited.” Not until the goat had been thus sent away did the
people regard themselves as freed from the burden of their sins. Every
man was to afflict his soul while the work of atonement was going
forward. All business was laid aside, and the whole congregation of
Israel spent the day in solemn humiliation before God, with prayer,
fasting, and deep searching of heart.
Important truths concerning the atonement were taught the people
by this yearly service. In the sin offerings presented during the year, a
substitute had been accepted in the sinner’s stead; but the blood of the
victim had not made full atonement for the sin. It had only provided
a means by which the sin was transferred to the sanctuary. By the
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offering of blood, the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law,
confessed the guilt of his transgression, and expressed his faith in Him
who was to take away the sin of the world; but he was not entirely
released from the condemnation of the law. On the Day of Atonement
the high priest, having taken an offering for the congregation, went
into the most holy place with the blood and sprinkled it upon the mercy
seat, above the tables of the law. Thus the claims of the law, which
demanded the life of the sinner, were satisfied. Then in his character
of mediator the priest took the sins upon himself, and, leaving the
sanctuary, he bore with him the burden of Israel’s guilt. At the door of
the tabernacle he laid his hands upon the head of the scapegoat and
confessed over him “all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all
their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the
goat.” And as the goat bearing these sins was sent away, they were,
with him, regarded as forever separated from the people. Such was the
service performed “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.”
Hebrews 8:5
.
As has been stated, the earthly sanctuary was built by Moses
according to the pattern shown him in the mount. It was “a figure for