ACHAREI MOT/KEDOSHIM
Combined readings
Leviticus 16:1-20:27
Reading #2 - Leviticus 16:25-17:7
My Thoughts:
In verse 34 we read that this atonement will be made once a year to cleanse Israel from their sins. It is necessary to clean the “nation” and not only the “person”. Think about this today. Is the nation you live in considered “clean”? There is no Temple to do sacrifices in to atone for the nation, but is there ever a type of “national repentance” that you can remember? Probably not unless you are contacted to a special prayer group. So, what you can do is remember and honor this particular Moadim -- Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Take the day off from work, fast all day and try to get in the presence of Hashem. Do it for your nation, do it for Hashem!
Challenge:
In verse 29 we read that even the stranger for lives as a foreigner and the native-born are to be included in this Feast. When Hashem speaks of the nation of Israel and it’s atonement, He includes strangers! Apparently He wants EVERYONE to be cleansed and forgiven. My challenge is for you to think about this today. Look at your “unbelieving” neighbors and friends. Do you exclude them or include them? If we serve an Elohim that cares about the stranger and outsiders, we would be best to include those around us in our lives. Pray for them and help them however possible in the little things and the big things. Let your light from Hashem shine through all you do so that your friends and strangers around you may be drawn in to HIM. Be a “conduit” and a representative for how Hashem does work in the world! Start today!
Reading #2 - Leviticus 16:25-17:7
16:25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.
26 “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire. 28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
29 “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, whether native-born or a stranger who lives as a foreigner among you; 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean from all your sins before Hashem. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
34 “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.”
It was done as Hashem commanded Moses.
17 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which Hashem has commanded: 3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4 and hasn’t brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to offer it as an offering to Hashem before Hashem’s tabernacle: blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood. That man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to Hashem, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to Hashem. 6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on Hashem’s altar at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Hashem. 7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’
