Deeper than acts of wrongdoing, sin is broken relationships. God is offended. Barriers are erected. Guilt and shame come rushing in. Neighbor is alienated from neighbor. The human soul begins to fight a civil war within itself...
The ancient Israelites ritualized their expressions of guilt with carefully prescribed worship experiences. They confessed their sin and expressed their guilt and shame as a corporate community of faith. They made amends directly to the One who was offended -- their Creator, Redeemer God.
Leviticus 16 helps us understand the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and atonement sacrifices. Once a year the chief priest (Aaron) cleansed himself, put on holy garments, killed a bull as an offering. The blood sacrifice was a sin offering for himself and his house. Then Aaron chose two goats to bear symbolically the sins of the people. He offered one as a blood sacrifice for atonement. Aaron then laid both his hands on the head of the second goat, confessing "all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins." He put their sins upon the head of the goat and sent the goat into wilderness (Leviticus 16:21). The goat vicariously carried the sins away, freeing the people from their guilt and shame. Hence the name "scapegoat."
Many teachers have explained atonement as AT-ONE-MENT. Through atonement we are reconciled to God, made AT ONE with God. We are freed to be in fellowship and no longer need carry the load of guilt.
-- U.M. Bishop Richard Wilke in DISCIPLE: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study
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