The National tribune., 1888-08-02

nOunCemenU, ana surely we eXatG ourselves IN
their study. To sit at Gods feet as learners is
not humiliating.
d. The Subject
The lesson treats of the Day of Atonement.
The Jewish doctors called it The Day. 1t was
the climax of worship, the central day of di-
vine service, the concentration of devotion. 1t
was the Good Friday of the Jewish ecclesias-
tic year. 1t was a Sabbath day. No work
could be done during its hours. (23 26-32.) 1t
was celebrated on the 10th day of the month
Tisri or Ethanim. Even yet the Jews keep it
everywhere, emitting now, however, the sac
rifces, but maintaining the other peculiar fea-
lures and impressing the important lessons.
5. analysis
1. Time.
g Place.
3. Actors.
L. Methods.
5. Purposes.
g. The analysis Developed.
/. Time. Only one day each year was given
to the special services peculiar to Atonement
Day. 1t occurred in our month of September.
Though the actual services lasted for but day,
much time beforehand was spent in prepare
ton. The High Priest went through course
of retirement for seven days, giving chance for
meditation and physical conquest. His atten-
ton was called to all the details, lest he might
err on the solemn occasion and lose his life.
Effort was made to impress the masses with the
saCredness Of the occasion.
2. Place. The soemnities of the Atonement
Day conferred in the tabernacle and its court.
The spot of special interest was the mercy seat
on the top of the ark between the cherubim in
the Holy of Holes That division Of the taber-
nacle was where God manifested himself with
greatest clearness, and whence he issued his
commands Between it and the Holy Place
hung richly wrought heavy vail. No one
but the High Priest was permitted to enter that
sacred place, and he only on one day in
each year for a specific purpose. There was
no provision for light within, Gods presence
illuminating it. The temple of Dndymene
and that of Orcus were opened only once
annually.
8 The principal actor was the High Priest,
who at first was Aaron, brother of Moses He
alone could enter the Most Holy Place. and he
never but on AtOnement Day. Even then he
could not go beyond the vail save and strictly
for certain specified duties Hence he could
on said day enter the Holy of HOLES for only
four times: l. To burn incense. 2. To sprinkle
the blood of the bullock. 3. To sprinkle the
blood of the goat. 4. To bring out the censor.
Everything was done to hem the spot around
with utmost sacredness.
d. Methods /. AS to dress. The High
Priest on this particular occasion wore only
his linen garments. The High Priests
apparel was divided into two classes 1.
The linen; 9. The golden-so called be-
cause gold entered into them as one Of the
materials. The four linen articles were the
coat, the garment about the loins the gir-
die and the inter. The four golden, the
breastplate, ephod, robe, and signet The first
| four were used in common by all priests. The
| Day Of Atonement was one Of utter humilia-
| ton, and it was becoming the High Priest to
| dOtf his more gorgeous apparel. Distinctions
| cease as we approach Jehovah. By the sug-
gestion of this lesson bishops and priests of the
| Roman Catholic Church on Good Friday wear
/ the garments of mere deacOns in rendering the
/ services until they reach the ritual for the
mass Holy Communion. Priests were to wear
! their specially significant ceremonial raiment
only when actually engaged in tabernacle seFv-
/ ices. 3. AS to personal cleanliness. The High
| Priest before entering the Most Holy Place was
! to perform certain additions. (Vs. 4, "a; g.: 6
Elk, 1874; 1920; DO: II, 81, 32.) 3. As to
| offerings. a. For the sins of himself and
family, (Ys. 3, g. H. We generally under
stand by his house," ". g. the entire Levitt
| zeal family (Ps., lis: 10, IL; 1876: 10; NJ,
| 1:49.) Priests can sin. (Ezr, 10: 18 49, Heb.
| 5:3; Z: 81; Eze., 43: 1920 b. For the sins
| of the people in general. For personal and
| family sins Aaron was to offer in sacrifice q
| bullock and a ram. For the sins of the masses
in general he was to sacrifice goat and ram
The process as to the goat was peculiar. TIVE
| goats, suitable in kind, age, etc, were selected
and brought to the tabernacle-one to bt
| slain and the other to be released alive. TC
| determine which to slay resort was had tx
the lot. (Nu., %: SIS; 80 81; JOSH IS: 10, II
/ Sa., II Il, AZ; Prov, IS: 80; Eze., IS: 90
Jonah, IL; Acts, l % -26) There were tive
| slips of parchment, on one of which was writ
ten, For jehovah; on the other, For Azazel.'
The latter probably means, for escape, or to bt
sent away. The one for Jehovah was slain as haC
been the bullock and ram. The other, called
the scapegoat (Azazel), was preserved alive
serving by its disposition q graphic object
teaching. The sacrificed animals atoned fol
mans sins. God had promised that on the
peoples exercise of faith in his commands anC
pledges he would forgive their SINS In faitl
and obedience the sacrifices were offered
! But what became of the sins. These were Oblit
| Grated and would never again appear against
them. How wildly this is set forth by thu
confession of sins with hands laid ON the head
| of the goat practically transferring ones sins
from self to the animal, and then driving away
the goat to region where it will never again
be seen. The Talmud has preserved the prayer
offered: O. Lord, the house of Israel thy people
have trespassed, rebelled and sinned before
thee. 1 beseech thee, o Lord, forgive now
their trespasses rebellion and sins which
thy people have committed, as it is written il
the law of Moses thy servant, saying that il
you to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from
all your sins before the Lord"
The Morayian missionaries in Thibet give
account of custom peculiar to Shassa, as fol
lows;
Every year the lama community provide a mar
of the lowest class, dress him up in goat skim will
the hair outside and singular beaddress, and theI
drive him out the town to the river where they lay
| on him the sins of the whole people, The man hal
then TO the river and live in wilderness IL
| solitude for some weeks being abundantly sup
piled with food during this season. On his return
| he receives many presents from the people. The
disgrace is great, however that no one is fouuC
| voluntarily to go through the ceremony, except II
very instances 1t is q singular analogy to the
| seapegoat of the Old Testament.
The animals were killed at the brazen alta
in the court of the tabernacle Some of TIT
blood was caught in a basin. The High Prizes
first entered the Most Holy Place with some
incense aud coal of fire from off the brazer
altar. Once within the vail he placed the in
cense on the altar, dropping the coal upon it
and forming beautiful fragrant cloud rising
between the cherubim. Then going in a second
time he bore some blood in basin, and BY
means of dipping his finger in the Liquid
sprinkled it before the mercy seat.
5. Let US study the purposes. 1. People were