Preparation for Atonement

Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings
Holy Days
Day of Atonement

Exodus 30:1-10  The Message

The Altar of Incense

30 ^1-5 “Make an Altar for burning incense. Construct it from acacia wood, one and one-half feet square and three feet high with its horns of one piece with it. Cover it with a veneer of pure gold, its top, sides, and horns, and make a gold molding around it with two rings of gold beneath the molding. Place the rings on the two opposing sides to serve as holders for poles by which it will be carried. Make the poles of acacia wood and cover them with a veneer of gold.

^6-10 “Place the Altar in front of the curtain that hides the Chest of The Testimony, in front of the Atonement-Cover that is over The Testimony where I will meet you. Aaron will burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he polishes the lamps, and again in the evening as he prepares the lamps for lighting, so that there will always be incense burning before God, generation after generation. But don’t burn on this Altar any unholy incense or Whole-Burnt-Offering or Grain-Offering. And don’t pour out Drink-Offerings on it. Once a year Aaron is to purify the Altar horns. Using the blood of the Absolution-Offering of atonement, he is to make this atonement every year down through the generations. It is most holy to God.”

For Reflection 

In old testament days, coming into the presence of God was a matter of life and death.  Priests made extensive preparation to make sure that when they entered the holy space in the temple, the inner sanctum was purged of all potential contamination of the place where they would commune with God.  They made sure the smoke from the incense they burned would hide their vision from the unapproachable God.

Fasting, self-denial, and compete rest were essential rituals for repentance and atonement.  Perhaps we should try it.   Take time to get in touch with God.

Pray

that you will sacrifice your self by cleansing your body by fasting, focus not on your will, but on God's will for your life and take a rest from the pressures of your world.