THE KING’S BUSINESS
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upon entering, he throws incense upon the live coals in the censer, waving it in front of him toward the mercy seat, that the cloud thus formed protect him from instant death by the otherwise too glorious mani festation of the shekinah. The High Priest then dips his finger in the blood of the sacrifice and sprinkles it upon and before the mercy seat seven times. During all the performance of these rites no one is permitted in the tabernacle save the High Priest until the blood atone ment is completed, the tinkle of the golden bells on the border of the latter’s garment being the only assurance to the waiting multitude that the offering was accepted, and the High Priest was proceeding with the divinely arranged program. All things having been accomplished in order within the tabernacle, the High Priest emerges and completes the blood atonement by sprink ling the brazen altar. Thus the first and more important part of the great day’s program is ended. When Christ uttered the seventh voice from the cross and gave Up the ghost, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, signifying: that divine power had cleaved the way 'into the holiest, and a wide open door into the very presence of God was made through the rent veil of the Saviour’s flesh. The blood of Jesus is the only way into the holy of holies. The sinner Can not work his Way in, nor buy his way in, nor pray his way in, nor live his way in. He can, however freely come in by the way of the blood. “Having therefore, bréthren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesús, by a new and living way which. He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say His flesh . . .. . . let us draw near . . . in füll assurance (Heb. 10:19-22). The function of the “Scapegoat” and its typical teaching, properly take second- place although we are disposed to regard them as of. greatest importance. -God’s glory came first in the Lord’s. Lot, man’s salvation next in the Scapegoat. We are very apt to magnify man’s portion of the double offer-
ner ever were saved. This latter fact must never be lost sight of. God has been dis honored in the world which He made; His name has been blasphemed; His majesty scouted ; His truth trailed in the dust. The Lord’s Lot vindicated His honor, exalted His name, made illustrious His majesty, satisfied the claims of His justice. But not only did the Lord’s Lot fully vindicate and satisfy God; it made an atonement for sin (not now sins) and thus made it possible for God to offer free grace to all and thus “Grace reigned through righteousness” (Romans 5:21). Had it not been for the Lord’s Lot, God could never have been free to offer grace to sinners. In simple justice lie must otherwise have condemned them all. Herethen in the atonement for sin is laid the basis of free grace. Now God can with perfect consistency say,' “whosoever will.” The day of atonement emphasizes the fact that-the: shed blood is the basis of all God’s dealings with man. The way into the Holiest was by the brazen altar of sac rifice.. It was a blood-sprinkled way. There is blood on the altar, blood on the Javer, blood on thè- golden :altar, blood on the veil, and' the blood is sprinkled seven times (the perfect numbér) within the veil, indicating, its perfect efficiency and acceptableness. Viewed from one angle of divine revela tion our' God is art exclusive God. He dvrelt .between the cherubim, within the veil, in the innermost room of the taber nacle,’the Holiest of all. Mystery ever enshrouded: His presence and manifesta tion. The masses were ever shut out from that presence and all approach to God must ^ef force be deputized. One man only, the High Priest,' once a year could come near. ' Hé must come by the minutely pre scribed way.' Having observed all the proper functions in the way of preparation, the High Priest takes a golden censer, puts fire thereon from the golden altar in the Holy Place and with hands full of sweet incense, he: entèrs the Holy of Holies by the north end- of the veil. Immediately
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