Day 41: The Day of Atonement

Today's readings: Exodus 23, Leviticus 16, and Psalm 77.

I. Toda's reading in Genesis begins with laws concerning justice, prohibiting bearing false witness, bribes against the poor, refusing help to enemies in times of need, favoring the poor solely because they are poor, accepting bribes, and oppressing strangers (23:1-9). 

Seems rather odd, but farmland is to be given a sabbatical year after 6 years of growing crops, and of course, all persons and animals must rest on the Sabbath Day each week. Finally, no other god should ever be mentioned (23:10-13). The second and third are part of the Ten Commandments, while the first, I understand, makes sense from an agricultural point of view. I'm not a farmer, but I've heard that they leave their fields fallow for a period to avoid overusing the soil.

Next, three annual feasts are listed: Unleavened Bread, First Fruits (later Pentecost), and Ingathering (later Booths or Tabernacles) (23:14-19).

Finally, the Israelites are promised the conquest of Canaan if they will listen to Him, and they are warned not to befriend them or worship their false gods (23:20-33).

II. In Leviticus chapter 16, the holiest day of the year for Jews is explained, the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

It is the holiest day of the liturgical year - a day of cleansing for the sanctuary, purging it of all the uncleanness accumulated throughout the year (16:16, 19), and a day of cleansing for the people, removing from the camp all the sins committed throughout the year (16:22, 30).

[...] According to the NT, the ministries of Yom Kippur foreshadow the atoning work of Christ: Jesus is the heavenly high priest (Heb 5:1-6); he entered the heavenly sanctuary signified by the Tabernacle (Heb 8:1-5); he offered his own blood for atonement rather than the blood of bulls and goats (Heb 9:6-14); his sacrifice, made once for all rather than once every year, is sufficient to take away all the sins of the world committed throughout history (Heb 9:24-26; 10:12-14) (CCC 614, 1540). (pp. 202-203)

III. Psalm 77 is one of lament. It goes from grief (77:1-10) to remembrance of God's past mighty deeds (77:11-20), so possible hope from the Psalmist?

That's all for today - Have a good Palm Sunday!!!