Blood And Atonement Part 2

Shalom

Something I didn't mention in my last post; the sacrifices themselves were only for unintentional sin. Leviticus 4:1-2 says The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands....

In all fairness, it has literally taken me years to see that, and to realize just what that means. Just like many of you reading this, I was always told that these were the sacrifices for all sin, intentional as well as unintentional, hence the constant theme of needing a blood sacrifice. Yet a careful reading shows that all these were for sins (including the flour and the silver) that were unintentional. I looked for “intentional sin” and many variations thereof in multiple interpretations of the bible and I found nothing. Having said that, I did find a lot of verses that spoke of Israel turning back to G-d after they went after the “gods” of the nations from where they had been scattered, starting with Moses.

He was a prophet of G-d, he led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt,and even after seeing all the miracles that G-d had performed on their behalf, they rebelled against G-d to the point that G-d caused them to spend 40 years in the desert until all the people who had rebelled died off. Moses is at the end of his life so he is speaking to all of those who were about to cross into the promised land.

Deuteronomy 30: 1-3,6

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you...The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

King Solomon was the third king of Israel. He was the son of David and he was considered to be the wisest of all the kings that Israel was to ever have. It was during his reign that the temple was built and at it's dedication Solomon gave many prayers including this one found in 1 Kings 8:46-50.

“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy;

Many of the prophets carried on the same theme, these are but a few.

Joel 2:12-13 “Even now,” declares the Lord,“return to me with all your heart,with fasting and weeping and mourning.”Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love....

Hosea 14:2-3 “ Return O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have fallen because of your sin. Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him: Forgive all guilt and accept what is good; Instead of bulls we will pay the offering of our lips.” JPS

Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Ezekiel 18:21-23 “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

These passages,and many just like them, were written for a time, as it is today, that the temple doesn't exist, and the sacrifices are long gone.

The common theme is a simple one; the people realize their sin, turn their hearts back to G-d, do what is right,follow His commands, and He forgives them. No mention of sacrifices, no mention of blood.

Shalom. More to follow.