We can turn back to our reading in Leviticus chapter 16.
We're going to look at this passage, maybe especially looking at the verses, verse 6 to verse 10.
! Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel.
And Aaron shall present the coat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering.
But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented a lie before the Lord to make atonement over it,
that it may be sent away into the wilderness of Azazel.
Last night we were looking at Leviticus chapter 2, and I mentioned there as we were beginning that all Scripture is God-breathed.
All Scripture is given by God.
But the book of Leviticus is where we see God speaking most in the sense of speaking directly to the people.
And here in chapter 16, the chapter again begins with that kind of emphasis as it begins in verse 1.
The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron.
Again we see God is speaking here.
And he's speaking to them about the wonder of this day, this special day that the people of Israel had.
A special day in their calendar, a significant day.
The day of atonement.
A day when a special sacrifice was offered up.
It happened once a year, and it was brought by the high priest into the very center of the tabernacle,
the place that no one could go.
And only once a year on this special day could the high priest go in.
Any other time or any other person who went in, they faced the consequences of death.
But here the high priest is able to go in and to go in with this sacrifice, making atonement.
Making the people right with God that they might know the forgiveness of their sin.
I mentioned last night as well, just to put this into context,
that the first seven chapters in Leviticus showed to us the kind of offerings that the people had to give to God,
which was a ritual throughout the year.
There was five main offerings.
You had the burnt, the grain, the peace, the sin, and the guilt offering.
And all of these were about the people's relationship with God.
These were the laws, the commands that they were to keep on a regular basis.
As I mentioned earlier on, the grain offering was that sense of coming before God with a sense of worship.
But we know that sin had to be dealt with.
Sin had to be dealt with.
And we still know that that is the case.
And how is sin dealt with?
Well, the Bible says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin.
And so this day of atonement, this day when a special sacrifice is offered up for the high priest,
the priesthood as a whole, and all the people of Israel,
was a significant day when they saw what the cost of their sins was to give that sacrifice,
that sprinkling of blood in the Holy of Holies before God,
that they might be made right with him.
So sin had to be dealt with.
And that is what we come to remember today as we come to our sacrament before us, the Lord's Supper.
We come to remember the Lord's death, that he came to deal with our sin,
that he came to offer himself up as a sacrifice.
Have you ever imagined what it might have been like to be part of the people of God in the days of Moses
or indeed throughout the Old Testament?
What it would have been like coming into this tabernacle,
into this place where they gathered to see their sins forgiven,
bringing an animal with them, bringing a sin offering, a burnt offering,
a grain offering, a peace offering, a guilt offering all the time.
And then once a year coming to see this day of atonement,
this offering up of a bull, a ram, and two goats.
Imagine what it was like.
Imagine if that is what we had to do today in order for our sins to be forgiven.
What kind of place would this be today?
It wouldn't be silence.
There would be so much noise.
Everyone bringing an animal, an offering before God.
How would we know which one to bring?
How would we know an animal without blemish?
Where would we find one that would satisfy this offering?
How long would it take us to get through that sacrificial ritual,
offering up these sacrifices?
How messy it would be.
How noisy.
How smelly.
All of these things.
What it would be like for us if that's what we had to do today.
And yet, in a sense, we do the same as we were doing in those days.
But we are doing it because of what Jesus has done for us.
And that is what makes all the difference.
We don't come today to offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice.
We come through the one who has sacrificed himself once and for all.
You see, Leviticus is telling us that this will be fulfilled in what we see in the New Testament,
in what we see in the Lord Jesus Christ.
For example, if you were to look at the book of Hebrews,
which someone has described as a commentary on Leviticus,
you see just how it is fulfilled.
Especially in maybe chapters 9 and 10 of Hebrews,
there you see in chapter 9 that redemption is through the blood of Christ,
that forgiveness is found through the blood of Christ.
And then in chapter 10, that Christ sacrifices himself once and for all.
You see the fulfillment of it.
And as we look at Leviticus 16 today,
and especially as we look at these two goats that were offered,
we see how what the people had to do long ago in order to approach God
and know forgiveness for their sins points us towards what we are doing here.
Worshiping God, giving thanks to him for the forgiveness of our sins
in remembrance of him,
in remembrance of what Christ has done for us.
And so I want us to see three things from this day of atonement,
this passage before us today.
We see, first of all, the purpose of the sacrifice.
Secondly, we're going to look at the people of the sacrifice.
And then thirdly, the prophecy of the sacrifice.
But first of all, we're going to see the purpose of the sacrifice.
It's a long chapter.
And as we've read through it, you see,
it goes into a lot of detail, chapter 16.
And we can't take everything away from here today.
There's so much in it, so much in all the different details
that you could tease out with time.
But we want to see, overall,
the passage is speaking about a special purpose
in this day of atonement.
What is it about?
It is about the people knowing their sins are forgiven.
Knowing their sins are forgiven.
It's interesting how you look at the chapters
that come immediately before,
from chapter 7 or 8 through to chapter 10,
and then chapter 17 onwards.
When you look at what's around this day of atonement
in terms of the chapters,
what you see is that there is law.
In chapter 8 to 10, there's the law of different things.
And then in chapter 17,
it goes back into talking about
the laws against eating blood.
And there's lots of different things about law.
What they are to do.
And as you see with law,
it's so often a burden.
Because there is no one who can keep the law fully.
And so the law becomes a burden.
But in the midst of that,
you have chapter 16.
And what chapter 16,
this day of atonement,
shows the people their hope.
It shows the grace of God.
It shows that it's not by keeping the law
completely and perfectly
that we are forgiven,
but through sacrifice.
Through sacrifice offered to God.
And when we look at these two goats in particular,
Aaron had a bull offering for his sin,
but then for all the people,
two goats were to be offered.
And as we look at these goats,
we see that here we find
the way that forgiveness was found.
One goat was to be a blood sacrifice.
And the other was what is called a scapegoat,
or a goat of riddance.
You'll have heard the phrase good riddance.
It means putting something away.
Something that was maybe evil.
Something that was not right.
Good riddance to that.
It's good to get it away.
And that's what the riddance goat is.
It's that sense of putting away.
And what this goat was doing
was putting sin away.
So there was the two goats.
One was the blood offering,
the sacrifice.
And one was the scapegoat,
the riddance goat,
that their sin was removed
into the wilderness.
And this is what was needed
for sin to be forgiven.
And for that assurance of sin forgiven.
One day in the year,
this day of atonement
was significant for the people.
Because throughout the year,
they broke the law.
Throughout the year,
they could not keep the law.
They sinned.
And therefore, this day was needed.
And we know ourselves
that by the law alone,
we cannot keep everything perfect.
We know that we sin against God
in thought, word, and deed
on a daily basis.
And we know that God
will not just allow sin
to go unpunished.
That we too need
the forgiveness of our sin.
And what we see in this passage,
we see looking forward then
to Jesus Christ.
The first goat is the blood offering.
That there is no forgiveness of sin
without the shedding of blood.
And you see the detail
it goes into in this passage.
It shows that Aaron,
as the high priest,
was to sprinkle the blood.
All the bits were to be burnt,
taken away.
Every bit of this goat was burnt.
So there was nothing left.
It was fully sacrificed
to God.
And Jesus has done that for us.
His blood was shed.
His body was broken
that we might have forgiveness
of sin.
Now the sacrifice,
the blood offering,
we can see right through
the Old Testament.
But the scapegoat,
it was once a year,
along with this other goat
that was sacrificed as well.
This once a year day
of atonement.
And the scapegoat
just reminds us that
as well as the shedding of blood,
that our sins
are removed.
That they are cast
away.
Leviticus 16,
verse 21,
it says there,
And Aaron shall lay
both his hands
on the head
of the live goat
and confess over it
all the iniquities
of the people of Israel
and all their transgressions,
all their sins.
So this scapegoat
had all the sins
of the people
laid upon it.
And you see,
the language is quite familiar
to what Isaiah says
in Isaiah chapter 53,
looking at the Lord Jesus Christ.
The scapegoat is described
as on whose head
is laid the sins of Israel.
What does in Isaiah 53
say about the Lord Jesus?
The Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
All the sin
of his people
laid on him.
The Lord has laid on him
the iniquity
of us all.
Sin is dealt with
by God.
And so what is
the scapegoat
about?
Well, there are
two things
that we could take
from the scapegoat
to help us understand
just how God deals
with our sin.
One is that removal
of sin.
The sin
being carried away
out into the wilderness.
Azazel is most likely
a place in the wilderness,
a place that
the goat was sent to
out into the wilderness,
out of their sight.
We sang in Psalm 103,
the Lord removing
our sin from us.
What does it say?
As far as east
is distant
from the west,
so far as he removed
our sin.
Out
into the wilderness,
away
from his people,
our sin
is removed.
And isn't there
a wonderful assurance
in that
for us today?
For you as you come,
for me as I come,
that as we confess
our sin
and as we look
to the Lord Jesus Christ,
he has dealt
with our sin.
Through the shedding
of his blood,
he has dealt
with our sin.
But also in the removing
of our sin,
in it being taken
away from us.
The wilderness
here is a reminder
to us of what
our sin
deserves.
Our sin
deserves that
being cut off
from God,
sent out
into the wilderness,
as it were,
away from God.
That is what
our sin
deserves,
your sin
and mine.
But as we looked
at last evening
and as we see
in this passage
as well,
the assurance
of the people
of God
was found
in their coming
to God
in this way
and offering
up a sacrifice.
And so
this day
of atonement
is the ultimate
way for them
to know
their forgiveness
of sin.
Sin forgotten.
Do you realize
that your sin
is forgotten
in Christ?
Because sin
is often
a burden.
Sin weighs
heavy
upon us.
The sin
in our hearts,
our individual
sins,
our collective
sins,
they all
weigh heavy
upon us.
But as we
come
confessing
our sin,
he is faithful
and just
to forgive,
to cast
them away.
Micah chapter 7
has another
beautiful illustration
of what this is
as well,
where it says
in verse 19,
he will again
have compassion
on us,
he will tread
our iniquities
under foot.
And then he says,
you will cast
all our sins
into the depths
of the sea.
Our sin
is put away.
Why
and how?
Because
the Lord
laid on him
the iniquities
of us all.
Paul says
in 2 Corinthians
chapter 5,
he made him
who knew
no sin
to be sin
that we might
become the
righteousness
of God
in him.
There is Paul
speaking about
that same
kind of language,
laying on him
the iniquities
of us all.
And what did
Jesus do
for us?
Well,
when you think
of the scapegoat
as forsaken,
as put away
into the wilderness,
what was
Jesus' cry
on the cross?
My God,
my God,
why
have you
forsaken
me?
It's the language
of the scapegoat
taken into
the wilderness.
Forsaken,
put away,
cast off.
Jesus
took it.
My God,
my God,
why
have you
forsaken me?
That is what
we deserved.
that is what
your sin
deserved,
what my sin
deserved.
And he
took it.
He took
our sin.
He removed
our sin
as far as
east
is from
the west.
And doesn't
that remind us
that if we are
looking anywhere
else for
forgiveness of
sin,
if we are
thinking that
by the law
or by any
other way
we can
satisfy God
and that we
can please
him enough
that our
sins will
be forgiven,
we cannot.
Only at
the cross,
only in
Jesus Christ
can we
know the
forgiveness
of sin.
The purpose
of this
day was
for the
forgiveness
of their
sin.
Our purpose
today is to
remember how
our sins
are forgiven,
are cast
away through
his blood
and through
his
forsakenness.
Then that
leads us
secondly to
ask,
well,
what about
the people
involved?
As you
look at this
passage,
you see that
there are
people involved
in this
day of
atonement.
The priest,
the high
priest,
Aaron is
clearly
involved and
other priests
are involved,
but not
exclusively.
because you
see the
focus is
on all
the people.
In
verse 5,
he shall
take from
the congregation
of the
people of
Israel two
male goats
for a sin
offering and
one ram for
a burnt
offering.
From the
congregation
of the
people.
There was a
sense in
that this
was something
that was
done together.
There was
significance in
this and it
was because
sin was the
common factor
in them all.
There was
no one who
was immune
from sin.
And the
same is true
for ourselves
today.
We are all
here because
of that
common problem
that we are
all sinners
before a
holy God.
None of us
can come and
say, but I
have no sin.
None of us
can say we
are perfect.
We all
fall short.
And you
see the
collective
nature in
this in
that it
was for
all the
people as
you look
in verse
16 as
well.
Thus he
shall make
atonement for
the holy
place because
of the
uncleanness of
the people
of Israel
and because
of their
transgressions,
all their
sins.
It was a
sense of the
nature and
the problem
of sin was
among the
people all
together.
And that
this day of
atonement was
for all the
people together
as well.
The high
priest, the
priesthood, the
sin of all the
people was to
be dealt
with because
this sin
affected the
whole camp,
if you like.
The sanctuary
was impure.
The place
where God
met with
his people
was impure.
sin had
to be
dealt
with.
And when
you think
of how
we see
that
sanctuary
element
fulfilled
in the
New Testament,
where do
you see
it?
Where does
God
tabernacle
with his
people?
It is in
the people
themselves.
Because
when you
look at
what Jesus
says,
he says,
where two
or three
are gathered
in my
name, I
am in
your
midst.
And so
the congregation
were looking
at their
relationship
with God
collectively.
And what
the people
wanted was
the presence
of God
in their
midst, the
Lord to
bless them
as a
people.
And in
order for
that to
happen,
the people
collectively
had to
confess their
sin.
From the
congregation
of the
people,
these goats
were brought.
And so
today,
as we
come, we
don't just
come
individually.
You don't
just sit
at the
Lord's
table.
You don't
just look
on, separate
from everybody
else.
We are
all here
together.
We all
come, not
individually,
but collectively.
We confess
our individual
sins before
God, but we
can do it
collectively as
well.
and say
before God,
Father,
before you
we have
sinned.
We have
sinned as
a people.
So we
come
collectively
in that
way.
But on the
other hand,
as you look
at that,
there is also
the theme
that we
come together
to remember
the Lord's
death.
The people
here collectively
knew the
forgiveness of
their sins.
And today,
as we take
the bread
and the
wine,
yes, we
do it
individually,
but we
do it
together.
This we
do in
remembrance
of him,
as brothers
and sisters
in the
Lord,
as the
people of
God,
seeking his
blessing,
seeking his
presence with
us together,
asking for
his forgiveness
upon us,
asking for
his peace
over us,
asking for
his guidance
on us
going forward.
We come
together as
the congregation
of his
people.
In our
study on
Wednesday night,
we were
looking at
Romans chapter
five.
And again,
as we
think of
that book,
it's a
book that's
so clearly
tied into
the likes
of Leviticus
as well,
where we
see God's
work among
his people.
And the
book of
Romans,
as we've
been looking
at in
this study,
it's all
about that
idea of
we cannot
keep the
law.
How are we
justified
before God?
We cannot
keep the
law.
We are
justified
by faith.
And in
Romans
five,
chapter two,
it says,
through him
we have
also obtained
access by
faith into
this grace
in which
we stand.
And when
you think
of the
access that
the high
priest was
giving to
the people
and to
the holy
of holy
here,
once a
year and
once a
year only
could he
go into
that place
and have
access to
God for
the forgiveness
of sin.
What do
we have
in Jesus
Christ?
We have
obtained
access by
faith into
this grace
in which
we stand.
Access
there means
to be
introduced.
And the
thought is
that the
only way
to get
close to
a powerful
dignity
is to
have someone
who will
introduce
you.
And when
we think
of it in
this sense,
Jesus
is the
one who
brings us
before God.
We have
obtained
access into
this grace
in which we
stand.
We can
only come
before him
through Jesus
Christ.
Because it
is Jesus
Christ who
brings us
before God
the Father.
Here is my
brother.
Here is my
sister.
Here is the
one who I
died for.
And only
through him
can we
stand.
Only
through the
high priest
did the
people have
that assurance
in the
days of
Leviticus.
But through
Jesus Christ
we have
that assurance
today.
Are you
standing
by his
grace?
Are you
standing
assured?
the question
that often
comes as
we think
of sin
is can
my sin
be forgiven?
Will my
sin not
come back
and haunt
me?
You can
imagine the
people in
the days of
Leviticus
wondering about
the scapegoat
on which the
sins had been
placed on and
cast away into
the wilderness.
They would
have been
like, what
if it comes
back?
Would that
have been
you?
That element
of doubt.
What if it
comes back?
What if my
sin finds
me out
again?
Well the
man who
was appointed
to take
the goat
out into
the wilderness
said he
had to
take it
12 miles
into the
wilderness
and then
cast it
away and
he had to
remain until
that scapegoat
was completely
out of
sight and
only then
could he
come back.
As you see
as you read
through when
he returned
he had to
wash himself
cleanse himself
from all of
that sin but
the sin was
gone.
Never to
return.
Are you
coming today
with that
sense of
doubt?
what if
my sin
comes back?
What if
my sin
will come
between me
and God?
Can he
really
forgive
my sin?
Well as
you come
in faith
as you
come
trusting
in him
you can
remember
that as
far as
east is
from the
west
so far
as he
removed
he has
cast them
into the
depths
of the
sea
he has
borne
our
sin
the
iniquities
of us
all
was laid
on him
he
was
forsaken
that you
might have
peace
with him
and be
able to
stand
in that
grace
peace
we
come
by
faith
the
final
thing
we see
here
before
we
come
to
take
part
in
the
Lord's
supper
is
the
prophecy
it
foretold
the
day of
atonement
as we've
been
alluding
to
throughout
here
points
us
towards
that
great
sacrifice
that
once
and
for
all
sacrifice
why
is it
today
that
instead
of
offering
up
a
goat
or
sending
another
goat
out
into
the
wilderness
why
are we
here
gathered
around
the
word
of
God
as
we
do
why
are we
not
lined
up
with
an
animal
to
bring
before
God
to
sacrifice
to
him
because
no
sacrifice
could
satisfy
no
sacrifice
could
suffice
for
our
sin
but
instead
we
have
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
one
who
gave
his
life
as
a
ransom
for
many
when
you
look
at
Leviticus
chapter
6
we
remind
it
of
the
ongoing
nature
of
the
sacrificial
system
it
says
in
verse
13
the
fire
must
be
kept
burning
on
the
altar
continually
it
must
not
go
out
it
was
ongoing
the
day
of
atonement
was
once
a
year
but
throughout
the
year
there
were
sacrifices
being
made
continually
is
that
true
for
us
today
not
in
the
same
way
because
at
the
cross
Jesus
said
it
is
finished
it
is
done
and
so
as
we
come
to
the
Lord's
table
as
we
come
to
the
Lord's
supper
it's
trusting
in
the
finished
work
of
Christ
and
that
is
where
we
are
to
look
that
is
what
we
have
before
us
the
broken
body
and
the
shed
blood
poured
out
for you
that you
might
know
forgiveness
of sin
so God
doesn't
require
this
kind
of
sacrifice
anymore
because
Jesus
is
our
high
priest
he
offered
himself
to
satisfy
divine
justice
to
reconcile
us
to
God
that
we
will
be
right
with
him
and
so
as
we
come
to
the
Lord's
table
are
you
looking
to
yourself
are
you
looking
to
your
sin
and
saying
but
how
can
he
forgive
me
or
are
you
looking
to
him
the
hymn
writer
says
when
Satan
tempts
me
to
despair
and
tells
me
of
the
guilt
within
upward
I
look
and
see
him
there
who
made
an
end
of
all
my
sin
because
the
sinless
saviour
died
my
sinful
soul
is
counted
free
for
God
the
just
is
satisfied
to
look
on
him
and
pardon
me
to
look
on
him
and
pardon
me
you
in
some
ways
we
could
say
there's
no
mess
here
today
in
the
sense
of
the
whole
sacrificial
system
and the
mess
and the
noise
and the
sights
of
that
but
in
another
sense
we can
say
there is
a
mess
here
because
we are
all
a mess
we are
all a
mess
before
God
because
of
our
sin
when
you
look
in
your
heart
what
do
you
see
you
see
a
distance
from
God
you
see
a
sin
that
keeps
that
distance
but
don't
just
look
at
yourself
because
God
looked
on
him
on
Jesus
to
pardon
you
and
so
yes
we
look
to
our
sin
in one
sense
because
we
need
to
confess
our
sin
but
we
look
to
Christ
we
thank
him
for
what
he
has
done
for
us
our
scapegoat
our
sacrificial
goat
his
blood
shed
his
forsaken
on the
cross
all
that
our
sin
might
be
forgiven
the
people
in the
days
of
Moses
they
came
to
this
day
looking
for
forgiveness
we
come
in the
same way
confessing
our
sin
but not
just
looking
for
forgiveness
but
remembering
our
sin
is
forgiven
in
him
he
was
crushed
for
our
iniquities
all
the
sin
was
laid
on
him
and
so
we
come
thankful
we
come
to
do
this
in
remembrance
of
him
let
us
pray
Lord
our
gracious
God
we
thank
you
that
there
is
nothing
that
we
could
possibly
ever
bring
to
you
that
would
satisfy
you
for
our
sin
and
yet
oh
Lord
you
have
opened
up
that
way
for
us
not
that
we
would
come
with
a
bull
or
goat
or
ram
but
that
we
would
come
by
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
one
who
paid
the
price
the
one
who
was
forsaken
the
one
who
was
condemned
the
one
upon
whom
all
our
sin
was
laid
and
we
pray
today
Lord
that
we
would
remember
the
wonder
of
that
forgiveness
that
as
far
as
east
is
from
the
west
so
far
as
he
removed
our
sin
from
us
cast
into
the
depths
of
the
sea
never
again
to
condemn
us
Lord
we
thank you
that as
we
come
in
faith
that we
might
know
that in
him
we
stand
in
that grace
presented
before
you
by a
saviour
by a
precious
saviour
so
Lord
continue
with us
bless
us
and keep
us
as we
ask all
things
for the
forgiveness
of our
sin
in his
name
amen
as
we
come
to
partake
in
the
Lord's
supper
we
ask
as
well
the
question
of
who
the
Lord's
supper
is
for
and
this
is
what
we
call
the
fencing
of
the
table
a
part
where
it's
made
clear
just
who
should
come
to
the
Lord's
supper
who
should
sit
at
the
Lord's
table
as
we've
read
through
Leviticus
we see
a lot
of
instruction
given
as to
what
the
people
had
to
do
and
what
was
done
for
them
but
if
you
look
at
the
very
end
of
this
chapter
the
beginning
starts
with
the
Lord
spoke
to
Moses
and
then
the
very
last
words
are
this
and
Moses
did
as
the
Lord
commanded
!
Moses
did
as
the
Lord
commanded
him
what
did
he
do?
well
we could
say
that there's
three
things
that he
did
first
of all
he
listened
there's
a lot
in this
chapter
a lot
to take
with us
a lot
for
Moses
to take
with
him
but
he
listened
he
listened
to what
God
was
saying
and
that
is
what
we
are
to
do
as
we
come
to
the
Lord's
table
you
listen
to
what
God
is
saying
you
listen
to
his
command
in
obedience
you
come
to
do
this
in
remembrance
of
him
so
are
you
listening
today
are
you
listening
to
the
word
of
God
the
second
thing
that
we
can
take
with
Moses
is
that
he
trusted
he
believed
because
he
did
as
the
Lord
commanded
because
he
believed
in
what
God
was
saying
that
in
order
to
know
the
forgiveness
of
their
sin
this
is
what
had
to
be
done
and
again
we
apply
that
to
ourselves
as
we
think
how
do
we
come
to
the
Lord's
table
we
have
to
come
trusting
we
have
to
come
believing
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
you
shall
be
saved
so
you
have
to
listen
to
the
word
of
God
you
have
to
believe
the
word
of
God
and
then
thirdly
he
obeyed
he
obeyed
he
did
as
the
Lord
commanded
him
and
that
is
how
we
are
to
come
to
the
Lord's
table
as
well
in
obedience
because
he
commands
it
of
those
who
believe
and
so
if
you
believe
you
listen
if
you
believe
you
trust
if
you
believe
you
obey
if
that
is
your
heart
today
you
come
to
the
Lord's
table
whether
you
are
in
our
congregation
or
another
congregation
if
you
are
believing
in
him
you
come
if
you
are
not
you
don't
!
God
because
no
one
can
come
in
that
sense
of
listening
trusting
obeying
without
believing
it
would
be
wrong
but
it
doesn't
mean
you
should
never
come
because
maybe
today
is
the
day
where
you
start
to
listen
maybe
today
is
the
day
when
you
start
to
believe
maybe
today
is
the
day
when
you
say
I
want
to
obey
and
so
whether
you're
sitting
at
the
table
or
whether
you're
looking
on
may
we
still
see
it's
not
about
us
it
is
about
him
we
listen
to
him
we
are
to
trust
him
we
are
to
obey
him
well
as
we
come
to
the
Lord's
table
we
do
so
singing
to
God's
praise
the
words
of
Psalm
118
at
verse
15
Psalm
118
at
verse
15
page
398
of
the
psalm
books
will
sing
down
to
verse
23
in
dwellings
of
the
righteous
is
heard
the
melody
of
joy
and
health
the
Lord's
right
hand
doth
ever
valiantly
the
right
hand
of
the
mighty
Lord
exalted
is
on
high
the
right
hand
of
the
mighty
Lord
doth
ever
valiantly
we'll
sing
from
verse
15
down
to
verse
23
to
God's
praise
!
Amen!
verse
The mighty Lord doth ever value me.
I shall not die, but live and shall the words of God discover.
The Lord hath me chastiseth soar, but not to death give o'er.
O set ye open unto me the gates of righteousness.
Then will I enter into them, and I the Lord will bless.
This is the gate of all quiet, the just shall enter in.
We will thy grace for the meekers, and trust my safety in.
That stone is made dead cornerstone, which builders in each side.
This is the doing of the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes.
Well, as we come to the Lord's Supper, we have thought about all that's been done for us.
And as we read there at the end of the chapter, Moses obeyed.
We are to come listening.
We are to come believing.
And we are to come in obedience.
And our warrant, as we find it for the Lord's Supper, we read in 1 Corinthians 11 at verse 23.
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you,
that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread.
And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
This is my body, which is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way also he took the cup after supper, saying,
This cup is a new covenant in my blood.
Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
For we follow the same pattern that on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread and he gave thanks.
So we'll bow our heads in a word of thanksgiving.
Lord, our gracious God, as we come before you at this time, we have that sense of our unworthiness.
For we are not worthy of the least of your mercies.
But we are thankful that you are one who remembers us, the one who is gracious and merciful towards us.
We thank you that we look before us here and that we see the bread and the wine in the ordinary nature of them.
And yet, O Lord, may you bless them to us as we come to see what they represent.
The body that was broken and the blood that was shed.
And may you bless us, Lord, as we partake.
As we take of the bread and of the wine.
May it be for our strengthening.
For our growth in grace.
That our faith would be encouraged.
We thank you, Lord, that we come to do this in remembrance of him.
And may it be that that is where our eyes are focused and where our hearts are fixed.
We pray, Lord, that you would bless everyone, not just who partakes, but who looks on.
That they would see the importance of remembering you in a day of mercy, in a day of opportunity.
May we see the importance of Jesus.
The one that we are to remember in this way.
And to remember by giving ourselves to him in obedience, in faith.
We thank you, Lord, for your goodness to us.
And we pray that you would bless us and keep us.
That's all we ask.
We ask the forgiveness of our sins.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, after he had given thanks, the Lord took bread and said,
This is my body, which is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
We see, too, that in the same way he took the cup after supper, saying,
This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood.
Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Well, as we come to rise from the table, I want to share with you some verses from Nehemiah in chapter 8.
In this chapter in Nehemiah, the people of God have been under the word of God.
The word of God has been opened up to them.
And they've recognized the burden of their sin.
But in verse 10 of Nehemiah 8, it says,
Then he said to them,
Go your way.
Eat the fat and drink sweet wine,
and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready.
For this day is holy to our Lord.
And do not be grieved.
For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
We grieve over sin.
But as we know sin forgiven,
we are to go forward then with the joy of the Lord as our strength.
Somebody once said,
Joy is a byproduct of obedience.
And those who have been obedient here today,
may you rise from the table with that joy in the Lord increased.
Thankful to him for all his goodness and for all his mercies.
For those who have looked on,
may you go from here today with that hunger and that thirst for the joy of the Lord as well.
May you hunger for it.
Lord, listening to his word,
coming to trust, to believe in him,
that you might be obedient to him one day as well.
And in that obedience,
to know joy in the Lord and the strength that he gives.
Let's just bow heads again in a word of prayer.
Lord, our gracious God,
we return thanks to you.
For what else can we do but to give thanks to you as Lord and God.
for that sense of joy that you give through your strength to us.
That we can rejoice in you today.
And may we rejoice in all the days ahead as well.
May we know, Lord,
your goodness following us and your mercy with us.
That you would continue to bless us,
to speak,
help us to listen and to hear and to obey
in all that we seek to do for your glory.
As we ask it in Jesus' name.
Amen.
We're going to conclude by singing to God's praise
the words of Psalm 72 in the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 72.
Sing from verse 17 to verse 19 at the end of the psalm.
We stand to sing these three verses to God's praise.
Amen.
His name forever shall endure
Last time the sun it shall
Men shall be blessed in heaven and rest
All ancient shall be called
Blessed be the Lord, the Lord, the Lord,
The Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord, the Lord
His glorious name to all eternity.
The whole earth is glory fair.
Amen.
So let it be.
Amen.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.