A broken relationship may have various impact, and it might ‘cost’ both parties to restore that relationship.
We continue on this instruction, Leviticus 4:5-7, for the High Priests to seek forgiveness for sin they committed without prior knowledge. As has been said again and again, this is from the Old Testament, which Jesus has fulfilled in his work of salvation as recorded in the New Testament. Looking at Leviticus is important for us because this is God’s law, for which Jesus fulfilled for us.
This law is about we as God’s people and how we live a life worthy of his creation. It is about God and who he is – his beauty in his holiness.
Sin and holiness don’t mix. However, God provided a way for us to return to him. What is useful for us in Leviticus is to glimpse at the meaning of our sin, how it hurt God, and how full and complete forgiveness restores the relationship.
I know it is graphic. However, I suggest that you read this section about High Priest several times. I have done tens of times, each time taking in meaning of certain words, their imagery and what meanings they are portraying.
The size of the offering is huge. It's a very visible act, and probably very noisy.
The high priest follows a set ritual of offering. This might bear some resemblance to similar rituals of the day, but it is done to seek God’s forgiveness, exactly for that and no other purpose.
The completeness of forgiveness is in the ‘seven times’.
The completeness of forgiveness is in the seven times, and the assurance of pleasing aroma arising the horn, with praises to God.
You do have to read the forgiveness formula as literal occureence. But that’s not all, there is an enormous amount of meaning, from the veil to the horn, from the bull to the blood and so on.
It paints a picture that seeking forgiveness has a cost – the separation between ourselves and God, caused by sin, is not a small manner. It hurts God who is holy. If doing something that does not cost you emotionally, there is no meaning to that way of seeking forgiveness. Something as easy as like blinking of an eye.
Seeking forgiveness from somebody might involve several days of planning to write a letter (email), and then another few days to test the content of the letter. You want to do it earnestly and honestly. You would like there is a high chance of restoring the relationship. You might no longer want to insist on your side of the story. You would prefer to know in what way the other side is likely to engage with you, and raise their hand of friendship.
The pleasing aroma of praise from the sacrifice of the High Priest is comforting to the priest that his grave sin of ignorance is forgiven.
