Prayer and Blood

Aaron will present his own bull as a sin offering to purify himself and his family, making them right with the Lord. After he has slaughtered the bull as a sin offering, he will fill an incense burner with burning coals from the altar that stands before the Lord. Then he will take two handfuls of fragrant powdered incense and will carry the burner and the incense behind the inner curtain. There in the Lord’s presence he will put the incense on the burning coals so that a cloud of incense will rise over the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. If he follows these instructions, he will not die. Then he must take some of the blood of the bull, dip his finger in it, and sprinkle it on the east side of the atonement cover. He must sprinkle blood seven times with his finger in front of the atonement cover. [Leviticus 16.11-14]

The instructions above are found in a portion of Leviticus under the caption "The Day of Atonement." This was a once-a-year event. It was important!

I found it interesting today what took place behind the inner curtain when the high priest (Aaron, at this time) went in there.

Of course, as incense and prayer have a symbolic tie as noted in the book of Revelation, it is significant that the high priest would, after entering the Most Holy Place, burn incense. The symbolism of this is great, but for Aaron and every other high priest to follow, following this protocol exactly meant life or death. 

So, how important is prayer?

Then the high priest was to sprinkle blood on the east side and before the atonement cover seven times with his finger.

I wish I could say I understood what the symbolism of this more accurately, but it would seem that within the atmosphere of prayer (in the smoke of incense), reference to the necessity of blood (death for sin) must be realized.

The atonement cover (the lid over the Ark of the Covenant) was the designated place for God and man to meet. But that meeting was to be prefaced and prepared for in prayer (filled with incense) and recognition of the price of sin (death, blood).

These two things carry great meaning: prayer and blood. Considering Jesus' teaching and lifestyle of prayer plus His bloody death (which He said was necessary for us), we can see the deep meaning of these Atonement Day activities in the past for our access to God's presence in the present.

Perhaps we, as modern-day Christians, should remind ourselves often of the importance of prayer and the blood of Jesus. Yes, that seems appropriate.

Father, thank You once again for giving me glimpses into the symbolism of the Tabernacle. Help me to apply what I see and learn!