Worship God Together - Leviticus 16-18

 Leviticus 16:16-18 (ESV)

Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.

Today’s corporate church worship has no understanding of the constraints in worship outlined in the above passage.  Chapter 16 of Leviticus is about the Day of Atonement.  The High Priest (in this case, Aaron, Moses’ brother) was to come before God, once a year, to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the nation.   In the above passage we read that the people were not allowed to join him.   He did this alone and he represented them.  Outside the Tabernacle the people could join in sacrifice and worship, but only the High Priest could come before the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies.   This was a shadow of what Christ would do for us, through the cross.  He went and sacrificed his own body for our sins.  This allows us to come to God, the throne of grace (the Mercy Seat).  We enjoy free entry to God.  Note Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:11-14 (ESV)

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

As a result of what Christ did for us, note what the writer of Hebrews concludes:

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)

The Full Assurance of Faith

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

We can, in corporate worship, or alone, enter boldly into the Throne of Grace.  We can find grace in time of need.  This is the glory of the age of grac/the church age.   The Old Testament believers could approach God, obviously.  David’s psalms show us the power of a personal relationship with God.  But, the system of worship, for corporate worship, was a shadow of what we are able to experience.  We need to praise God for that and enjoy our worship together in a powerful way.