Numbers 29:29-34: a reflection

29“‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 30and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 31and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it. 32“‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 33and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 34and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

These verses prescribe the offerings for the days of the Feast of Booths, a time of great joy and celebration. And amid the many burnt offerings of the festival, a detail recurs: one male goat for a sin offering. Even during the joyful feast, a sin offering was to be made, an acknowledgment of sin and the need for atonement. The celebration did not set aside the need for atonement; even in their joy, the people came as those needing their sins covered.

Notice the sin offering present even in the joyful feast. The Feast of Booths was a time of celebration, of abundant burnt offerings and rejoicing; and yet, even then, a sin offering was included, day by day. The joy of the feast did not set aside the reality of sin or the need for atonement; even in celebration, the people came before God as those needing their sins covered. Atonement was woven even into their joy; they rejoiced as forgiven sinners, not as those without need of atonement.

That is worth taking to heart, for even in our joy and celebration, we remain those who need atonement. We can come to God in times of joy and celebration as though we had no need of atonement, forgetting our sin in our gladness. But even the joyful feast included a sin offering; even in celebration, the people came as those needing their sins covered. Come to God, even in your joy and celebration, as one still needing atonement, still a sinner saved by grace, not as one without need of forgiveness. Our joy before God is the joy of forgiven sinners, resting on the atonement provided, not the joy of those who imagine they have no need of it. Even in your gladness, remember your need of atonement, and rejoice as one whose sins are covered, resting on Christ's atonement even in your celebration; for the sin offering was present even in the joyful feast, and our joy before God is always the joy of those whose sins have been atoned for, not of those who have no need.

Lord, these verses prescribe the offerings for the Feast of Booths, a time of great joy; and amid the many burnt offerings, a detail recurs: one male goat for a sin offering. Even during the joyful feast, a sin offering was made, an acknowledgment of sin and the need for atonement. Show me the sin offering present even in the joyful feast. The joy of the feast did not set aside the reality of sin or the need for atonement; even in celebration, the people came before you as those needing their sins covered. They rejoiced as forgiven sinners, not as those without need of atonement. Take that to my heart, for even in my joy and celebration, I remain one who needs atonement. I can come to you in times of joy as though I had no need of atonement, forgetting my sin in my gladness. But even the joyful feast included a sin offering. Help me come to you, even in my joy and celebration, as one still needing atonement, still a sinner saved by grace, not as one without need of forgiveness. My joy before you is the joy of a forgiven sinner, resting on the atonement provided, not the joy of one who imagines they have no need of it. Even in my gladness, help me remember my need of atonement, Lord, and rejoice as one whose sins are covered, resting on Christ's atonement even in my celebration. Let my joy be the joy of one whose sins have been atoned for.