In Isaiah 51 and 52 God tells his people not to fear their oppressors. God will deliver them from those who would do them harm. They need not fight the battle themselves because God will go before them. They need not be afraid because God is their Redeemer. The people need to trust in Him alone. He is the one who has the power to defeat their enemies.

We live much of our lives in fear. We are afraid of the economy, the government, war, violence, illness. We forget that God is with us. God is fighting our battle for us. We rest in the shadow of his hand. He protects us and brings us through difficult times. If we allow ourselves to be consumed with fear we let our enemies win. If we trust in the Lord and believe that He is in charge and has already worked toward their defeat we win the battle. We need to keep ourselves pure in obedience and trust to God. God is faithful. God will prevail. That is our reality as people of faith. If we live in that reality we will also prevail because of Him.

Hebrews 9 compares the ritual of atonement offered by the high priest with the complete atonement granted by Jesus our perfect High Priest. Each year the high priest went into the holy of holies to offer sacrifices of atonement not only for the people but for himself as well as a condition of the old covenant. Because the blood was of a lamb or heifer it did not permanently atone for the people’s sins. This ritual must be carried out each year. Jews to this day observe this Day of Atonement Yom Kippur, although they no longer sacrifice since the temple does not exist.

Jesus didn’t just go into the Holy of Holies here on earth, which is a representation of the throne of God in heaven, he went into heaven and stands even now before God Himself on our behalf. He became the perfect sacrifice, a human for humanity, so that once for all our sins have been atoned. This is not a copy but the true atonement. Christ is our mediator of the new covenant God has made with us through Jesus. He no longer needs to deal with our sin only with our salvation.