The Day of Atonement
Lev 23:
The day of atonement is the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar and God’s biblical calendar. In Hebrew it is called Yom (day) Kippur (atonement). Rabbi’s have interpreted it to mean a day of fasting for repentance because of the instruction to humble one’s self, afflict one’s self or practice self-denial. So it is also called “The Fast Day” or “The Day”. God also calls it a Sabbath a time of rest not only for the native but those who dwell with you.
Lev 16: [29] “ This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you.(NASB)
Clearly it is also an appointment that God has asked the nation of Israel to keep as long as they live. He says it is to be a perpetual, permanent statute through out your generations.
So what has this to do with us as believers? Should we as believers keep this yearly appointment knowing that Yeshua has become our atonement? Our salvation is obtained by faith in the blood shed by our Precious Redeemer. We can go moment by moment to the thrown of grace and receive the fullness of what Yeshua accomplished on the cross of Calvary by simply confessing our sin and receiving forgiveness.
Paul tells us in Eph 2: [11] Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— [12] remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Based on that scripture we ( Jew and Gentile ) in the faith are now part of the commonwealth of Israel. We gladly claim all the promises of Abraham right? So do we also embrace the statutes of Israel and if so how? We know the apostles kept the Feasts (or in Hebrew “moedim” translated “appointments”). Surely they, better than we, understood the atonement sacrifice of Yeshua.
Historically He instituted the sacrifices and Feasts to foreshadow the coming of Yeshua, the ultimate sacrifice. He gave the Israelites a temporary way to come before Him to cleanse their sins and enjoy His presence. Interestingly though, He tells us these Feasts are to be observed forever. Why would that be if Yeshua is the end of sacrifice for those who believe?
As I have pondered this commandment, I have come to understand that what I do concerning keeping appointments with God whether they are weekly by keeping Sabbath , monthly by keeping Rosh Chodesh or Annually by keeping the Feasts, is about my relationship with my Heavenly Father not my salvations through His Son.
God our creator understands we learn through example and experience. He knows we need times and seasons. He has set patterns in His word for us to enter into that we might experience the fullness of the relationship He has planned for us.
Now I look at the pattern He has set and ask Holy Spirit to guide me to appropriate God’s ways to be applicable today to my life and the lives of those I fellowship with. Simply because I love Him, I am willing to meet with him at His appointed times. He will always meet with us on our calendar which is usually based on our need. Why not meet with Him on His calendar to honor His ways above our needs?
There are many instructions in the word for honoring the Day of Atonement. As we read through the scriptures we see a richness in the model that can be easily appropriated for us today. Today through Yeshua we have become the priests that stand before the Lord in repentance and intercession. We are also those in the assembly that look to Yesuha our high priest. Let’s look together at how we can follow the pattern God has set before for us with this Moed.
Lev.23:26 through 32 tells us:
When we should meet: The 10th day of the 7th month.
How we should meet: As a Holy convocation which, by definition means it should be a public assembly set aside for the Lord.
What we should do: afflict our soul or humble ourselves bring and offering made by fire and set the day aside as a Sabbath and do no manner of work.
Most commonly those that enter into this Holy Day will fast from food. Which is, of course, one way to bring our flesh under subjection. However it is possible to fast your flesh and not humble your spirit. God addresses this in Isaiah 58 where He talks to Israel about the pride they have when they fast. Interestingly, one of the Hebrew definitions of afflicting oneself is to cover ones mouth. Verse 9 of Isaiah 58 addresses that definition. In Matthew 15:11 the Lord tells us [11] “ It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
Isaiah 58:[5] “Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?[6] “Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?[7] “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? [8] “Then your light will break out like the dawn,…[9] “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
At the end of this article you will find a prayer that the messianic community uses to guide them through a time of repentance before the Lord on Yom Kippur. We used it last year in our morning time of quiet contemplation before the Lord and it was a true blessing. As each one came in, I gave them a copy of the prayers and a pen to write down things God would bring to mind that needed to be dealt with. As they finished, they took the paper and put it in our shedder. Just as Jesus said “it is finished” as He hung on the cross. So as we start this new year with true repentance we declare we are finished with those sins that so easily beset us and go rejoicing and free into 5770.
Our next instruction is to bring an offering made by fire. What can we bring to our Lord but our worship and our intercession? Here we step into our Priestly role so let’s examine the activities of the priest on this solemn day.
Leviticus 16 gives us a detailed description of the requirements of the priest for that day. Perhaps you might want to take some time and read it for yourself. The internet has many informative teachings on this passage. You can find spiritual applications for the sacrifices the priest is required to make. There is also teaching on the prophetic symbolisms of this day. For our purposes, I am going to bring you a brief description of the personal preparation of the priest and a shortened explanation of his prayers. With that information, I hope to point to a possible application for us in this season.
The Priest washed himself in water. This day he washed his whole body not just his hands and feet. We as believers need to be washed in the water of the word. We will take some time to read aloud passages in the word the Lord puts on our hearts.
He put on a holy linen of his daily ware. This day we have started with repentance. Thus we have also put on our linen garments cleansed in the atoning blood of the Lamb.
He used a golden censer to bring the incense before the mercy seat. We know our worship and intercession is the incense that is a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord. Just as the priest first prayed for himself then his household then the priestly tribe and then all the people. We will spend time worshiping and in the style of harp and bowl direct our prayers in that order. Having spent the first part of the day praying for our selves we will then pray corporately for our families, the body of Messiah locally and globally, for Israel, for our nation and then all the nations.
Biblically the Day of Atonement was the only day the Priest would enter the Holy of Holies, the only day the priest could come Face to Face with the Lord at the mercy seat and live and the only day he could pronounce the name of God. It was a day all Israel waited to hear that their sins were forgiven and their names were written in the book of life. As the priest spoke the name of God, all the people would prostrate themselves and say aloud “Baruch shem K’vod malchuto l’olam va’ed” which means “Blessed be the Name of the Radiance of the Kingship, forever and beyond”.
We will also come to some measure of face to face with our Messiah this Day of Atonement, knowing that ICor13: [12], “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but ( When He comes and takes His rightful place on the Throne of David) then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known”.
How wonderful to know even now in our current state, with all that is going on in this hour of God’s history, that we are fully known by the Lover of our Soul. The One who became our atonement. Yeshua! The One who has given us this day of remembrance. How we are looking forward to experiencing His love and forgiveness on this special date on His calendar, even as we are assured that He will meet our daily needs and come at the whisper of His name.
And yes, of course, as always we will break fast with a corporate meal.
On this and every High Holy Day the Jewish community calls out to each other a salutation of hope that their names be written in the book of Life. Let me leave you with these words from our Jewish Messiah.
Rev 3 [5] ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. [6] ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Here is a “Messianic” version of the “Machzor”, or “CONFESSION OF SINS” to be read during Yom Kippur:
Our God and God of our fathers! Let our prayers come before You, and do not hide Yourself from our supplication. What shall we say to You who dwells on high? You know all things, both hidden and revealed. You search our hearts and thoughts. Nothing is hidden from Your sight. We are not so arrogant nor hardened as to say, “We are righteous and have not sinned.” For truly we have sinned. We have turned away from the good commandments You have given us. You are righteous and true in all Your ways, but we have done evil in Your sight. Thank You our God and God of our fathers, that You forgive all our sins, pardon all our iniquities, and grant atonement for all our transgressions through Yeshua the Messiah. For it is written: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Return O Israel to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.”
For the sin we committed in Your sight by sinning willfully, and for the sin we committed in ignorance.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by slander, and for the sin of gossip.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by neglecting our responsibilities, and for the sin of selfishness.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by indulging evil thoughts, and for the sin of lust.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by being lukewarm, and for the sin of not loving You with all our hearts and souls.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and for the sin of not being poor in spirit.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not being merciful, and for the sin of withholding when we could have given.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by speaking foolish words, and for the sin of not controlling our tongues.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not loving our neighbors, and for the sin of not blessing our enemies.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not turning the other cheek, and for the sin of practicing our righteousness before men.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by being proud, and for the sin of lack of zeal.
For the sin we committed in Your sight knowingly, and for the sin we committed unknowingly. For all these, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, and grant us atonement in Yeshua the Messiah.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not walking as Yeshua walked, and for the sin of not being filled with Your Spirit.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by loving the world, and for the sin of loving the things in the world.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by putting other things before You, and for the sin of idolatry.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not praying at all times, and for the sin of not being thankful.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not being quick to forgive, and for the sin of holding resentments.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not going the second mile, and for the sin of impatience.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by not doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, and for the sin of greed.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by being anxious about the things of this life, and for the sin of not trusting You to provide for all of our needs.
For the sin we committed in Your sight by setting our minds on the things below, and for the sin of not setting our minds on things above.
For all these, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, and grant us atonement in Yeshua the Messiah.