Often the Day of Atonement is highlighted by teachers as a time of personal reflection and repentance to start a clean slate year. Dr. Robert Heidler in his bookThe Messianic Church Arising has done an excellent job of teaching on that aspect of the Day of Atonement. You can also find a teaching on our web site www.oimm.org to model how we as a community have kept that Feast.

However this year the Lord highlighted another aspect of this solemn day to me, the role of the High Priest to make atonement for Israel. Consider this, that Passover celebrates our personal salvation where the Day of Atonement is the rehearsal for the day of Israel’s National repentance. Let’s look together at the heart of God concerning our role of the priesthood, especially in light of the current conflict in the Middle East.

Peter speaks to the believers of his day and to us that now as believers in Yeshua whether we are the natural branches (Jewish Believers) that were once broken off because of unbelief or the wild olive branches (Gentile Believers) we are now all grafted in to the olive tree as the people of God.

I Peter:

[9] But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Settled in the understanding that we are a kingdom of priests let’s look at our role in the model God gave us in Leviticus for the Day of Atonement.

Lev 16: [3] “Aaron shall enter the holy place with this:with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. [4] “He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be girded with the linen sash and attired with the linen turban (these are holy garments). Then he shall bathe his body in water and put them on.

More details are given in the following passage:

[11] “Then Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall slaughter the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. [12] “He shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil. [13] “He shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die. [14] “Moreover, he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; also in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

Have you ever considered how massive a bull is? Interestingly as I was pondering just that thought for this article my friend “ happened” to come in and comment he was just in his car behind a trailer transporting a bull and was amazed how massive his head was. The thought crossed his mind if that bull ever got out it would ruin his car. In dream interpretation a vehicle often represents our ministries. Consider the bull as a representation of our own strength and our own works that need to be put on the altar of sacrifice, for us and our family. Only from a place of full surrender laying down our own strength and works can we minister the true heart of God.

The priest then washes himself and puts on the pure linen garments and turban. Laying our strength on the altar is not enough. We must also wash in the water of the word so we can cover our flesh and renew our mind. Only then can we put on the purity of God’s holy ways (undergarment) over our flesh and the renewing of our mind (turban). Before we can step in the gap and intercede.

In that renewed place we can accurately participate with our Lord and step into the place of intercession shown us in verses 12 and 13. It is interesting to note as we step in the place to pray for Israel there is a work of purity which requires change of garment. As you read later on in verse 23 we will see the priest put on his regular priestly garment for other priestly duties. However this day as he makes atonement for his sins and the peoples of Israel’s sins there is a special white garment needed.

Perhaps since this is a shadow of things to come and God knew there would be great opposition in understanding the place of intercession for the nation of Israel, He has put this act in place to highlight how important it is to have true understanding of His ways revealed through the Hebrew Scriptures. We need to cloth ourselves with the purity of the His word concerning Israel.

There are many that truly love the Lord and come into a place of intercession for many things but I suggest to you without a God perspective on Israel they cannot fully carry His heart in intercession for Israel.

We need to uses both hands to bring the incense a representation of our prayers behind the veil. We can’t come with a mixture of something in one hand and not the other. The incenses are to mingle with the fire of God and cover the mercy seat with the cloud of God’s presence. All this is done in the secret place to prepare to begin to stand in the gap for the sins of Israel.

The act of taking blood and sprinkling it seven times on the mercy seat reminds us this is yet a rehearsal of the coming day. Yeshua will be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind and the redemption of Israel God’s first born. There is no atonement without the shedding of blood.

The text in Leviticus 16 continues in verses 15 to 20 that the priest then slaughters a goat to atone for the sins of the people of Israel and the Holy place. He then confesses all the iniquities and transgressions and lays them on the head of a live goat and sends it into the wilderness. All of this is done in the tent of meeting while the people of Israel wait outside the veil.

It is in this picture God chose to reveal a truth to me. We the corporate body of Messiah as a kingdom of priests can stand in the gap for the people of Israel behind the veil in the inner court. A place where we now have access by our acceptance of Messiah and His shed blood. It is our place to intercede just like the priests of old would conduct the ritual of the Day of Atonement. All Israel would wait outside the tent to hear the blessing and know their sins were forgiven. Today because of the intercession of the saints many Jewish hearts are being turned to their Messiah.

How appropriate for us to take this Day of Atonement as an opportunity to cry out for souls of the Jewish people to know the love of Adonai through His Son Yeshua’s final atonement for them on the cross. This day of open heaven is set aside for the Atonement of the Nation of Israel. Yet remember from the beginning Israel was to be a light to the Nations and a blessing to the world. Many of us have come to understand this is the season for the eyes of the Jewish people to be open. We also believe that their acceptance is the key to world revival. So, I leave you with this.

Romans 11:[11] I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. [12] Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! [13] But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, [14] if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. [15] For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?