Today is Yom Kippur: Shabbat of Shabbats

Happy Yom Kippur! At sundown today is the “Day of Atonement” or Yom Kippur, and though it does not fall on a 7th day of rest according to the ancient Luni-solar calendar of the Most High, it is the highest sabbath, or sabbath of sabbaths. Observance of Yom Kippur begins 40 days prior on the 1st of Elul with a daily reading of Psalms 27 every morning. The final 10 days are the most important, then finally on the 10th of Tishrei, fast and prayer to cleanse on the Day of Atonement. This is perhaps, the highest and most solemn day of the year for the Jewish people.

In Leviticus we see that we are called to “afflict ourselves” as we atone on this special day appointed by the Most High as a “statute forever”. Since I don’t think we have reached forever on the calendar yet, this year I will begin a fast for the day and pray for many things. At the top of my list are some personal issues, but also we should all be praying for Israel and Jerusalem on this day. This year is of great significance, because it marks the Jubilee year of the Yom Kippur War of 1973, when Syria and Egypt attacked Israel. Because of the significance of the power of the Jubilee year, I think we should be on high alert, as Israel’s enemies on all sides are primed for just such an attack.

In the Yom Kippur War were recorded many miracles. You can find documented accounts of as many as 20 separate miracles in that war. But one of my favorite stories was from the Valley of Tears when by the 4th day of the battle, Israel was down to only 3 tanks to Syria’s 150. Suddenly, the Syrian tanks retreated without explanation.

This remained a mystery until the Mossad interrogated the Commander of Syria’s  9th Army Division. When asked why he didn’t take out those last three tanks, he told the Mossad interrogator, 

“I would like to see you try and cross the Syrian missile lines while you see a whole host of white angels standing right on the missile lines and a white hand from heaven telling you to stop right there and move no further.  Needless to say, I stopped right there and then,” said the commander.” (https://bit.ly/yomkippurwarmiracle)

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

Psalms 121:4-7

Nonetheless, we should join corporately in prayer on behalf of Israel for this Sabbath of Sabbaths. We are at the end of the age, and many will suffer in the coming years. Let’s pray that He that neither slumbers or sleeps will comfort His people in the difficult times they face ahead.

If we are indeed the wild branches grafted into the root and fatness of the olive tree (Romans 11:17-24), we are COUSINS to Israel and partners with God on Israel’s behalf. And if we are indeed the wild branches grafted into the olive tree, we are legal heirs to the blessing and promises given to Abraham. We should take these appointed days as seriously as our cousins but rather by Grace, not by ritualistic or legalistic behavior. As we atone ourselves with the ultimate sacrifice of the perfect lamb without blemish and pray accordingly, I believe most of our prayer this year should be dedicated to our Jewish cousins. By the blood of Yehshua, may the hand of the Father be upon Israel in the days, months and years ahead!

Meanwhile, be alert of the power of the Jubilee on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. We have Jonathan Cahn to thank for this insight and I believe there is more to it than we can possibly know.

"Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath."

Leviticus 23:27-32