Yom Kippur

Happy Sabbath! Actually, today is not a biblical Sabbath, but most people that continue to respect the sabbath are having their day of worship today. As mentioned previously, the new moon of the 7th month marked Rosh Hashanah and the Feast of Trumpets on the “Miqra Qodesh” or High Sabbath. In other words, much more important than a common sabbath. On the 10th day of the 7th month marked by the new moon and High Sabbath, is Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement. This year’s Yom Kippur began sundown October 6th. While many Jewish holidays were established by rabbinic tradition, Yom Kippur has been a sacred day for Jewish people since the ancient Israelites journeyed through the desert. The holiday is referenced multiple times in the Bible: twice in Leviticus, and then again in the Book of Numbers.

In Leviticus 16:29, the God tells the Israelites that the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishrei, according to the modern Jewish calendar) should be a day on which they afflict themselves, abstain from working and be cleansed of their sins. This “affliction” was by fasting from sundown to sundown that began the 10th day of the 7th month (Tishrei), but could have included abstaining from other activities or habits.

The 16th chapter of Leviticus offers a detailed description of the various rituals performed by the High Priest in the ancient Temple on Yom Kippur, the one day of the year he was permitted to enter the Temple’s innermost sanctum, the Holy of Holies. The priest would sprinkle the blood of sacrificial animals on the Ark of the Covenant (Mercy Seat) and symbolically cast off the nation’s sins by releasing a goat into the desert. This is the origin of the term “scape goat”. Of course, this ritual became obsolete with the sacrifice of the perfect “lamb without blemish”, Yehshua!

In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus, the commandment to observe Yom Kippur is repeated, with the addition that anyone who performs work or fails to fast on Yom Kippur will be cut off from the people. God took this day of atonement very seriously and demanded of His people that this day be respected with diligence.  

The commandment to observe Yom Kippur is reiterated again in the 29th chapter of Numbers, which also specifies the types of sacrifices to be brought on that day. Since the destruction of the Temple, Jews have ceased to observe Yom Kippur as it was done in ancient times. However, the passages  from Leviticus 16 are still read in many synagogues on Yom Kippur it, and many Yom Kippur prayers excerpt the passage from Numbers.

It is easy to get caught up in thinking and worrying about day to day things, so fasting on Yom Kippur is a reminder that all those kinds of needs come after our need for our Father and his love and grace. Obviously, I am one of those with too many priorities that steal my time with God, and the reason I am late explaining the significance of Yom Kippur to my Johnone.org subscribers. ☹

In my next blog article, I will explain why the biblical birth date for the Messiah was quite possibly on the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, plural for Sukkah). The Sukkah = a stable. In Luke 2:7 is recorded that there was no room in the inn so they sought cover in a sukkah. The Feast of Sukkot will take place on the next High Sabbath coming up at sundown October 11 to sundown of October 12. If you can tolerate 2 blog articles in 2 days, I hope to complete this tomorrow!

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.

Leviticus 23:27-28