Simcha blowing the Shofar. [Click pic for video.]
At sundown, on Wednesday, October 1, begins the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
Leviticus 23 indicates that Yom Kippur is also to be considered a special Sabbath when no work is allowed.
The Hebrew word translated as atonement is כִּפֻּר [kip·pür] which means, to cover, purge, make atonement, and make reconciliation. Atonement restores the relationship between man and God that was broken because of sin.
Therefore, Yom Kippur is the most important holy day on Israel’s calendar.
Leviticus 23:26-32
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “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.”
From sundown to sundown the next day, the entire country of Israel shuts down. Even the roads are closed to all but emergency vehicles. Bicycles are allowed; therefore, many children ride their bikes on the empty streets. Religious, and even non-religious Jews spend most of the day in the synagogue, taking breaks to go for a walk. There is a sense of peace and serenity in the quiet of the day throughout the country.
In biblical times, in the Holy Temple, Yom Kippur was the only day of the year that the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies. There he made atonement for the entire nation of Israel by putting the blood of the sacrificial goat on the mercy seat.
God gave very specific instructions.
The High Priest
Leviticus 16:2
”…and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.”
The High Priest bathed several times, wore special garments, and offered multiple sacrifices. However, the blood of animals could never take away the sin of the people and God provided a better sacrifice.
Two Identical Goats
The second unique feature of this holy day is the sacrifice; two identical goats were required. The High Priest would symbolically transfer the sins onto the heads of the goats.
Leviticus 16:7-10
“He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But, the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.”
One goat was sacrificed and its blood taken into the Holy of Holies. The other was sent into the wilderness and left to die. The first goat bore the sins of the people while the second goat carried them away and into the wilderness.
Leviticus 16:20-22
“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”
Real Atonement
The word translated as “bear” comes from the Hebrew root נָשָׂא nasa which means to lift or to carry off. It is also used in Isaiah 53:4 which is part of the most clear description of the atoning sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua.
Isaiah 53:4
“Surely He has born our sicknesses, and suffered our pains.”
The word translated as “BORN” comes from the Hebrew root נָשָׂא “Nasah” and the word translated as “carried” comes from the Hebrew root סָבַל Saval which means to bear a heavy load or to drag oneself along.
Yeshua lifted our sins from us and dragged the heavy load Himself to the cross.
When the Day of Atonement ends at sundown, many Jews are uncertain if God has forgiven their sins. One rabbi said, “We can’t be sure – we hope so; we just act as though He has. God is merciful. However, God said that there was only one way there could be atonement:
Leviticus 17:11
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
But the blood of animals could only provide temporary covering of sin.
Yom Teruah
The first day of Tishrei is Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpets, Leviticus 23:24.) There are ten days from Yom Teruah to Yom Kippur. They mark the final 10 days of Teshuvah, repentance, or coming back to God. These 10 days are traditionally referred to as the “10 Days of Awe.” However, in Hebrew they are called, “the Ten Terrible Days.” These are the most intense days of praying, and repenting, leading up to the climax of return, which is Yom Kippur.
Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near;”
When We Had the Temple and Jewish Tradition
In biblical times, the High Priest (HaCohen HaGadol) would enter into the Holy of Holies in the Holy Temple only once a year on Yom Kippur. He would sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant, as an atonement for the entire nation of Israel.
According to Jewish tradition, on Yom Teruah (known in Judaism as Rosh HaShana or the head of the year,) God’s Books are opened. They are the Book of Life and the Book of Death. The names of those who have lived righteous lives during the past year are inscribed in the Book of Life. However, the names of those who lived sinful lives are inscribed in the Book of Death.
During these ten terrible days, all are prepared to stand before God for judgment, as the books are opened. According to Jewish tradition, God makes His judgment at this time.
Once Yom Kippur ends at sunset, the books are closed for another year. It was during Yom Kippur that men would traditionally tear their outer coats as an outward sign of repentance and mourning and place ashes on their heads, begging God for forgiveness.
Some would beat their chests in a show of repentance and pain, hoping that God would hear their cries of repentance, forgive their sins and inscribe their names in the Book of Life. A common greeting in Israel in those ten days of awe, and especially on Yom Kippur: “May your name be inscribed in the Book of Life.”
What Does the Bible Say?
Although this tradition is not Biblical, the truth is that God does have a Book of Life – for eternal life or eternal punishment.
Revelation 20: 11-15:
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
God sees the heart of men and desires true repentance, as He says through the prophet Joel:
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.” (Joel 2:12-13)
God called His people to come before Him with weeping and fasting.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God…Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)
As believers, we know that the throne of God is always accessible to us through Yeshua. He is our High Priest, we can approach anytime to obtain mercy. Yet, we too can use this time to search our hearts, evaluate our achievements and consider where we may have gone astray. It is a time we can ask God to cleanse us of resentments, bitterness and bad attitudes.
We can take this time to sincerely seek OUT where there is need of repentance of sins against others and against God, asking for His mercy as we extend mercy to those who have sinned against us. We thank God that we have His Son Yeshua’s blood to atone for our sins.
Sin and Believers
However, we still sin against Him when we allow our flesh to take control of our spirit man. So, even as believers, according to I John 1:8-9,
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8–9) and according to Yeshua’s teaching we can pray, “and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
By debts, Yeshua means sins.
The ultimate goal of repentance is salvation which Yeshua provided for us through His sacrificial death.
What Shall We Do?
On this Holy Day, it is a good time to draw closer to God and prepare for a new beginning through greater dedication to Him and His word, as well as through contemplation of His manifold mercies.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“Return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey His voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul.”(Deuteronomy 30:2)
Now, while Jews and Israelis are more than ever opening their hearts to God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness, we pray fervently to the God of Israel to touch hearts and open eyes to see there is forgiveness only through the Blood of the Lamb of God, Yeshua the Messiah, Who takes away the sins of the world.
How Shall We Pray?
- Pray for the Peace (Shalom) of Jerusalem, and for Israel to fulfill her destiny.
- Pray that Israel and the Jewish people recognize Messiah Yeshua, as they seek God’s mercy and forgiveness.
- Pray for the fear of the Lord to fall on Israel at this time, and for the nation of Israel to humble herself before the God of Israel.
- Pray that Israelis and Jews acknowledge and confess personal and national sins, and repent of their sins.
Although the nations do not practice a formal Day of Repentance, pray these things for your nation as well.
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