Leviticus 23:26-27
Today is the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, the High Holy Day for Jews. This Holy Day falls 10 days after Rosh Hashanah on the 10th of Tishri which is the Hebrew month that correlates with September-October on our calendars. This sixth of the seven feasts speaks of atonement.
Kippur means to cover. The word atonement simply means covering. It was the most solemn day of the year. It still is today. For the ancient Jewish people, it was a day of repentance and confession. It was the last day to repent before the books and the gates were closed and judgment was passed down. They said that God would decide the fate of each human being and what would happen to them in the coming year.
On that day, the high priest entered into the holy of holies to stand before the shekinah glory. The Ark of the Covenant was only seen on this day, Israel’s day of national repentance. The high priest would repent first for his own sins and then for the sins of the nation. They tied a rope around him and bells on his garments so if the bells stopped jingling, then they could pull out the high priest.
Today in Israel, there is no temple because of its destruction in 70 A.D. Therefore, there are no more sacrifices. I find this fact so interesting because Jesus Messiah is the only sacrifice for sin. Even if the Jewish people didn’t accept Jesus as Messiah and stopped the sacrifices, God stopped the sacrifices after Messiah came as the final sacrifice. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Over half of the Israeli people will fast during this time. There are no radio or television broadcasts, airports are shut down, there is no public transportation, and all shops and businesses are closed.
This feast will be fulfilled in a time to come when Israel will repent of her sins and turn to Messiah for salvation. In the tribulation, satan will pour out his wrath on the earth and God will pour out His wrath calling for repentance. Through the tribulation, Israel will be redeemed and accept Jesus as Messiah. Oh, how I long for the day that Jesus can gather the Jewish people under His wings of protection as He longed to do when He entered Jerusalem the week before His death.
Now the church has dealt with sin at the mercy seat. Through accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are saved. We have had our Day of Atonement. Rest assured, my friend, that if you accepted Jesus as your Savior, repented from a lifestyle of sins, and desire to live for Him, then Jesus’ blood has atoned for your sins. You and I can fellowship with a Holy and Righteous God. There is no longer the gulf or the veil like in the temple that separates us from Him. I ask you to spend some time like the Jewish people will today in some introspective prayer and to focus on our Great God.
Pray with me: Father, on this Day of Atonement, we are reminded that Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for our sins. We don’t take it for granted to live a sinful life. But we rejoice and desire to live for You. May each one of us look into our own lives and allow You to reveal to us anything that does not please You. May we have ears to hear if You are calling us to fast and push other things aside so we can focus on You during this day.
While we are not looking forward to satan’s wrath being poured out on the earth, we long for the day when Israel has her eyes opened to the fact that her Messiah has already come. We pray for Israel to accept Jesus as her Messiah and to turn to You. In the mighty Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
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