Yom Kippur

Today is Yom Kippur.

If you are following the news, especially all the swirl around Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court with hearings and votes upcoming, you noted that Congress is not in session today for it is Yom Kippur.

What is Yom Kippur you might ask?  Simply it is a Jewish holy day taken from the Torah – the five books of Moses – the Pentateuch – which happens every Fall.  Yesterday at sundown started that day.

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.”

It was on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) that the High Priest was required to enter the Holy of Holies – the back room of the Tabernacle or Temple and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant [the box containing the Ten Commandments and at times a pot of manna and Aaron’s rod which budded.  Over the Ark were the wings of Cherubim signifying protection from fierce angels and under the wings and over the lid, the mercy seat, where God met with man. Thus the point of Psalm 121 – I will lift my eyes to the hills – to Zion – to the mercy seat of God].

It was also the day of two goats – one was sent into the wilderness – the scapegoat – and the other was sacrificed.

The animals used for the blood for the ritual were taken outside the camp to be burned.

It was the most solemn for those who lived under God’s rule before Christ.  Today it is solemn for the Jews but not with the same intensity and not for the same reasons.

So, why would God mandate such a day?

First, it pointed to Christ.  It pointed out the necessity of forgiveness and cleansing from sin in order to come before God.  Reading Leviticus 16 you find many pointers and reminders that Jesus was the fulfillment of all that was required.  Because Jesus did exactly fulfill the day, we who have cast our faith in Jesus no longer keep the day (Heb. 9)

Second, it served as a reminder that God was present, was taking note, and is holy and thus the perfect judge.  It taught the people that one day every single person would be called before God.  Only by exactly following God’s word might one expect to exit alive.  Today we know that God’s will is that we fully, gladly, humbly, and sacrificially embrace Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Only by Jesus’ work and His covering will we be allowed to stand before God.  Are you truly saved?

Third, the day is a reminder that God expects us to set aside time weekly and annually to worship, learn, and reflect on Him, Jesus, life, and the future.  The weekly Sunday is God’s way for us to show our appreciation and submission to Him. Our Sunday doings are an act of worship if He is at center.  Also, God expects us to make special times to pause and ponder.  I think Thanksgiving and Christmas are such times – if, IF!!! He is seated at the table and with you at the tree.  Without Him – they are just days.  By the way, Halloween pushes God out and lets evil rule so it is not a day to set aside.  May our set aside days be truly pleasing to Him!