Yom-kippur

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, marks the day each year under the Old Covenant when the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies to offer a blood sacrifice on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant where God's presence dwelt. This sacrifice specifically covered the sins of the Jewish people committed in ignorance. (Sins knowingly committed required a sin offering to be brought by the individual.)

When Yeshua died on the cross, the veil in the Temple separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that the way to God was now opened through Messiah's death on the cross.

Yeshua is our atonement. He fulfilled literally all the foreshadowing and symbolism found in the Old Covenant. See Hebrews 9:23-28.

At the same time that we have already received the promised atonement, or covering of our sins, we also cry out for the people of Israel who, en masse, still await the fulfillment of this Feast, when they will "look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for an only begotten son." (Zechariah 12:10). And so, as it is written, "all Israel will be saved." (Romans 11:26)

We pray for Jewish people everywhere not to wait, but to receive power to believe in their Messiah now, as so many already have!

Yom Kippur is a very special Sabbath that requires not only rest from work, but the Lord specifically asks us to "afflict your soul." (Leviticus 16:29-31) It is understood that this means fasting. Traditionally, men and women fast from both food and drink. The fast begins at sundown and ends the next evening when three stars are visible in the sky.

Please pray during this Feast. Please fast only as you are led by God. Do not fast out of shame or obligation, especially if you have medical issues. There are many ways to afflict our souls and God looks at our hearts. We cry out for the Jewish people, as Paul did, "Oh, that I were cut off for the sake of my people, my brethren according to the flesh." (Romans 9:1-3)

For more reading about the Day of Atonement and the scapegoat, see Leviticus 16.