Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement

Sabbath, October 3-4, 2014 will be a HIGH Sabbath!!

This year, Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) falls on a Sabbath day! That gets me excited and contemplative. Here is a little about this special day:

"Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year—the day on which we are closest to G‑d and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement—“For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d” (Leviticus 16:30)." Chabad.org

The Day of Atonement was a most solemn day for all Israel. In Leviticus 23:27-28, we learn "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"

The word 'Atonement' in Hebrew is 'Kippür' which we see in the Holy Day's name. It is derived from the word 'Kaphar' which means to cover, purge, cleanse and reconcile. During the year of constant sin and constant sacrifice, there was one day when all the sins (and blood-stains) collected in the earthly sanctuary were finally purged. What a heavy, heart-searching, solemn day that must have been, but when it was completed, I imagine it being a day of peace, joy and rejoicing!!! There was also a stern warning to those who did not afflict (`anah) their souls for that day . In Leviticus 23:29, it says whoever didn't afflict his soul, would be cut off from the people.

There are many of us who believe that this symbolic custom that was performed in biblical times and is observed by our Jewish brethren is also taking place in the heavenly sanctuary; but before we can find out what's happening in heaven, we should study what happened on earth.

Read and study Leviticus 16 and 23 this Sabbath/Yom Kippur.

I pray that you this day will be a 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. (Lev 23:27-28)