Yom Kippur

"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 YHVH, to make atonement upon it, and let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness"

(Leviticus 16:8-10).

"Look! The Lamb of God Who carries away the sin of the world" (John 1:21)

This Friday evening (October 7th) at sundown begins Yom Kippur-the Day of Atonement. At that time, the entire public Jewish sector of Israel essentially closes down. Leviticus 23:26-32 solemnly commands the Hebrew people to deny themselves and to abstain from work on this day, with dire consequences if they don't. Except for the occasional Arab driver or an emergency vehicle, the streets will be free of traffic; in fact, later in the evening and on Saturday morning many streets will be filled with strolling couples and children on bicycles and skateboards. Millions of Jews will humble themselves by fasting for 25 hours from both food and water. Kippur or kippurim may be translated 'ransom by means of a substitute'.also included within the meaning is 'that which covers'. On this day in Biblical times a goat was slain as a sin offering, its blood taken by the High Priest into the veil of the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on and before the Mercy Seat (Hebrew: kaporet); a second goat, with the sins of the nation confessed over it, was led far into the Judean desert and released. It was considered 'damned' (today in Israel a common curse expletive is the Hebrew for "scapegoat").

As the ninth chapter of a First Century epistle written to Messianic Jews emphasizes, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Yet with the destruction of the Second Temple, blood sacrifice in Judaism came to an end. On Yom Kippur all religious Jews and many non-religious will spend the day in the Synagogues, confessing their sins and seeking forgiveness and a "Good Signature" in the Book of Life for the coming year. Yet something is missing. A question which rabbinic Judaism has never been able satisfactorily to answer is, "But, where is the blood?" Although there are various traditional ways in which its necessity in the present age is argued away, many obviously do not find these convincing. Each year during the days immediately preceding Yom Kippur an area in Jerusalem's large open-air market may be found reserved for stacks and stacks of coops bearing live chickens. Here one may pay an ultra-Orthodox man to be allowed to swing a chicken over one's head while reciting the following, "This is my substitute, this is my commutation; this chicken goes to death; but may I be gathered and enter into a long and happy life and into shalom." The bird is then slain and its body given to the poor for food. We do not hold in contempt those who blindly seek cleansing through this practice; yet this, no more than in ancient times, "can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near."

From Norma

"I grew up fasting on Yom Kippur from a very early age. Because we lived a block from the synagogue, family members and friends often spent the 'breaks' from the service in my parents' home. I remember that for years, I would ask my dad, my uncles, my cousins, my rabbi: 'Where is the sacrifice? Where is it? If we follow all these rules and regulations, where is the sacrifice?' Once I became a believer in Yeshua, it all made sense to me. I know that this burning question in my young heart was the Holy Spirit pulling me towards the atoning life of Yeshua. How thankful I am He worked on me and gave me an inquiring heart!"

As there were two goats, there must be both a blood sacrifice for sin and a "sin-bearer". Yochanan (John) saw Yeshua coming to him as he was immersing those who had repented in the Jordan River, and he called out, "Hineh! Seh haElohim ha'noseh hatat ha'Olam!'-"Look! The Lamb of God who carries away the sin of the world." King David understood this. In Psalm 25 he twice asks for forgiveness of sins.yet the word often translated forgiveness in verse 18 is different than that used in vs. 11; in the first the word means "forgive", in the second it literally means "bear away". Forgiveness of sin requires both a blood sacrifice to cleanse, and a sin bearer to carry it away. Verse 22 calls on Elohim to 'Redeem Israel from all his troubles." She can never do it herself-only her God can provide complete redemption, and that through the work of His Son.

PLEASE PRAY:

*That during this time of soul searching, the Holy Spirit of God would move on Jewish hearts around the world, convicting of sin, righteousness and judgment-and in kindness leading to repentance, life, and freedom.

*That in that kindness would be revelation that it is impossible to atone for our own sin or to be made righteous by our own efforts.

*That there would be revelation about the Blood of Messiah-that the blood of bulls and goats in the past (or of a chicken today) is not enough.

*For Israel's protection from her enemies. 38 years ago she was attacked on this day by Egypt and Syria while most of the nation was in synagogues seeking pardon for their sins.


portions taken from Israel prayer list