Yom Kippur, 2007

The Day of Atonement is a serious and significant thing for all of those who come under the Headship of the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac and the G-d of Jacob. It was intended to be this way by our Father when He outlined this day in Scripture. It is the most solemn day of the entire year. I wrote about Yom Kippur last year here and would like to expand on a few ideas in this years entry here.

Yom Kippur (or Yom HaKippurim) literally means Day of Atonements or Day of Covering. It is commonly known as Judgment Day.

Yom Kippur is the one day a year when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies, behind the veil, and make atonement for all Israel in the way prescribed by the Most High G-d. This is a solemn day indeed. It was only the High Priest who could enter the Holy of Holies and it was only on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The rest of the priests and the Israelites were to abstain from work and spend the day in self-denial thereby humbling themselves.

The High Priest would be splendidly dressed in his formal uniform on a daily basis which included a golden crown, colorful robes, a breastplate and jewels.

But on the Day of Atonement he set aside his normal splendor and wore only a linen robe, linen shorts, a linen sash and a linen turban, all of which were white, being symbolic of purity. But because Yom Kippur is a day of sacrifice his white linen garments would soon be stained with blood from the day’s sacrifices, but these are his garments throughout the day. There was much procedure in the order of events on this day at the Tabernacle and later at the Temple. Each and every part of the procedure of this sanctified day carried much meaning and significance. In the days of the Tabernacle and the Temple the people better understood the significance of these events. Today, however, we are not only too far removed from these practices but we are too far removed from the culture of the Holy Scriptures to understand so well the tremendous significance of these events. Reading about these procedures can tend to make us squirmy and uncomfortable. But we must remember that these are the procedures that the Creator G-d outlined, this is how He designed that we worship Him. These procedures are outlined in Leviticus 16.

With the people of Israel in a state of repentance and prayer, humbling themselves on this day of complete rest (shabbat shabbaton) and holy convocation (mik’ra kodesh), it was the High Priest who performed the work to bring offerings for atonement, for covering, for the whole people.

The High Priest tying the scarlet thread to the Azazel

I wrote last year a little bit about the Azazel, or scapegoat. What I have learned since last year is that along with the scarlet cord tied to the horn of the azazel there was a coresponding scarlet cord tied to the door of the Temple. This is a bit of info from the Temple Institute and here is more of the story from the Talmud:

Tractate Shabbat Folio 86a
How do we know that a crimson-colored strap is tied to the head of the goat that is sent [to ‘Azaz’el]? Because it is said, If your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow

Isa. I, 18. By a miracle this crimson coloured strap turned white, thus showing the people that they were forgiven of their sins;

In another part of the Talmud, near the end of the Yoma section it says this:

“Now what did he do? He divided the crimson thread, Half of it he tied to a rock, and half of it he tied between its horns. He then pushed it (the goat) over backward, and it rolled down the mountain before it broke into pieces.” … “They said to the high priest, ‘The goat has reached the wilderness.’ Now how did they know that the goat had come to the wilderness? They made sentinel posts, and waved flags, so they might know that the goat had reached the wilderness. Said R. Juddah, ‘Now did they not have a more impressive sign than that? From Jerusalem to Bet Hiddudo is three miles. They can walk a mile, come back a mile, and wait sufficient time to walk a mile, and so they will know that the goat has reached the wilderness.’ R. Ishmael says, ‘Now did they not have another sign? There was a crimson thread tied to the door of the sanctuary. When the goat had reached the wilderness, the thread would turn white, as it says, ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.’ “

Yoma 39b
Our Rabbis taught: In the year in which Simeon the Righteous died, he foretold them that he would die. They said: Whence do you know that? He replied: On every Day of Atonement an old man, dressed in white, wrapped in white, would join me, entering [the Holy of Holies] and leaving [it] with me, but today I was joined by an old man, dressed in black, wrapped in black, who entered, but did not leave, with me. After the festival [of Sukkoth] he was sick for seven days and [then] died. His brethren [that year] the priests forbore to mention the Ineffable Name in pronouncing the [priestly] blessing. Our Rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot [‘For the Lord’] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-coloured strap become white; nor did the westernmost light shine; and the doors of the Hekal would open by themselves, until R. Johanan b. Zakkai rebuked them, saying: Hekal, Hekal, why wilt thou be the alarmer thyself? I know about thee that thou wilt be destroyed, for Zechariah ben Ido has already prophesied concerning thee: Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.

It was 40 years before the destruction of the Temple that the crimson strap stayed red. The Temple was destroyed in 70 CE.

I find this an intriguing sign. If you read The Signs of the Times in the First Century, keep this sign in mind. Something changed, something happened. I personally believe that it was the death of our Master and His resurrection on the third day that affected this change.  A discovery that has been brought to light speaks of the first century understanding regarding the Messiah, His death and resurrection on the third day.  His resurrection is evidence that the offering up of Himself was accepted.  Yeshua was crucified and resurrected in the year 30 CE, forty years before the destruction of the Temple.  It is interesting to note that in Eziekel’s temple (Ezekiel 40 to 48), which is thought to be the third Temple or the Millennial Temple, the atonement sacrifice is not mentioned.

We read in Hebrews 9 that it is our Master Who has entered the Heavenly Tabernacle and ministers there on our behalf as the heavenly High Priest. It is His own blood, obtained through His sacrifice, that He brings into the Holy of Holies and it is this that restores our inward purity just as the annual sacrifices by the High Priest restored our outward purity. This does not negate the significance of a future Temple here on earth because we read in Ezekiel and other places that there is a Temple spoken of that has not yet come to pass.  One day we will again have a Temple in Jerusalem where true worship will be restored, may it be soon and in our day.

Yom Kippur, like all of the moedim (appointed times), is a day of remembrance – a memorial. It is a day to seriously consider when the Righteous King sits in the judgment seat and makes His decision – be it for eternal life or eternal suffering.  This day is the day that is referred to as Judgment Day and The Day of the L-RD. We have read about the great and terrible Day of the L-RD in places like Joel 1 & 2, Isaiah 2 & 13 & 22 and Amos 5 and we understand the severity and horror of it. We also read where Kefa (Peter) writes and says that the Day of the L-RD will come like a thief in the night and he goes on to give more of a description of this great and terrible day in 2 Peter 3:10-13. We also read in Matthew 25:31-34 and Mark 13:24 – 27 about the return of our Master and the judgment.

For those of us who believe that Yeshua is the long awaited Messiah it is a day of solemnity but also a day of peace. We are taught that our atonement has been made, once and for all, through His shed blood that He brings into the Holy of Holies in the Heavenly Tabernacle. We await the great and terrible Day of the L-RD because we have the confidence that we are covered by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb of G-d and will come through that day to find the dawning of the new heavens and the new earth, the world to come. We have confidence because we have placed our hope in the Name that is above all Names – the reputation that is above all reputations. If we are under our Master in this way then we have reason for hope when it comes to Judgment Day. Yes we have sin and yes we need to make things right as much as it is in our own power to do so. Yes we need to seek forgiveness from man and G-d. I believe we do need to keep the moedim (appointed times, feasts and festivals) as outlined by HaShem in Scripture and therefore Yom Kippur is a solemn day that is for us to keep. But we can do so without fear and uncertainty that our transgressions will be covered – because they are.

So how do we honor Yom Kippur? Remember that this day is a Shabbat like the weekly Shabbat but is a day of humbling ourselves, self-denial rather than a day to feed ourselves with the best meals of the week. We will do well to remember that this day is not about us, it is about Him. Many choose to fast as a way to afflict oneself as Scripture says, this is very common. As well it is common to abstain from marital relations and anything that would be considered a luxury or a pleasure. What can you do without, what can you deprive yourself of as a form of humbling yourself or self-denial? It goes against the grain for us to humble ourselves, to go against the desires of our flesh.  It doesn’t come natural to us and we have to be intentional about self-denial. Yom Kippur is a day to spend in repentant prayer and worship of our Heavenly Father. It is a day to recognize His sovereignty, His place as Righteous Judge, a day to bless HaShem all the more for sending us His Messiah. Yeshua may have very well indeed fulfilled this moed but that makes it all the more significant for His followers. Remember that Yom Kippur is a “permanent regulation throughout all your generations, no matter where you live.” It is for this very reason that we must bow ourselves low in worship of our Maker. We need to constantly learn how to put off our flesh so that we can better learn how to live by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).

May you experience a peaceful Yom Kippur this year.

Aharon shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.”
Exodus 30:10

On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; and you shall afflict your souls: you shall do no manner of work;
Numbers 29:7

“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you: for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD. It is a Shabbat of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls; it is a statute forever. The Kohen, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be Kohen in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the Kohanim and for all the people of the assembly.
“This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Yisra’el once in the year because of all their sins.”
Leviticus 16:29 – 34

The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying, “However on the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day; shall be cut off from his people. Whoever it is who does any manner of work in that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be a Shabbat of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Shabbat.”
Leviticus 23:26 – 32