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Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement |
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September 22, 2011
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish
year and is called the Day of Atonement. The Biblical name
is Yom Kippurim, meaning the day of covering, canceling,
pardon, reconciling. Yom Kippur was the only time when the High
Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and call upon the Name YHVH to
offer blood sacrifice for the sins of the people. This “life for
life” principle is the foundation of the sacrificial system codified
in the Mosaic Law and marked the great day of intercession made by
the High Priest on behalf of Israel.
The entrance of the High Priest
into the Holy of Holies reveals the High Priestly work of Messiah
Yeshua, or Christ Jesus, as our High Priest after the order of
Mechesidek (Heb 5:10, 6:20). It also foreshadows three closing
events of God’s work in the world: 1) the restoration of Israel,
when its people are washed from their sins and given a new heart
(Ezek 36:24-28), 2) the Savior’s second coming, when Jesus descends
as King of kings to reign on earth, and the final judgment of the
world.
In rabbinic Judaism, Yom Kippur
marks the climax of the ten-day period of repentance called the
Days of Awe or yamim nor’im. Erev Yom Kippur
begins in the Hebrew calendar at nightfall on Tishri 9 (which is
October 7 this year) and continues 25 hours through the next day,
Tishri 10, (October 8) until nightfall. It is a day marked by
complete fasting, prayer, and additional services.
According to the Jewish sages,
Moses came down from Sinai on Tishri 10 bearing the second set of
tablets—the tablets given after God had forgiven Israel’s worship of
the Golden Calf. Orthodox Jews observe the 40 days that Moses was
on the mountain receiving the second set of tablets. It is called
the season of Teshuvah. Beginning on Elul 1, it lasts 40 days,
ending on Yom Kippur. This year, Elul 1 is August 31.
During the Season of Teshuvah,
orthodox Jews make every effort to repent, or “turn [shuv] toward
God.” In Jewish tradition, these days are called Yemei Ratzon,
or Days of Favor; for it was during this time that God showed
favor toward Israel, forgiving the Hebrews for the sin of the Golden
Calf. Moses had interceded, requesting the Lord to “forgive their
sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou
hast written” (Ex 32:32).
Moses’ intercession prophetically
foreshadows Jesus’ intercession for Zion, whose daughters “dwellest
with the daughter of Babylon” (Zech 2:7). Despite their
transgressions, their light treatment of “the things you have
received, which vanity and unbelief hath brought the whole church
under condemnation” (D&C 83:8a) – their “jarrings, and contentions,
and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires” by
which “they polluted their inheritances” (D&C 98:3a) – Jesus will
intercede “according to his goodness, and according to his loving
kindness, for ever and ever. In all their afflictions he was
afflicted. And the angel of his presence saved them; and in his
love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and bare them, and carried
them all the days of old” (D&C 108:10a-b).
On August 31,
believers across this nation and around the world, gathered on first
day of fasting, just as Moses did on the mount and just as orthodox
Jews have done for millennia. They come to turn toward God, to rend
their hearts, to weep for their transgressions and to forsake their
sins, that they might forsake them, become one and receive our
Savior’s redeeming goodness and loving kindness. On October 9, they
will complete that time of fasting by laying their burdens on their
Lord, their Messiah, who will redeem them according to His word. |
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