Yom Kippur
Joel 2:15 “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.”
Yom Means “Day”
The word “Kippur” comes from the wordכּפ” or “KAF-PEY-RESH” or “KAPHAR,” which means, “to cover; to placate; to cancel; to forgive; to purge away; to put off; and to make reconciliation.”
Yom Kippur is the “Day of Atonement. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the seventh month. It is ten days after Yom Teruah and five days before Sukkot.
Atonement means payment, settlement, restitution, or compensation for damages.
Yom Kippur is about national repentance and purification of all things.
Acts 3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Why Celebrate Yom Kippur?
BECAUSE IT IS A COMMANDMENT:
LEVITICUS 23:26-32 “ADONAI spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “However, the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur,[f] a holy convocation to you, so you are to afflict yourselves. You are to bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI. 28 You are not to do any kind of work on that set day, for it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you before ADONAI your God. 29 For anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people. 30 Anyone who does any kind of work on that day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You should do no kind of work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It is to be a Shabbat of solemn rest for you, and you are to humble your souls. On the ninth day of the month in the evening—from evening until evening, you are to keep your Shabbat.”
What to Do During Yom Kippur?
Holy Convocation
Fasting and Prayer
No Work
Sacrifice Offering (Yeshua is the sacrificial offering)
During Yom Kippur, we no longer must offer an animal sacrifice and lay our hands on the animal for our atonement. Yeshua did this for us by his blood shed on the cross.
What God Considers Fasting:
Isaiah 58:6-12 “Is not this the fast I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house? When you see the naked, to cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up speedily. Your righteousness will go before you, the glory of ADONAI as your rear guard.” 9 Then you will call, and ADONAI will answer. You will cry, and He will say, “Here I am.” If you get rid of the yoke among you, finger-pointing and badmouthing, 10 If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will be like midday. 11 Then ADONAI will guide you continually, satisfy your soul in drought and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail. 12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins, will raise up the age-old foundations, will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets for Dwelling.
What Does God Not Consider Fasting:
Isaiah 58:2-5 “Yet they seek Me day to day and delight to know My ways, as if they were a nation that did right, and had not forsaken their God’s decree. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” 3 “Why have we fasted. yet You do not, see? Why have we afflicted our souls, yet You take no notice?” “Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. 4 Behold, you fast for strife and contention and to strike with a wicked fist. You should not fast as you do today to make your voice heard on high. 5 Is this the fast I have chosen? A day for one to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and spreading out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to ADONAI?”
Change your future by choosing life! Say “yes” to Yeshua the Messiah, today!
