|
|
‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.’” Lev 23:39-43
Being in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was such a treat. I enjoyed seeing the creativity in the sukkot (plural of sukkah). The entire family gets into the project as Dad does the building and the children do the decorating. And Mom? Cooking, baking, cleaning….what else?
As you can see from these pictures, sukkot come in all sizes. The sukkah has two requirements. One is that you must be able to see sunlight and the stars through the roof. Based on the above verse, most of the roofs are made from “leafy branches.”
Second is that the sukkah needs to be large enough for the family to eat at least one meal inside. Hopefully the men and the children sleep in the sukkah.
Truly this is the most joyous of all of God’s feasts as it not only looks back to God’s provision and protection along the journey, but also looks forward to His bringing us into the Ultimate Promised Land!
As you build your sukkah, reflect on how temporary your life is! There is nothing in this world that will last, only what we do for, through and by Yeshua!
For He shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11
He bore the sin of many. (Isaiah 53:12)
 The Hebrew words in the above verses, manifest how Jesus fulfills the Day of Atonement.
bear: סבל cabal has the connotation of dragging a heavy load.
bore: נשא nasa’ connotes lifting up and removing.
Let us also consider ‘iniquities’: עון `avon which is perversion and depravity.
On Yom Kippur, the High Priest took two goats.
He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 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. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16: 7-10, 21-22)
The Hebrew word used here is nasa’. This is exactly what Jesus did for us – lifting off our sins, sickness and sorrows and separating them from as as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103)
The Isaiah verses referenced above give us a more complete picture of the atoning work of Christ.
I simply cannot imagine the weight of the burden that Jesus carried which the word cabal tries to express. Depravity and perversity well describe our world today. It really was not that different in ancient times. (Consider Corinth). Jesus bore the iniquity of us all...can we really comprehend the weight of the cross? I believe it was far heavier than just the wood. It was my depravity and yours!
To those who suggest that we no longer “need” or “should” observe the feasts of the Lord, I contend that it is a privilege to celebrate the wonder of our Redemption. The New Testament doesn’t describe the crucifixion. Paul certainly focuses on its result, but the Gospel writers just mention it as a fact.
Could it be because these Jewish men understood Yom Kippur and its detailed and complicated rituals? Before them was, as John proclaimed, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
I simply cannot ignore this holy day, ordained by God the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, I cannot NOT celebrate Jesus on this day as I read Leviticus 16 and then the letter to the Hebrews. It is then, that I can rejoice in the better Covenant, the better sacrifice and the better and compassionate High Priest.
Yes, I MUST celebrate Jesus on Yom Kippur!
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.” Lev 23:26-32
Every other Feast of the Lord, is just that…a feast. Yom Kippur (literally “day of covering”) is a fast. As you can see from the above Scripture, God didn’t call the fast. God said, “afflict your soul” but the religious have made it a day to afflict the body.
Admittedly most Israelis, especially the younger generation, do not want to fast, but do so because of pressure of their parents. Others tell me that they fast simply because it’s tradition. Even my older religious neighbors continue to fast, and even attend synagogue, but have no inclination to repentance.
Chapter 16 of Leviticus describes in minute details the ritual performed by the High Priest on this most solemn day. It was on this day and through this process that the sins of the nation were atoned for. (For personal sins, the sinner had to bring his own sacrifice to the Temple and by faith, transfer his personal sins onto the sacrifice.)
The entire letter to the Hebrews is based on this holy day, as the writer compares the insufficiency of the Mosiac Law to the New Covenant.
There are two unique aspects of this day, the “scape goat” and the High Priest.
Actually there were two goats: one who bore the sins of the nation and the other carried them into the wilderness. What a picture of Yeshua. He came for the “lost sheep of Israel” (and the world) and bore their sins, sickness and sorrows…and He carried them away, separating them from us as far as the east is from the west.
The rituals of this day could ONLY be performed by the High Priest who stood in the gap between Israel and God. Again, we see the ministry of Yeshua. Whereas His earthly ministry was the fulfillment of the sacrificial goats, His present ministry is the fulfillment as our Great High Priest.
RABBINIC PERVERSION
Today, without the Temple and rejecting the redemption provided by Messiah Yeshua, the rabbis have made a few changes in the holy day.
- Traditionally the Jewish people fast from sun-down to sun down, thus afflicting their bodies but not necessarily their souls in repentance.
- The focus is on individual repentance for personal intentional and unintentional sins.
- The blood of a chicken is the suggested sacrifice…
- Atonement through the blood of the chicken is sold for $5.00 (18 shekels)
YOM KIPPUR IN ISRAEL
The more religious spend most of the day in synagogue which is always a short walk from home. (Only a certain number of steps are allowed so it’s not considered to be “work.”) But the majority of Israelis take this opportunity as family time.
You will see whole families strolling along the streets… Yes I said streets, because cars are NOT allowed. The entire country completely shuts down. Children as well as adults take to the highways and byways on bicycles without fear.
Another common sight are families spread out on blankets, appearing to be having a picnic, but there is no food.
All in all, the atmosphere is one of relaxation DESPITE the seriousness of the holy day.
CHICKENS
Chicken is the standard holiday fare, much like ham or turkey is in the States. But since this is a day of fasting, the religious have found another use for the chicken….the sacrificial atonement.
I’d heard about the tradition of the rabbis swinging a chicken over their heads and with its death, proclaiming atonement had been made. What I wasn’t prepared to see however, was the religious standing in the shuk (outdoor market) with the intended sacrifice in a box and SELLING the opportunity for atonement.
The going rate for atonement of sin? 18 New Israeli Shekel = $5.00 USD!
TRUE REJOICING
The past few months have been fraught with tension. The “Arab Spring”, the PA application of Statehood at the UN, the deteriorating relationship between Egypt and Israel and then Turkey and Israel have taken their toll on the soul of this country.
Personally I had to make a decision to focus on Yeshua. There is salvation for body, spirit and soul in no other name. Consequently I have been experiencing a new level of joy.
Thus as the rest of my friends and countrymen fast, I find myself wanting to celebrate and feast. I KNOW my sins have been atoned for. Yeshua paid the price with His blood saving me much more than the $5.00.
I am so grateful and agree with the Psalmist:
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1-5)
At sundown tomorrow, all eyes will be on the next and final fall holiday, Sukkot…the Feast of Tabernacles. Soon we will see these brightly decorated “booths” on every patio and in front of most business establishments.
I actually had two wonderful days of celebration.
Wednesday was the Rabbinic designated day of Trumpets, New Moon so a small core group of friends gathered for what we hope is the beginning of monthly gatherings.
Dinner was superb, a kind of Chicken Marsiella. Of course lots of challah and a yummy side dish of Tzimmis.
We each praised the Lord for His faithfulness over the previous month: new friends, His grace for living in Israel, and the salvation of a dear friend were some.
Then began a heated conversation on a subject which has been discussed since the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15…Jews cf Gentiles in the Body of Messiah.
I am always saddened and amazed at the passion of this argument. Admittedly I too get passionate as I continue to contend that in the natural we are either man or women, Jew or Gentile. BUT the most important identity is in the Spirit as we are children of God where there are no such distinctions.
There are some other fundamental issues.
- Where do we get our identity?
- How important is our culture or our traditions
- Is worship about what makes us feel good or what pleases God?
- Do we make idols or crutches out of things (shofars, kippas, prayer shawls?)
- Our our worship/praise songs or prayers in accordance with the New Covenant? In other words, do we sing or ask God for blessings which He has already bestowed on us?
This conversation, discussion continued even more passionately several days later. The room was filled to overflowing with over a dozen countries represented. And of course, Jews and Gentiles – all lovers and followers of Yeshua. I am always amazed at the various descriptions we use: Messianic Jew or Gentile, Completed Jew, Jewish Christian, Christian to name a few.
The overwhelming theme of the second converation was the “hurt the Jews have felt after 3 thousand years of persecution. It is this hurt which triggers so much passion to now enjoy their culture and traditions of the past.
Of course, I have a great love for all followers of Yeshua to embrace, adopt and adapt the Feasts of the Lord to their own culture and tradition…
…but, and this is a huge but, when that enjoyment of culture or tradition becomes “enmity” with our family of the spirit, OR when we consider the celebration of the feasts as a MUST to obtain a blessing from God, we are putting ourselves back under the Law of Moses.
The second celebration took place on Thursday the actual sighting of the new moon. Again dinner was fabulous as the men bar-b-q’d honey basted chicken. The side dishes revealed the incredible creativity of this group.
We have a few days now to rest before the next holiday of Yom Kippur.
Try these great recipes which I got from the Internet….Fabulous so don’t wait until next year to try!
http://celebratejesusthebook.com/CJFall/
The Internet is invaluable to search out recipes. Here are the two I made for this year. Both are FANTASTIC!!!
TZIMMES
Tzimmes means “mixed up mess”. These ingredients may seem odd to you, but together….WOW! I used more prunes than indicated and then added a lot of raisins. Fantastic. And it lasts for days and gets better each day!
INGREDIENTS:
10 to 12 large carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 large russet or Idaho potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 yams or sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 medium onion, diced
2 stalks of celery, in 1″ slices
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
18 large prunes, pitted, cut in half
1/4 cup honey
1-1/2 apples, unpeeled and cubed
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2-1/2 cups orange juice
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in a pot.
Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for approximately 1 hour. Stir frequently.
Cook until carrots are soft but not mushy. Tzimmes should have the consistency of a thick stew with very little liquid left in the pot. Serve hot.
APPLY HONEY BUNDT CAKE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2011 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 9/30/2011
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=91532&origin=detail&&Servings=12
I used clover honey and it was very sweet. Thus we make whipped cream (without sugar) for an icing and it was great!
The batter of this moist and delicious cake could also be baked in two loaf pans. Reduce baking time to 45 minutes. To make this even more special, dust with confectioners’ sugar, sprinkle with cinnamon, or drizzle with warm honey before serving.”
Ingredients:
| 1 cup white sugar1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder |
1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3 apples – peeled, cored and shredded
3/4 cup chopped walnuts |
Directions:
| 1. |
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan. |
| 2. |
In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and oil. Beat in the eggs until light, then stir in the honey and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice; stir into the batter just until moistened. Fold in the apples and nuts. |
| 3. |
Bake for 50 to 65 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the crown comes out clean. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a plate and tapping out of the pan. |
At sundown on Wednesday, September 28th the dual holiday of New Moon and the Memorial Blowing begins. Most people are unfamiliar with the New Moon and call the other holiday, Rosh Hashanna or the Feast of Trumpets (but then they blow shofars!).
Both names are misleading!
But let’s start from Scripture:
In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.—Leviticus 23:24-25
Let’s look at what “New Moon” is all about. The Hebrew describes this holy day as “the beginning of the month.” Thus, like the Sabbath, this is a recurring holiday, a time when we can stop our customary work and reflect on the goodness of God.
Further, we are told in Numbers 10:2 and 10:10 that the people were to make and blow silver trumpets to announce the beginning of the month. THAT is why trumpets NOT SHOFARS are blown on this day.
Rosh Hashanah means “the beginning of the year.” However according to Exodus 12, God’s calendar begins in the month of Abib (Nissan) the month of the Passover. Doesn’t that make more sense? It is the spring when new life bursts through the cold, hard winter ground – a picture of the Resurrection.
So the Hebrew of Leviticus 23:24 reads [t eru‘ah], “a loud shout or memorial blowing!” But then the Lord does not tell us what we are memorializing.
So where did the name Rosh Shoshanna come from? It comes from the Rabbis who are always quick to tells us what the Lord seems to have forgotten to tell us! These wise men have created quite a list of events which they contend happened on this day.
What the Bible DOES record happening on this day are two events:
- Sacrifices were resumed before the foundation for the second temple had been laid.
To give us insight into this holiday take a quick survey of when t eru‘ah and when shofar is used and when they are used together: a call to repentance ,(2 Chron 15:14) and a praise to God (Psalm 47:5; 115:3).
The Jewish people have a tradition beginning on Trumpets and ending on Yom Kippur. These ten days are called, “The Days of Awe.” The traditional greeting for this day is “May your name be inscribed in the Book of Life.” (See below posts for further explanation)
Although the rabbinic traditions of the Days of Awe are valuable because of their focus on repentance and preparation for judgment, they have no Biblical basis. However I suggest that the concept of preparing to stand before God for judgment is key to the Believer’s observance of this dual holiday. But I believe there is so much more to this holiday
I suggest that the Incarnation took place, not only in the seventh month, but perhaps even on this dual holiday. Therefore I suggest the Rosh Chodesh/Memorial blowing is all about the King of all kings: His Incarnation, His Return and His eternal Rule. (Not inconsequential is a prime use of the shofar for the coronation of the king.)
So for your celebration, why not reflect on what it means to us to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God, and a subject of King Yeshua?
First, consider part of His Divine nature which is associated with His Kingship (Psalm 10:16, 29:10). As you have mediated on His Word and experienced God’s presence in your life, how has His Divine Kingship affected your relationship with Him?
Just (Dt 32:4, (Ex 20:5; Joshua 24:19; Roman 2:11; Col 3:25
Authority to forgive: Mat 9:1-6 or condemn : Mat 8:12, Dan:> 12:2-3
Righteous (Dt 32:4; Jer 12:1; Ps 11:7; and my favorites: Pss 85:10, 97:2)
Sovereign (Mat 28:18)
Second: Does the fact that you will one day (maybe sooner than later) stand before the King affect your life? If so, how? If not, why not?!
Luke 12:2-3
Malachi 3:2-5
Rev 20:12, 13b, 15
Finally how do the Hebrew words grace (hesed) and chen (favor) impact your relationship with God the Father and God the Son?
Hesed: Romans 3:21-22, 24; 8:1a cf 5:16-19
Chen: Est 5:2 Ex 11:3; Eph 1:4, 5:27; Col 1:22
(For an explanation of these two Hebrew words see “Celebrate Jesus!” Chapter 6)
May you have a joyous holiday as you celebrate the King of all kings. In Him you are guaranteed that your sins are forgiven and that your name IS inscribed in the Book of Life!
Tabernacles (Sukkot in Hebrew) begins exactly six months after the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Unleavened Bread commemorates the day that Israel began her journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
What was meant to take less than a month, took forty years because of the people’s disobedience.
[Ed. Why do people blame God for the consequences of their actions?!]
The Feast of Tabernacles remembers that forty year journey, more specifically God’s faithful presence through it all.
Take a moment to consider the challenges of the journey.
The desert has limited vegetation. Its landscape is sand, and sand is small particles of rock. There is nothing soft about rocks or sand. They walked on sand. They sat down to eat on sand. They slept on sand. They made and had babies on sand.
The itinerary was a mystery, designed in the heart of God. “Are we there yet?” must have been a continuous question not only by the children, but also the adults.
Every day, was an adventure. Even where they would sleep at night was unknown. Their steps were led by the hand of God as they followed His cloud:
At the command of the LORD the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not journey. So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the LORD they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the LORD they would journey. 21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. (Numbers 9:18-22)
Did you hear that? Whether it was two days or a month or a year, their movements were ordained by God. That means that they might stop, unpack, set up camp and then do the reverse within 48 hours!
When was the last time you moved? How long did it take you to pack, move and then settle into your new home? I am sure it took longer than 48 hours.
The there was the issue of food. Yes there were flocks of sheep, cows, bulls and goats. But the animals were for sacrifices to God. The people’s diet was manna. Manna is literally translated as “What is it?”
After a while, the people grew tired of manna and craved meat. God obliged by sending quail. And more quail. And still more quail.
Now a wind went out from the LORD, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground. And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague. (Numbers 11:31-33)
[Ed: Do not satisfy the flesh and starve the spirit.]
What about water? After all, they were in a desert. No problem for the One who created water, He simply brought water forth from a rock!
Clothes? Shoes? No problem:
[Moses said} And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. (Dt 29:5)
Yes the journey was fraught with challenges. But God’s presence and purpose never failed them:
- These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing. Deut 2:7
- To you (Israel) it was shown that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. (Deut 4:35)
- And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you – to do you good in the end— (Deut 8:2-5, 16)
To do us good in the end.
Today we have trouble with our vision. Sometimes we’re so focused on where we’ve been that we get stuck in the past. Other times we’re so focused on the goal that we lose sight of what’s happening in the present.
Let us not be so consumed with either the past or the future that we miss God’s hand during the journey of life.
There will be many challenges…but every challenge is for a purpose, to prepare us for the future.
The good news is that we are never alone on our journey. God’s love, His provision and His protection surround us. The Psalmist reminds us that there is no place that we can run from His presence.
So if it feels that you are sleeping on rocks, eating a never ending diet of manna and going around in circles, turn your eyes to Jesus, the Good Shepherd who leads us and has promised to never leave or forsake us. He has promised:
- That goodness and mercy will chase after us ALL the days of our lives
- To lead us by still water and restore our souls
- To bind up the broken hearted
- To set the prisoner free
- To transform us into His image
- To prepare a place for us that we might spend eternity with Him
- Heal all our dis-eases and comfort us with His peace and joy
The list is endless. We have much to celebrate and rejoice as we continue our journey of life.
Today is what I call a “super Sabbath.” Tonight at sundown the most holy and solemn of all the feasts of the Lord, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), begins. “Feast” is definitely a misnomer because the Jewish people fast from sundown to sundown. The more religious fast not only from food, but also from water.
One year I observed Yom Kippur in the home of a religious friend. Every light switch was taped so that no one inadvertently would turn the light on or off. The food to begin the fast as well as to break the fast was prepared. A hush began to descend in the neighborhood as the onset of the holiday drew near.
The same hush is descending now even over my secular Israeli neighborhood. Yesterday the markets were more frantic than usual before a Sabbath because on this Sabbath homes are filled with family members who might otherwise not come home.
From sundown to sundown the entire country shuts down. The roads are empty except for emergency vehicles and bicycles. Tonight after the pre-fast dinner, and most of tomorrow the streets will be filled with people walking and enjoying the peace.
For those who attend synagogue, there are services tonight and all day tomorrow. Normally the Yom Kippur service is long, but coupled with Shabbat, well, it’s a super Shabbat. The focus of all the prayers is confession of sin and hope for God’s forgiveness.
So what is Yom Kippur? As the name implies, it is a day of atonement.
The Bible gives very detailed description of the purpose and ritual of this day. Actually more space is given to the specifics of this holiday than to any other of God’s feasts. Besides the cursory references in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29, the entire Old Testament chapter Leviticus 16 and the New Testament book of Hebrews is devoted to Yom Kippur.
“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments; then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 16:29-34)
Succinctly, on Yom Kippur the High Priest made atonement for the sins of the people, AS A NATION. The ritual also included making atonement for the Tabernacle and its furniture.
The unique sacrifices of this holy day were the two identical goats.
He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 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 the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness. Leviticus 16:7-10
This morning I was again overwhelmed as I recognized how perfectly Jesus fulfilled every aspect of the day.
- Jesus was anointed and consecrated to minister in His father’s place to make atonement
- Jesus was offered as a sin offering to be the propitiation for the sin of the world
- Jesus carried the sin of the world into an uninhabited place.
Consider:
- On Yom Kippur the people were to do NO work, and yet it was the busiest day of the year for the High Priest
- The number of times the priest had to wash: 5 full body washes, 10 washes of feet and hands. Does this not reflect the importance of being clean before God?
- The number of times the priest had to change his clothes. When doing the routine sacrifices for Shabbat, he wore the golden garments, representing the bride of God. For Yom Kippur rituals, he changed into white linen, thus reflecting humility, being one of the people.
- Atonement was made for the people of the nation, thus manifesting the importance of the individual to the community – one person’s sin affects the whole.
- Every thing, everyone in God’s service required atonement.
Now consider:
Aaron was not to come into God’s presence at “any” time and only with the blood of the sacrifice. (Leviticus 16:1). But we have a great High Priest who passed through the heavens, Jesus Christ, through whom we can come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
The priest had to lay his hands on the head of the scapegoat, thus transferring upon it the sin of the people. God the Father “laid onto Jesus the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
The word used in the Isaiah passage is פגע [paga]` means “to lay a burden,” “cause to entreat,’ “to intercede.” Here again we see the breath taking fulfillment of Yom Kippur in Christ Jesus. God laid upon Him our sins, that Jesus would be not only our atonement, but also our intercessor.
Again turning to Isaiah, we learn that God “saw no intercessor, therefore His right arm brought salvation, it sustained Him.” (Isaiah 59:16). The word translated as “intercessor” is our word פגע. Salvation is the Hebrew word ישע or “Yeshua” the Hebrew name of Jesus. Finally the word translated “sustained” is סמך which means “lay, lean, put, rest upon.”
In conclusion, Jesus is
- Our High Priest
- Our Atonement
- Our Intercessor
- God’s Right Arm
- Our Savior
On this Yom Kippur, remember who God is and what He has done for us through Jesus. The atonement has been made, not just fo
r a year but forever. We have been and will always be forgiven by God’s grace through faith.
Yes remember, then rest and finally rejoice.
Celebrate Jesus!
One of the themes of the worship of Israel (as reflected in the Psalms) is what I call the three R’s of worship:
When we remember who God is and what He has done in the past, we can rest in His control in the present and rejoice in His promises for tomorrow. ( If reversing two and three suit you better, the formula still works.)
God continuously referred to Himself as the God who brought Israel out of bondage. He never wanted them to forget! He even warned that if and when Israel DID forget (and they did), they would soon rebel and reject Him (which they did).
I believe that God designed His feasts so we would remember, rest and rejoice.
Therefore as I celebrate each of the holidays I remember and reflect on what God has done in and through and by and for my life during the past week (Shabbat), month (New Moon), and year (Rosh haShanna).
Rosh haShanna always coincides with New Moon, so on this holiday we have a double opportunity to remember and rejoice.
So in preparation of Rosh haShanna, I began to remember and then reflect on this past year. Tears quickly coursed down my cheeks.
There were tears of great pain as I remembered the horror of a very dysfunctional relationship that blew apart just before the shofar sounded. The ensuing two months were hard as we tried to disentangle. But the real nightmare occurred three days before Thanksgiving.
As I remembered the terrible events of those months, the light of God’s grace came crashing through the darkness of pain.
Tears of joy and gratitude soon replaced the tears of pain.
I recognized God’s hand as He led me through that valley of the shadow of death and brought me back home to Israel.
Sure there are still some visible and invisible wounds from this past year, but they are bearing fruits of the Spirit: trust, compassion, and above all joy.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” This year has been a time of mourning and of being comforted.
Truly I can rejoice this holiday season because Jesus turned my mourning into dancing!
Happy holiday!
The Biblical Holiday of the Feast of Trumpets
To the Jewish people, Rosh Hashanah begins what the rabbis call “The Ten Days of Awe.”
The Days of Awe
The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) are traditionally designated as a time of preparation for judgment. It is believed that on the first day, God opens three books:
- The Book of Life
- The Book of Death
- The Book of Suspension
Into the first two books go the names of either the exceptionally righteous or the exceptionally wicked. The former are granted another year of life, whilst the latter are immediately sentenced to death.
Into the third book go the names of everyone else. On Yom Kippur, God once again reviews every life, passing judgment of life or death for the next year. Thus the Days of Awe become frantic times of reflection, repentance, and attempts at reconciliation.
The common greeting among the Jewish people at this time is:
May your name be inscribed in the Book of Life
But at the end of the day, there is only a hope of forgiveness and life.
The Name
Before we continue, there is another correction we need to address, that of the name given the holiday. The Torah (Leviticus 23: 23-25) calls this holiday, “the memorial of the great shout” [in Hebrew truah]. Even calling it the “feast of Trumpets” is a misnomer.
There is little else the Bible tells us about this feast other than to do no customary work.
But perhaps a word study on truah and it’s oft used synonym shofar sheds substantial information.Here is a sampling of the uses of these two words:
- Alarm for war and a signal to march
- Shout for joy
- Praise to God
- Call to repentance
In my opinion, in relationship to this holiday, the most significant use is the anointing of the king.
Could it be, that the reason the Bible is so silent about this holidays, is that in God’s plan of redemption, the most incredible event in all of history – the incarnation – needed no other explanation?
All About the King
As we look at the events in Israel’s redemptive history as commemorated by the feasts of the Lord, the long awaited promised coming of the Messiah is woefully lacking. But how can this be? From the beginning of recorded history, God promised He would provide salvation, the restoration of the devastation caused by the sin of Adam and Eve.
That promise echoes through the pages of Scripture as God gives details like a clues to a wonderful treasure hunt.
When at last, the King is presented to the world, in a most unlikely way, all heaven breaks lose with shouts of joy never before seen or heard creating abject terror to its witnesses.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14)
Would this not be the most appropriate feast for all earth to resound with similar shouts of joy praises to God?
I contend that the feast of “memorial shouting” not only looks back at the coming of the King, it also encourages us to look forward to the return and to the coronation of the King.
Next we will consider the significance of the second coming of the King and the ultimate cataclysmic event, the coronation of the King of all Kings.
I believe that a major theme and focus of this holiday of the seventh month on God’s calendar is THE King – Jesus the Christ
- His first coming
- His second coming
- His ultimate coronation as King of all kings.
The number seven is often used in Scripture to indicate “fullness” or “completion.”
That this feast marks the beginning of God’s seventh month hints that God’s redemptive story will find it’s completion in the final cycle of Levitical feasts, all of which are in this seventh month.
As the trumpet sounds, we should not only look back at the first coming of the King, but look forward to the day when the heavens will be rent and King Jesus will return in might and majesty – so unlike the humility of His first coming.
The Bible describes that day:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Who can imagine the sound and the glory of the Bridegroom calling for His bride? O what a day that will be.
- The trumpet will sound,
- The dead in Christ will rise first.
- The dead will be raised incorruptible,
- We shall be changed.
- For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
- Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
- And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
In that day, King Jesus will also be Judge Jesus. While the rabbinic “Days of Awe” have no scriptural basis, the truth is that there will be a day of judgment for which we all need to prepare.
Jesus affirmed that “all authority” to judge the living and the dead had been given to Him.The prophets had foretold that His judgment would be true, righteous and merciful.
Thus we who have been secured by faith in Him, need not fear condemnation at His coming, but we can rejoice and celebrate with eager expectation.
|
|
