It is now the evening of the 18th where I am. As such, it is Yom Kippur.
I've always found the symbolism of the Scapegoat especially poignant to Christ: The parallels to the Crucifixion, the blood spilt in Christ's passion, led into the wilderness, the tearing of the veil of the Holy of Holies as our High Priest dies.
So the last couple of years I've taken to fasting on Yom Kippur and especially look to our Lord's Crucifixion bringing atonement for my sins.
How do you mark the occasion, if at all? I've never understood why the Church didn't celebrate this more. Maybe fear of 'Judaising'?
We fast as a family and as a congregation. Some do it differently, some don't eat or drink, some don't eat but do drink... etc. But leading up to these days are probably more important. All Feasts as "Appointments" with God, and though we can repent and confess any day, these days are special and are cause to go deeper in our relationship than we normally might. As for what this day means to me... here is a little excerpt from an article I had published:
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement/Coverture): When translating the bible into English, Tyndale invented a word for Kippur that he thought captured the essence of the meaning; he called it “atonement.” He took the idea of becoming “at one with” God, and thus the word atonement entered our vocabulary. Well, becoming at one with God does capture part of the essence of this day, there is however, more to it.
Historically, all throughout the year, the sins of Israel would be dealt with via the daily sacrifices in the Temple. On Yom Kippur however, the tabernacle would be cleansed and the High Priest would sacrifice a goat to cleanse and atone (cover, but I will come back to this) for his personal sins in preparation to offer two additional goats for the corporate sins of God's Israel. Two goats were chosen by lot: one to be "The Lord's Goat" and offered as the blood sacrifice for the sins of Israel, and the second goat to be the "Azazel" scapegoat to be cast out into the wilderness bearing the sins of God's people (la’azazel can mean “for the entire removal of” or “for the sending away of” and in this case, sins). At that time the high priest confesses the sins of the Children of Israel to YHWH and then places those sins, abstractly, on the head of the Azazel scapegoat. The Azazel is then sent into the desert wilderness, thus, the Children of Israel's sins were "Kippur" (paid for, atoned for, covered… again, I will come back to this) by the scapegoat sacrifices of "The Lord's Goat" and "The Azazel Goat".
This, like “all sacrifices,” never really did the job in the complete sense, but rather pointed at the one who would, could, and did… Messiah Yeshua. His work in assuming our sin was a partial fulfillment of Yom Kippur, the final and full removal of sin will take place, I believe, on a Yom Kippur yet to come. We observe Yom Kippur by recalling and repenting of anything that stands in contrast to God’s will during the days leading up to Yom Kippur, and then by fasting on that day, spending much of it in prayer. It is a solemn time of reflection while realigning, where needed, to God’s instructions.
I personally believe that it is very possible that Yeshua returns on Yom Kippur. If Yom Kippur is when the sin is removed from Israel, which would be a time when Israel is made incorruptible, then it is possible he returns on this day. Paul writes at least twice, and John wrote once, that when we see him we are changed. So, perhaps his return and the lifting of the sin from the bride are tied? I leave that for you to decide.
I mentioned the word “cover,” also “atone” and even the phrase “paid for” as definitions of the word Kippur. I do believe that these words lack when it comes to the essence, and strength, of the word Kippur. Rather than repeat something I have already published, here is the url to an article on this very subject. I really think it will blessed you to read it.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/ken-rank/yom-kippur-the-day-of-coverture/10150903688317544
Yom Kippur is likely the day we will be perfected, consummated to the bride groom, perhaps the wedding itself falls on this day.
