Today, Shabbat, is the Day of Atonements/Yom HaKippurim in Israel, and for the Jewish people world-wide. It is the 10th day of the 7th Jewish month, Tishrei in Hebrew. It is nine days after the Memorial of Blowing of Trumpets, and five days before the beginning of the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles. Together, these three Fall appointed times of YHVH given to Israel are prophetically the time of ingathering: of the final fruit harvest, and of the Jewish people back to their land and to their God.
This year, of course, sees us in the midst of a war begun more than a year ago on the Western calendar, on the last day of Succot, Shabbat, Simchat Torah/The Joy of the Torah, Oct 7. There was a horrible breach of the border with Gaza by the Hamas terrorists, and a horrible breach of God’s holiness in Israel by the partiers at the pagan Nova festival, and by the unprepared leadership of the nation. One was not the cause of the other, but both reflect the spiritual state of the people: no fear of YHVH, God of Israel. This past year is bringing all to reconsider their hearts. The true God and Savior wants repentance unto salvation for both Jews and Arabs, and any others. The prophet Jonah also needed to have the heart of His God, whom He served. Yet YHVH, the righteous Judge, will not let the unrepentant guilty go unpunished. The whole world is being brought to give Him an account, beginning in His own household, the Church of God.
Here are some selected prayers and readings for prayerful reading and praying, whether alone, with family or friends, or other small groups. (Our own congregational service was not held today because there is no traffic at all on Yom Kippur in Israel.) When the Word of God speaks of Israel or the Jewish people, consider how it might apply to the Body of Messiah/Christ and to us as believers, whether Jewish or not.
–Thank and praise God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua the Messiah for who He is! He is love, good, faithful, holy, righteous, true, light, full of grace and mercies, longsuffering, slow to anger, righteous in all His judgments….
–Thanks and praise for the better blood of the better covenant!
—Jonah (God concerned even for His people’s enemies; read in the synagogues on Yom Kippur!)
—Dan 9 (I, and my people have sinned; YHVH is faithful to all His written word; an historic context for the atonement and salvation of Israel)
—Dt 32:28-43
—Zech 12
—Rom 11:25-36
Praise God that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in Heaven! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Scapegoat’s Willing Guilt Offering and the Soul’s Affliction – Yom Kippur
