G’mar Chatimah Tovah
May you be sealed in the Book of Life.
Yom Kippur 5785 – Evening of 11 to 12th October, 2024
10 Tishrei is YHWH’s appointed time for the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur. The most holiest day in Judaism and the Jewish calendar. The whole chapter of Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23: 27-32 are two scriptures, amongst others, that tells us the importance of this holy convocation.
It is a time of afflicting our souls in prayer and fasting, and seeking YAH’s forgiveness of our sins, as we also forgive others. It is time of introspection and ‘teshuvah’ to Abba Yahveh.
So what does afflicting our mean? It means self-denial, humility and repentance. The Hebrew word for afflict is ‘anah‘ and means to humble oneself before God in fasting and prayer. There are 3 scriptures where the word anah is used – Ezra 8:21, Psalms 35:13B and Isaiah 58: 3, 5
In the Temple days, the High Priest performed temple service on Yom Kippur and prescribed in Leviticus 16. Since the destruction of the second Temple, there is no physical temple service but the Jewish say you perform Yom Kippur service in the temple of your own hearts.
Our Hearts – The Ark of the Covenant
“I will put my Law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be my people” [Jeremiah 31:33]
Under the New Covenant that YAH had with Israel, the Ark of the Covenant is no longer in the Temple’s Holy of Holies but it shifted to our heart. And we are the temple of the Spirit of YHWH, and our heart is the Ark of the Covenant where YAH writes His Laws.
Thus, Yom Kippur is a day of cleansing of the temple of the accumulated debris of sin for the year.
Cleansing & a New Spirit
As we afflict our soul in humbleness, fasting and come before YAH, let us ask His forgiveness and cleansing. YAH promises us that He will sprinkle clean water upon us and cleanse us. And He will put His Spirit within us. What a wonderful promise – to Israel and those who are grafted in.
“I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you…I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and be careful to observe my ordinances” [Ezekiel 36:26-27].
Let us take an introspection of our hearts, and our lives. What are some of the things our temple needs cleansing of? Addictions, unforgiveness, lack of compassion, building our lives without YAH, grieving and quenching the Spirit of God (Ruach Elohim), living in the flesh and in fleshly desires, living life of sin, misuse of time and talent, prayerless life, etc.
Ask the Spirit of YAH to reveal hidden sins in every nook and cranny of our temple. Repent also for the sins of my forefathers and mothers, generational sins and sins of my family and people.