Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Yom Kippur 2018

The Western Wall on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur concludes the Ten Days of Awe or the High Holiday Days.  Annually, the Jewish people are commanded to observe the Day of Atonement:

26 The Lord said to Moses, 27 “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves,[d] and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. 29 Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. 30 I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. 31 You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 32 It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”


At the heart of the observances tonight and tomorrow will be fasting and prayer.  The worshiper denies himself food, drink, sexual intimacy and the pleasures of life.  Before the Book of Life is closed again tomorrow evening, Jewish people seek to draw near to the Lord for forgiveness and the renewal of their relationship with God.

As Christians, the themes of these days must not be lost to us.  With gratitude to our Lord Jesus, we are forgiven and reconciled to the Lord who made heaven and earth.

  



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