Perhaps you will humor me today; or perhaps by post’s end you will have adopted an appreciation for an uncommon to us Observance.
Yom Kippur, also referred to as The Day of Atonement, begins at 6:00 pm tonight. I can think of nothing we need more than to be reminded of our need for Atonement. As I said, humor me.
[source] (I encourage you to read the article in its entirety from which I took this paragraph.):
Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) is one of two Jewish High Holy Days. The first High Holy Day is Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Yom Kippur falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah on the 10th of Tishrei, which is a Hebrew month that correlates with September-October on the secular calendar. The purpose of Yom Kippur is to bring about reconciliation between people and between individuals and God.
Reconciliation between people to people and individuals to GOD. Can you think of anything needed more? Neither can I!
And if you want a more ‘religious’ view of Yom Kipper, I invite you to the Bible Gateway Blog. There you will read in part:
While most Christians today don’t observe the Day of Atonement, it remains significant because, like many events and ordinances in the Old Testament, it foreshadows the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.
The Day of Atonement was an annual reminder of God’s grace and of man’s need for forgiveness. Reading it in the light of the New Testament, seeing it also as a signpost pointing ahead to Christ, lends it even more significance. With the sacrifice of Easter well behind us and the promise of Christmas still months away, Yom Kippur is a good opportunity for Christians to reflect on the atonement God offers to us through Jesus Christ.
Am I advocating a 25 hour fast beginning this early evening? Not necessarily. But I am advocating that we who are Christians would be blessed to commemorate Yom Kippur with reverence, with something out of the ordinary to call attention to JESUS our Savior, our ATONEMENT; to carefully, lovingly and with cheerfulness bring JESUS to the minds of our family and friends; to pray aloud together as a family; to read the Scripture together detailing this most Holy Observance. Something to honor JESUS and represent to our families that HE is our Atonement and we are indeed grateful!!
Another tradition I just learned about today that I wish I had known earlier – I would so like to do a modified rendition of this Observance. I’d have to get it prepared and delivered before 6:00 pm tonight. It is the baking of Lekach (Honey Cake) and giving it to your family as a symbol and a reminder of God’s SWEET provisions for His people in the coming year. Read more HERE.
I even have some links for recipes. I hope you will read and enjoy. Perhaps even bake a honey cake for your family today.
11 And not only that, but we shall also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. [source]
ABBA, thank You. Thank You LORD YESHUA for becoming our Atonement. Thank You HOLY SPIRIT for quickening this Revelation of Salvation to us and thank You for allowing me to hear and learn of this rich and blessed and wonderful Observance and not just this one but all of them. Thank You for blessed and holy traditions. And help me as a Christian, non-Jewish by birth, but at my re-birth coming into the family of Abraham to give You and Your Feasts reverence and honor. I suspect I am not saying that just right but You know what I mean; I have said it so many times, I mean to me being a Messiah Jew would be the best of both. So thank You for allowing me to learn and thank You for increasing my AWE of You; for You are indeed AWESOME; smarter, wiser, more wonderful and glorious than I have yet to see and experience. But I am learning and I am so grateful. Thank You LORD.
Kathie