Yom Kippur: Day Of Atonement

Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement

Sept. 27, 2009 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction

A Rosh Hashanah’s greatest significance is found in being a period of preparation for Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement.

1 Days of Awe (3 books)

a After the 3rd day, Fast of Gedaliah, the high priest would enter a secluded chamber, preparing for Yom Kippur.

2 Yom Kippur falls on the 10th day of Tishri (today is the eve of Yom Kippur).

a It’s the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

b It is a day of fasting for the nation of Israel, & they stood all day in the temple courts seeking the face of God.

aa On this day, Israel would either be forgiven of their sin, or would face judgment.

3 This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you;30 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.31 "It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.32 "So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement: he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments,33 and make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar. He shall also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. Lev 16:29-33 (NASB)

a The high priest would perform four primary procedures in the temple on Yom Kippur (cf. Lev. 16:2-22):

aa He’d take fire from the altar of incense

bb To offer sacrifices, and place the blood of the sacrifices in a bowl.

cc Sprinkle blood in the holy place & on the Ark of the Covenant seven times.

dd Last was to pronounce, “It is done”.

I Taking fire from the altar of incense.

A The bible tells us that incense is symbolic of the prayers of the saints (Psalm 141.2)

May my prayer be counted as incense before You . . .. Psalms 141:2 (NASB)

1 This incense may have also been a “smoke screen” to protect the imperfect priest from the devastating effect of the full glory of the Lord on mercy seat. (Lev. 16.13)

a God had promised to appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

aa Mercy seat is on top, covering the Ark of the Covenant.

bb Two cherubim angles with wings folded marking the spot for the place where God’s glory/presence was manifested.

cc The Jewish legend was that when the priest entered the temple, they could hear the cherubim wings brushing up against one another.

dd Ezek. 10.5 describes the sound of angles wings “5 Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. Ezek 10:5 (NASB)

b In the wilderness the presence hovered over the ark (Cloud/pillar of fire)

c Shikinah glory of God. The manifest, visible, tangible glory of God’s presence that is associated with the Ark.

B In Jeremiah 3, a wayward Israel is told that a time was coming when the ark wouldn’t be present any longer. (Came to pass just prior to the Babylonian captivity, around the 6th century B.C.)

1 "It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land," declares the LORD, "they will no longer say, ’The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. Jer 3:16

a Can you imagine a nation not remembering God’s presence? Glory?

b Not just not remembering, but not even missing Him?

2 How many Christians, Churches have gone so long without being in God’s presence that they don’t even miss it little lone remember it.

a We need fresh fire from the altar! We need some Shikinah glory to fall!

II The priest would then offer sacrifices and place the blood of the sacrifices in a bowl

A There were two identical goats chosen from the area of Jericho, one belonged to the Lord and other would carry Israel’s sins into the desert/wilderness.

1 Commonly, in the ANE, the Romans would release a notable prisoner just prior to the feast of Passover.

a Pilate brought “Jesus” & “Barabbas”, and the crowd cheered “Give us Barabbas.”

aa Barabbas is an aramic word “Bar Abbas” Son of the Father.

bb We know “abba” Rom 8.15 (cf. Gal. 4.6)