Monday is Yom Kippur, Are You Ready?

Posted by Alexis Wallace on September 27, 2009 under Why | Be the First to Comment

The first time I observed Yom Kippur was with my Jewish friends at The Louis De Torres synagogue in Grand Bahama. In partial ignorance, a dear Christian friend and I had even started the “full fast” a day early. Even though I am not a stranger to fasting, I was weak by sunset, perhaps it was the anxiety. Whether you are a Christian or a Jew the concept of the necessity for atonement is one that is riveting to the mind.

This Monday will be the official observance of Yom Kippur, which means Day of Atonement. This is the most solemn of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. This day goes hand in hand with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) because it is set aside to atone for the sins of the past year.

Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. As I learned from observing it, Yom Kippur is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur (this Sunday evening) and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur (Monday).

Judaism teaches that Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible. That must all be done before Yom Kippur.

One of the scriptural mandates for Yom Kippur is found in Leviticus 16: 29 -34 which, before it gets into the methodology of the observance, begins with the words, “And this shall be a statute forever unto you”.

I am well aware that our global Network represents both Christians and Jews and a broad spectrum of beliefs “in between”, so I will choose my next words very carefully.

I am not going to enter into a lively, theological debate regarding the “completion of work” that was established when Christ sat down (Hebrews 1:1 -3). I will not enter this debate because even from the Christian view of end time prophecy Yom Kippur has not yet been fulfilled. The act of atonement brought by the sacrificial Lamb (John 1:29) also does not negate the call for us to receive the act.

The prophetically astute believe that the Day of Atonement, the sixth of the Feasts of Israel, will mark the very last day of this age and will be the final day to repent with this future day coming on the eve of the Last Judgment.

Members, I will also not enter the debate on the woes of tradition and how it restricts the flow of the Spirit. The other side of the debate has its merits with regards to the lack of sacred order and substance that has come from a “liberty” spirit.

The Apostle Paul in his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians (2Thessalonians 2: 13 -17 for reference) acknowledges the pre-ordination of sanctification but in his 15th verse encourages us to “..stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

What I will look at is the statute that is meant to “stand for ever”, which basically calls for all of us; be we Bishop, Prophet, Apostle, or layman to check ourselves because, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (John 1:8)”

One of the things that I learned from covering political figures as a journalist is a saying that, “You only get in trouble when you believe your own press”. As long as we walk in this veil of mortal flesh, regardless of how men may esteem us, we will not be perfect.

The worst part of our imperfection is that our thoughts, words and deeds hurt other people. It is impossible to be in right standing with God without being in right standing with the people in our lives that we have offended.

Atonement for us must begin with humility as we first ask to be forgiven by the people that we have hurt. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (Matthew 6:14)”

Many of our healings and blessings are blocked because we can not forgive (Psalm 25:18; Psalm103:3). Forgiving is also a two way street, because if we expect our debts to be forgiven, we must also be willing to forgive as Yeshua said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)”

We will never have AT-ONE-MENT with God unless we first learn to forgive and ask to be forgiven.

Shalom,

Pastor S. Alexis Wallace

You can find out more about Pastor Wallace and his ministry at http://www.shalomcaribbean.com/.