KIPPUR - ATONEMENT

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.

Leviticus 23:28 (NIV)

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INTRODUCTION

Only a blood sacrifice can atone for sins. And not just any sacrifice, but a sacrifice that is without blemish. In ancient Israel, animals were sacrificed to achieve this atonement. Human sacrifice was considered an abomination and still is even today. In Hebrew, the word for atonement is kippur. On Yom Kippur each year, the High Priest would perform the ritual of atonement to cleanse Israel of its sins and achieve forgiveness.

The introduction of sacrifices did not remove the desire for sin. That ultimate sacrifice that would destroy sin altogether had to be a human without blemish. Since man has all fallen short of God's glory, herein came our LORD and Savior Himself - Yeshua HaMashiach.

He, as the eternal High Priest, performed the ultimate atonement to redeem us back to God. It has been paid for.

KIPPUR - ATONEMENT

Some say that every wrong needs to be made right. We can debate the correctness of this statement some other time. From the biblical perspective, only a blood sacrifice can atone for sins. And not just any sacrifice, but a sacrifice that is without blemish. In ancient Israel, animals were sacrificed to achieve this atonement. Human sacrifice was considered an abomination and still is even today.

Per Merriam-Webster Dictionary, atonement is "reparation for an offense or injury". (2) In Hebrew, the word for atonement is kippur. (3) It derives from the Hebrew word kaphar, meaning to cover, to atone, to make reconciliation, and to purge. (4)

YOM KIPPUR

A couple of days ago, an important day was taking place. It was Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement. A biblical sacred day, commissioned by God for the atonement of His people.

Sacrifices were made in ancient times for multiple reasons. Yom Kippur, this special occasion, was to take place only once a year. Two goats were to partake in a ritual that would provide the forgiveness of sin to all the gathered Israelites.

Yom Kippur is a day of rest, a day dedicated to the Lord. At One for Israel, they have pointed out how it became a holiday very centered around what we can do to earn atonement. But in ancient times, the Israelites were told to do nothing. It was the High Priest who was assigned to perform the rituals necessary to bring forth the atonement. (5)

YESHUA, THE THIEF THAT COMES DURING THE NIGHT

Yeshua mentioned He will come as a thief comes in the middle of the night. My fellow Christians, did you know that Yeshua was revealing Himself to be the high priest through that expression?

"Thief in the night" was a well-known idiom used for the High Priest. Yeshua, as the eternal High Priest, performed the ultimate atonement for our sins to be forgiven and removed. (5)

Animal sacrifices were only a temporary covering; Yeshua came to become the eternal one. That ultimate sacrifice that would destroy sin altogether had to be a human without blemish. Since all men have fallen short of God's glory, herein came our LORD and Savior Himself - Yeshua HaMashiach.

It has been paid for. And we do not have to do anything to earn it, only receive it by faith.

CONCLUSION

For the atonement of sin, a blood sacrifice must be made. Israel had a system of animal sacrifices to offer a temporary covering. For the ultimate sacrifice, Yeshua had to come. Only a human with no blemish could atone us from certain death. The Hebrew word for atonement is kippur. And on Yom Kippur, each year, the High Priest would preform a ritual of atonement for all the gathered Israelites. It was a day of receiving the forgiveness of their sin, and Yeshua fulfilled this image as the eternal "thief in the night".

Application

Dear Abba. Thank you for redeeming me and taking my place on that cross. Let your name be blessed for all eternity, my High Priest.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com.

2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Atonement. Available at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atonement

3. Bible Hub. Kippur. Available at https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3725.htm

4. Bible Hub. Kaphar. Available at https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3722.htm

5. One for Israel Ministry. Yom Kippur: The Secret in the Talmud that no one has discovered! Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocX1HktGJkY

6. Philip W. Shields. Understanding “The Thief in the Night”. Thursday, 01 March 2012. Available at https://www.lightontherock.org/index.php/blog/entry/understanding-the-thief-in-the-night