Last week we celebrated Rosh Hashana and observed the ten days of awe that culminate tomorrow in Yom Kippur. In Bible times the high priest was responsible for the duties of the Day of Atonement. On this day he would enter the Holy of Holies , that could only be entered once a year and only by the high priest, to make atonement for the people of Israel. He would offer sacrifices and sprinkle the Ark of the Covenant with blood to purify it. Then he began the process of the burnt offerings and sin offerings. These are the steps he followed:
- Remove the ashes from the outer altar (1:8).
- Immerse (baptize) himself for the first time. Put on the golden vestments (3:4).
- Slaughter the daily morning elevation (burnt) offering (3:4).
- Receive and throw the blood of the elevation (burnt) offering (3:4).
- Prepare the five lamps of the menorah (3:4).
- Offer the daily incense (3:5).
- Prepare the remaining two lamps of the menorah.
- Burn the limbs of the daily morning elevation (burnt) offering on the outer altar (3:4).
- Offer the daily meal offering (3:4).
- Offer the Chavitin offering (3:4).
- Offer the wine libation (drink offering) (3:4).
- Offer the Mussafim: The ox and the seven lambs – all elevation (burnt) offerings, along with their meal and drink offerings (7:3).
- Immerse (baptize) himself for the second time and then don the linen vestments (3:6).
- Do the first confession on the High Priest ox offering (3:8).
- Draw the lots to select the he-goats for God and for Azazel (3:9, 4:1) [see the section titled “Two Goats” in the “Messianic Significance of the Day of Atonement” further in this chapter].
- Do the second confession on the High Priest ox sin offering (4:2).
- Slaughter his ox sin offering (4:3).
- Perform the service of the special Yom HaKippurim incense: (a) scoop up some coal; (b) scoop up the incense into the ladle; (c) burn the incense in the Holy of Holies. This was his first entry into the Holy of Holies (4:3, 5:1-2).
- Sprinkle the blood of his ox in the Holy of Holies. This was his second entry into the Holy of Holies (5:3).
- Slaughter the he-goat for God (5:4).
- Sprinkle the he-goat’s blood in the Holy of Holies. This was his third entry into the Holy of Holies (5:4).
- Sprinkle the blood of his ox on the curtain in the Holy place (5:4).
- Sprinkle the he-goat’s blood on the curtain in the Holy place (5:4).
- Mix the blood of his ox and the he-goat (5:4).
- Sprinkle the mixture on the inner altar (5:5-6).
- Do the confession on the he-goat to Azazel and present the he-goat, to the designated person, for dispatch to azazel (6:2). This was not a sacrifice.
- Remove the entrails of his ox and the he-goat and place them in a utensil (6:7).
- Prepare the limbs of his ox and the he-goat for removal to the burning place (6:7).
- Read from the Torah (7:1).
- Immerse (baptize) himself for the third time, then don the golden vestments.
- Perform the service of the he-goat sin offering of the Mussafim (7:3).
- Offer his ram (7:3).
- Offer the people’s ram (7:3).
- Burn the entrails of the ox and he-goat on the outer altar (6:7).
- Immerse (baptize) himself for the fourth time, then don the linen vestments (7:5).
- Remove the incense ladle and the shovel with burnt coals from the Holy of Holies. This was his fourth and final entry into the Holy of Holies (7:4).
- Immerse (baptize) himself for the fifth time, then don the golden vestments (7:5).
- Offer the daily afternoon elevation (burnt) offering (7:3).
- Burn the daily afternoon incense (7:4).
- Light the Menorah (7:5).
excerpted from Biblical Holidays website
Following this purification of the Holy Place and sacrifices he would then partake in the ceremony of the scapegoat. Two goats were presented to him and one goat was set free while the other goat was chosen to be the scapegoat. The high priest would symbolically place the sins of Israel onto the goat and then send it out in the desert. Thus the sins were removed from Israel. Tradition holds that a cord of red wool was tied to the horn of the scapegoat and outside the door of the Temple. When the red cord turned white it was a sign to the people that they were forgiven. (Isaiah 1:18)
Now I suppose some people are sitting there thinking well thanks for the Bible/history lessons but what does that have to do with us as believers in Jesus. Everything!! Yeshua(Jesus) has provided our atonement. He was our sacrifice and His blood purifies us that we may be seen white as snow before the Father. Like the high priest of old Yeshua has entered into heaven and appealed to His Father on our behalves.
But Yeshua being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say , not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; How much more shall the blood of Yeshua, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to G-d, purge your conscience from dead works and serve the living G-d. (Hebrews 9:11-14)
As for the scapegoat we know that Yeshua was presented before the people along with the prisoner,Barabas, and the people were to choose which one would be set free. The people chose Barabas and Yeshua was sent to Calvary to be our scapegoat. He bore the burdens of those that believe in Him and He was offered up as our perfect sacrifice. As a interesting aside remember that red cord I spoke about above the one that turned from scarlet to white when the people of Israel were forgiven on Yom Kippur? The year Yeshua was resurrected the scarlet thread never again turned white. The Shekhinah (spirit of G-d) left the temple and Yeshua sent the that spirit to each individual believer in Him.
It is often thought that since Yeshua came,died, and was resurrected we have no need for these outdated Jewish Holidays. However, I believe there is much to learn in the observation and study of the Biblical Holidays. Like all of the Biblical Holidays, the sacrifces, the tabernacle, and the temple system Yom Kippur is a picture of what Yeshua has done for us and what is to come. There are many theories as to what prophetic event will be fulfilled on and/or during these fall feasts. Some believe that Rosh Hashana will be the rapture, the days of awe the tribulation, and Yom Kippur will be the day of judgement. Another theory holds that Rosh Hashana will be the second coming and Yom Kippur the day of judement. Nobody knows for certain when Yeshua will return or what the chronology of the end of days will be. However, since we know that Yeshua fulfilled the Spring Holidays I believe that it is very likely His return and the end times event will occur during the Fall Holiday season. For our family during Rosh Hashana and the Days of Awe we take the time to reflect on our lives, repent of unrepented sin, and forgive and asked to be forgiven any wrongdoing. On Yom Kippur my husband and I will fast from food, drink, TV, computer, and other pleasures and focus on our relationship with G-d. We will spend time study the tabernacle, read selected psalms, pray for the nation of Israel, and rededicate ourselves and our devotion to the L-rd. We do not ask the children to fast from food or drink but they will join in the Bible study and other activities. As Yom Kippur comes to a close we will begin plans for Sukkot. Sunday I hope to post my own thoughts and findings after we have observed this time of reflection and rededication. Until then may G-d bless you and yours.
Blessings,
Verses To Reflect On
Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.”
Exodus 30:10
On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; and you shall afflict your souls: you shall do no manner of work;
Numbers 29:7
“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you: for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls; it is a statute forever. The Priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be Priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
“This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.”
Leviticus 16:29 – 34
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “However on the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day; shall be cut off from his people. Whoever it is who does any manner of work in that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath.”
Leviticus 23:26 – 32
