Yom haKippurim (the Day of Coverings/Atonement) is seen as a time of self-reflection. Yes, in Leviticus 16 God teaches that one is to “afflict your souls,” which is taken to be a call for a fast, as seen in Isaiah 58. However, the apostolic letter to the Hebrews shows that the day is about reflection on the High Priest Who atoned God’s people once and for all time with His own blood.
Category: Atonement
Day of Atonement, or Yom haKippurim in Hebrew for “Day of Coverings”
Question: What is the relationship between law and grace? Some say verse such as the following suggest grace abolishes the Law, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14).
Yom haKippurim, commonly called the Day of Atonement, in the Bible comes between Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpet Blasts as warning, and Sukkot, the celebration of dwelling with God. It looks to the day God brings the fallenness of the world to a close. Thus, it’s a day of hope.
Richard Agee connects the solo work of the high priest in the tabernacle of Israel on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippurim in Hebrew for “Day of Coverings” ) with the solo work of Messiah Yeshua in covering over our sins (not living up to God’s instructions), transgressions (willfully disobeying God) and iniquity (outright rebellion against God). His doing so prepares us for God’s presence to be among us, as celebrated during the Festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot in Hebrew for “booths” or “shelters”).
The seventh month of God’s calendar has three appointments with Him that follow in quick succession — Feast of Trumpets to Day of Atonement to Feast of Tabernacles. Richard Agee explores Exodus 29-30 how the calling and the santification of the High Priest coincides with the calling and sanctification of the Messiah.