Last Updated on September 11, 2024 by Admin Admin
Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur is the most solemn holy day of all the Israelite Feasts and festivals. It happens once a year on the tenth day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. On this day, the people expect the High Priest to perform elaborate rituals in order to atone for their sins. Leviticus 16: 1-34 describes the atonement ritual that began with Aaron. God underscored the solemnity of the day by telling Moses to warn Aaron not to come into the Most Holy Place whenever he felt like it. He could only come on this special day once a year, lest he die (v.2). God did not permit this to be a lighthearted ceremony. His way was for people to make amends for their wrongdoing.
Let’s learn more about this day in this blog.
What is the day of atonement?
The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur is important in the Biblical Calendar, which occurs once a year on the tenth day of Tishri and the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. During this time, people must atone for their sins, and the high priest must perform rituals to atone for the sins of all people. This day has its significance from the time of Moses and Aaron. Â Leviticus 16:4 states that before entering the Tabernacle, Aaron was bathed and put on special garments. A bull was sacrificed for him and his family to atone for all sins. (v. 6, 11)
Aaron was to sprinkle the blood of the bull on the ark of the covenant. V. 16 stated that Aaron needed to bring two goats and sacrifice one because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites. For whatever sins they have committed, they sprinkled their blood on the ark of the covenant.
The other goat was used as a scapegoat. Aaron placed his hands on its head, confessed over it the rebellion and wickedness of the Israelites, and sent the goat out with an appointed man who released it into the wilderness (v. 21). The people’s sins were forgiven for another year as the goat carried them on itself (v. 30).
Its Importance Today
To this day, Jews still celebrate the Day of Atonement, which falls on different days each year in September-October. Traditionally, believers observe this holy day by fasting and engaging in intensive prayer. Jews also often spend most of the day in synagogue services. The two goats used in the observance play a significant role in symbolizing the sacrifice of Christ. The high priest sprinkled the blood of the first goat on the ark, ritually appeasing the wrath of God for another year. The second goat removed the sins of the people into the wilderness. Where the people no longer clung to them, forgetting their existence.
Only Christ’s sacrifice on the cross propitiation and expiates sin in God’s way. Propitiation is the act of appeasing the wrath of God, while expiation is the act of atoning for sin and removing it from the sinner
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Conclusion
To sum up, the Day of Atonement is important in the biblical calendar as it occurs once a year on the tenth day of Tishri and the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. During this time, people atone for their sins while the high priest performs rituals to atone for all people’s sins. Jews around the world celebrate this day by atoning for all their sins through sacrifice. Jews still celebrate this day that falls on different days each year in September-October—this holy day with a period of fasting and intensive prayer.
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