The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 48
Yom Kippur, a statute forever, the Sabbath of Sabbaths, is known by most as the Day of Atonement and the Day of Judgment. This Kodesh Mikrah of the Great and Sovereign Yahoweh calls us to rehearse, to forgive the forgiven, and to afflict our souls.
“On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a setapart gathering for you. And you shall afflict your beings, and shall bring an offering made by fire to Yahoweh. And you do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before Yahoweh your Elohim. For any being who is not afflicted on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. And any being who does any work on that same day, that being I shall destroy from the midst of his people. You do no work—a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It is a Sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your beings. On the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you observe your Sabbath.” (Leviticus 23:27-32, see also Hebrews 9).
“If you hold back your foot on the Sabbath from pursuing your own pleasures on My set-apart day, and shall call the Sabbath ‘a delight,’ the set-apart day of Yahoweh ‘esteemed,’ and shall esteem it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in Yahoweh. And I shall cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Ya’aqob your father. For the mouth of Yahoweh has spoken!” (Isaiah 58:13-14). Please read all of Isaiah 58 to see that this speaks of Yom Kippur. Study and see here how we should fast. Let us delight in Him, not foods. Let us speak His Words this day, not ours. Let us give of ourselves without boasting. Let us be a light to all nations.
To afflict your soul means to deeply humble ourselves in fasting as Isaiah 58 describes. On Yom Kippur it is good to worship, from prostrating on the ground in prayer, to giving to those in need. With the understanding that Yahoweh is loving, but also very jealous, this is the path we take. The hunger in our stomachs does not compare to the desire in His Heart for our very friendship. Humble your soul, and acknowledge His Judgment Day rehearsal.
While we may truly seek to forgive everyone everyday, the days between Yom Teruach and Yom Kippur is a time to reflect deeply to make sure that there is no un-forgiveness lurking in the shadows unseen. Being filled with the desire to love He Who loved us first by emulating His Son, we see the Messiah forgave, not just the harlot and the thief, but even those who crucified Him. Considering this, are you still a little hurt or offended at someone for not paying you back, or perhaps for ruining a keepsake, or maybe there’s a guest who never seems to respect all you do for him or her? There may be bitterness from a long ago scar, that of flesh or of heart, but, to the follower of the Word, the desire to do His Will and not be angry with your brother, even in the slightest, is so great that you will seek out those past hurts so as to set them straight. To do this, to truly do this, it is an affliction of one’s soul.
Honoring His Yom Kippur shows that Yahoweh is more important than food, or anything else, including our own ego. Not even acknowledging Yom Kippur shows we need to begin following the second Commandment out of love. He has set one day out of the year to do this. You can fast more often, sure, but this is His appointed time. Please give Him a chance and keep His Time. On this Day, followers of His Word are called to afflict our souls. If it encouraged everyone to eat chocolate cake, then every Christian in the world would keep this festival. Truly, the chaff and the wheat are separated, not in calmness, but in the wind.
Though it is difficult to find semi-like-minded believers, a Holy convocation is also a requirement. Just be sure to leave debate in the garbage where it belongs. Pray, recite His Word, and worship Yahoweh in humble fast. However, if it is not possible, then simply cling to your family, and if you have not been blessed with either of these, then spend some time in His creation. Those of you who are alone this year I encourage to strive not to be next year, but be at peace and simply invite our Saviour to be with you in this amazing rehearsal.
The ritual and sacrifice of Yom Kippur was made but once a year. This may have been an allusion to the sacrifice of Elohim, “knowing that Messiah, having been raised from the dead, dies no more—death no longer rules over Him. For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to Elohim.” (Romans 6:9-10).
“For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest—kind, innocent, undefiled, having been separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens, Who does not need, as those high priests, to offer up slaughter offerings day by day, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” (Hebrews 7:26-27).
Once upon a time, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, the very back room of the temple, with the blood of a sacrifice, first for his owns sins, and then for the people. The Messiah, however, entered into the true Holy of Holies with His own blood—sinless. “ But Messiah, having become a High Priest of the coming good matters, through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, entered into the Most Set-apart Place once for all, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, having obtained everlasting redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11-12).
“And having been found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, death even of a stake.” (Philippians 2:8). The King of kings humbled Himself? This is quite a blow. Since He did, then how much more so should I? … How much more so should I?
Yet, to speak of these things, we must continue from where we left off, long ago, when we dreamed of being a thief on a cross beside One Who had a mysterious message written above Him. Take a moment to re-read my letter to you: A Thief’s Desire. Go ahead and read it again. It is short, and the following words will not go anywhere.
Lots were cast for the sacrificial goats, just as lots were cast over the clothing of Messiah. “They divide My garments among them, and for My raiment they cast lots.” (Psalms 22:18). “And when they impaled Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them, what each one should take.” (Mark 15:24). However, Pilate wrote the true lot that hung above the True Messiah.
The Holy of Holies was so sacred that only the high priest could enter, and only on one day out of the year: the Day of Atonement. Two male goats were to be brought to the place of sacrifice, along with a bull. One goat was offered as a burnt offering, as was the bull. The second goat was the scapegoat. To decide which goat was which, the high priest would draw from a box two tablets especially designed for this ceremony. One bore the Name, “Yahoweh,” the other, “Azazel,” (scapegoat). The high priest drew the tablets, putting one tablet in front of each goat. What happened to the goat who got the tablet with the Holiest Name written upon it? … Yahoweh was sacrificed. While the escape goat bore all the sins of the people, and was let go into the desert with a red wool cord around one horn. It was said that if the cord became white then the sins of the people were forgiven. Yahoshuah is indeed in Torah. Yahoweh was sacrificed.
“‘My being hates your New Moons and your appointed times, they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. And when you spread out your hands, I hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I do not hear. Your hands have become filled with blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Stop doing evil! Learn to do good! Seek right-ruling, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together,’ says Yahoweh. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’” (Isaiah 1:14-18). Therefore, let us put away the wickedness so that Yahoweh will hear, and so that we will once again become pleasant company unto Him on this, the most solemn of all festivals. Now we know what it means for our sins to turn from scarlet to as white as snow. Yet, let us consider the two goats the lots fell upon:
The two goats are to be identical, thereby representing one being. Though there are two goats, we are to see only one. The first goat is sacrificed, pointing to the death of Messiah, Who became sin for us. The second goat is set free to show the resurrection. The scapegoat was put out of the city, but what happens to him? The scapegoat wants to come back inside the city. Alas, in rabbinical methodology the scapegoat is taken out to a cliff and killed, to assure that the sins never comes back; while those doing so never open their eyes to the Torah to know that this itself is sin, for the scapegoat lives. The tradition, not the Commandment, but the tradition was to hire a gentile to kill the scapegoat so that the sin would not come back. They hired the gentiles, the Romans, to kill Yahoshuah.
“But the goat on which the lot for Azazel fell is caused to stand alive before Yahoweh, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness to Azazel.” (Leviticus 16:10). Again, “And the goat shall bear on itself all their crookednesses, to a land cut off. Thus he shall send the goat away into the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:22). (Other sacrifices also represent this concept, such those found in Leviticus 14:4-7.)
The Israelites came to Jerusalem for many regions. They, according to the Torah, would sell at their home, take the monies, go to Jerusalem, and buy a lamb for the Passover sacrifice. When the Messiah rode into Jerusalem to be tested by the Pharisees, who found no fault with Him save that He said the Name Yahoweh—the Messiah rode, not alone atop a donkey and her colt, but into Jerusalem with the lambs from Bethlehem! Our Saviour, Yahoshuah, the Lamb of Elohim, was born in Bethlehem! … I wonder … did the wise men who gave the gifts to the young Messiah … see the Messiah ride into Jerusalem with their lambs? …. What words would they have uttered? Could they have whispered, “It is true. It is all coming true.”
Yahoshuah died for our sins, took away our sins with His red blood, and yet rose from the dead in white to bring us new life so that we might escape.
Ah, but here is why I wanted you to read A Thief’s Desire again: We don’t notice the magnificence in the English translation. The Hebrew lettering for the words atop the cross spells something very important. It is this that I have been waiting to share with you concerning the lot that was placed above the Messiah. The first letters of each word on the sign that hung above Yahoshuah as He was executed spelled out Y-H-W-H. … Yahoweh was sacrificed!
To this day many fight Who He is. Those who cried out, “Crucify Him,” saw the lot, and knew what it meant, but could not believe it meant Him … because they had taken away, and added to, the Torah, and so lost sight of Who He said He is, and just how He would save His People. Let us all put back the Word, and allow Him to be both Humble and King, both Pleader and Judge, both Messiah and Yahoweh.
The moment Yahoshuah died, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51). The temple veil is a six-inch thick tapestry, and it was not torn bottom to top, but top to bottom. Only Yahoweh could have done this. This established Yahoshuah as being the Eternal High Priest. He has made payment for us once and for all. Yahoshuah entered the true Holy of Holies, where He ever lives to make intercession for His people. The believer, by the atonement of the Messiah, may now approach the very Throne on which the Lamb sits.
The high priest had to offer sin offerings each year for his own sins and the sins of the people. This annual repetition of the sacrifices served as a reminder that perfect atonement had not yet been provided. Yahoshuah, however, through His own blood, gave eternal redemption for His people. The book of Hebrews explains the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement as a pattern of the atoning work of Yahoshuah, our High Priest, and not once forbids us to remember this event; thus we celebrate it yearly by fasting with our Saviour.
Jewish literature explains that the glory of Yahoweh left the Temple forty years prior to its destruction. Three signs occurred to show evidence of this: The western candle of the menorah refused to burn continually. The doors of the Temple would open of themselves. And the red wool no longer turned white supernaturally. The very year Yahoshuah started His ministry; the very year that the blood of bulls and goats was no longer accepted as a sacrifice for the atonement of sin! This is according to those who do not yet know Yahoshuah as Messiah. A testimony for all.
The tradition of killing the scapegoat, even though he is to live, may have blinded them to the Messiah. What have we changed, that may also cause us to claim sight, yet remain blind?
Once upon a time, there was a minister who gave to those in need, was chaste, and abstained from all alcohol and drugs. In his apartment complex, though, he had a neighbour who was a whore. Every day, as he would write his sermons, he would hear her. If outside, he would see the men come in and leave, only to have yet another and another come in. One day, filled with contained disdain at the vulgar noise and sickness of it all, he confronted her. The minister listened to her plight as she told him how she desired his life, but had only known her own.
That minister was me … many, many years ago. What would my judgment have been, in comparison to hers? I, pious, was filled with self-righteousness. Her, a woman of low heart, longed for what I had … for what she thought I had. How would Elohim have judged us? I assure you, while I may seem forthright in my pleading for you to follow the Messiah, it is not in condemnation, but yearning for only this: that you would have the heart of a lowly whore, above that of a priestly man—that you would hang as a thief, long before you pointed your finger as a religious judge.
What happened to the whore? She is alone now, save for two children, and living apart from her one sin. As for the minister … I have further to go. Yet, I learned a great lesson, one that has taken me further than nearly any other. I no longer love the sinner, while hating the sin; no, now I love the people, while hating my own sin.
There is a big difference there.
Do we know Him? Or rather, do you know Him as well as you want to? If you don’t, then I encourage you to fast with Him this Yom Kippur, for while I say this often, it will forever remain true: Yahoweh … never misses His Festivals.
We have our atonement in Messiah, but we still ought fast from food and drink on this Holy Day. If I were a wrestler of Scriptures, then let me assure you, I’d wrestle this fasting business as hard as I could. I know for many people it is healthy, and it is a wonderful aid for all to focus on prayer, but fasting is very challenging. I love the outcome of fasting, to be sure, but I do not like going hungry. Yet, the Torah remains, and we ought fast without complaining on this appointed day. I do not like going without food, but I also say this: Yom Kippur is my favorite day of the year.
Yet, by claiming the Messiah fulfilled this Commandment, many Christians (who feel this means done away, and thus forfeit the rest of His Words) may not realize that they are saying He did not fulfill, “Do not murder, adulterate, or steal.” as they feel these remain. Their understanding of fulfill, as I have already written you, is flawed. The Messiah showed us how to live. Will we subject ourselves to Him, or will we do what He never did or said was allowed? Will you choose another day? If so, you may as well choose another one to worship, such as yourself, for by doing so you have proclaimed your very self above the Creator of the Universe! The Author of Time! There is no honest fear of Yahoweh in those who do not care. And, if there is, there certainly isn’t so much as a mustarded seed’s worth.
Sabbath is seen by the church to be a ritual law. Sadly, they miss the moral aspect of the Sabbath commandment, which shows us how we are to treat others, thus making the Sabbath a moral issue as well. The Sabbath guards us from becoming Egyptian taskmaster to our animals, employees, children, spouse, and even self. The Sabbath reminds us that we serve Elohim, not the pharaoh, who found out the hard way that he wasn’t so mighty after all.
If we follow no Sabbath, we emulate Pharaoh. If we follow Day 1 as the Sabbath, we emulate the church of our denominational choosing. If we follow the True Sabbath, we emulate the Messiah. It is simply a question of whom you serve. Whom do you look like to Yahoweh? “‘is certainly released from respecting his father or mother.’ So you have nullified the command of Elohim by your tradition. Hypocrites! Yeshayahu rightly prophesied about you, saying, ‘This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.’” (Matthew 15:6-9). Yahoshuah charged these leaders with making the Torah nullified by their traditions. Isn’t it ironic, as well as horrifying, that the church, which so often demonizes the Pharisees, is guilty of the same offense! The man-made tradition of Day 1 as the Sabbath makes the Torah of Yahoweh covered up by un-Biblical church tradition! Can the same be said of the festivals of the Pharisees? No! The Feasts are from Yahoweh the Great! Read Matthew 15:6-9 one more time.
“Come to Me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I shall give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your beings. For My yoke is gentle and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). The invitation is to learn the Torah from Him, instead of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes, or for that matter a Christian assembly. Take the yoke of Yahoshuah and find rest!
Yahoshuah is Master of the Sabbath, not, “Caretaker of whenever you choose.” Yahoshuah is Celebrator of Yahoweh’s Times, not, “Partier of worldly celebrations.” Who! Who is your Master? Many choose Pharaoh, and some choose a religion, but few are daring enough to walk upon the narrow path, to walk with Him to the cross, and beyond.
“For not the hearers of the Torah are righteous in the sight of Elohim, but the doers of the law shall be declared right.” (Romans 2:13).
“And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22).
All those who were before the Messiah rehearsed His coming in every step of life, but do we rehearse His return with the same valor of love? I fear for the modern day believers who believe on Him as more of an upbringing, culture, or heritage, than Someone we honestly look forward to. That is what I cannot keep myself from doing on Yom Kippur, or any day for that matter, I am filled with a great longing to be with Him. Indeed, Paul was right when saying, “For to me, to live is Messiah, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21).
The Sabbath is wonderful. I feel if everyone gave Him the time on His appointed times then few would fall away. Keeping the Sabbath does not limit you. Sure, we are not to buy, sell, start fires, or have mundane conversations, but if my wife became ill, I would start my car, thus causing a fire, and drive her to the hospital, and pay someone to help her. If, on the way, I needed to keep her awake, I’d talk to her about kitten kisses and promises of a place for us in His Kingdom to keep her talking and awake, and, if while at the hospital, she needed something, then I would purchase what she needed, even if I had to sell my coat to do so. I am to love my wife, after all, more than my own life. Yet, I do not feel I would be sinning by doing this. In the many years of remembering His Sabbath, my wife and I have thanked Him for His Appointed times weekly, and we have never had to spend monies or sell. I have been blessed in this.
I say that because sometimes in fasting there are a few people (and I do mean few) who will become ill. Not just, “Mmm, I want to eat yummy food. [Moan].” We are able to do more than we think we can do if we have faith. However, some people will have irregular heartbeats, or could go into a coma from blood sugar problems. Like the Sabbath scenario above, I feel that if we can avoid eating we had best, but if we need to do so to remain healthy, or even alive, then we ought drink a vegetable broth. After all, last I checked, suicide is also breaking the commandments, or in the scenario above, murder. I advise, if you must consume something, then choose light juices of complex carbohydrates and proteins, to keep you alive, not satisfied, but if you can get by with just a bit of purified water, then I submit that this is the best way to fast. Therefore, before you fast, have a couple glasses of vegetable broth in the refrigerator just in case. Juice fasts are great, where you consume vegetable and fruit juices, but it is not a true fast from what I have found for Yom Kippur within Scripture. If I were a wrestler of Scripture, I could have. Rather, I submit that we do our best. That is enough.
At the time of writing this, I have never used that broth, but it is a good thing to drink right after your fast. Slowly introduce vegetables into your system, never fruits as the sugars can have adverse effects even on healthy people. I advise a glass of homemade vegetable broth, some raw vegetables, and a small amount of bread with almond butter. Before you fast, I recommend consuming nothing but vegetable juices with two fruit juice drinks that have rice protein powders added. This will help you be able to cope with the fast better, and may even help people who the year before were unable to go the whole Yom Kippur without any broth. Each of us ought fast more often throughout the year, so we can become more accustomed to fasting. We will still be hungry, but if you fast regularly then this will not be a problem. The Messiah fasted, and while this might seem repetitive, I believe it merits announcement: Follow the Messiah.
Fasting will indeed show you any weak points in your body, within the first day even, but it will also show you weak points in your spirit as well. Take note of these, and pray diligently to be healed on this Yom Kippur. For indeed it is true, what we are able, let us do; what we are not, let us rest on Him, but not use Him as an excuse.
Traditionally this fast lasts for twenty-five hours (just to make sure), but count me in for twenty-four hours. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly sometimes feel that a fast would be harmful, but I feel a fast with prayer is better for you than any food or drug. What can drugs or food do that Yahoweh cannot? This is of course your choice.
Some people traditionally do not drink even water on Yom Kippur; they figure somehow that the angels do not (Talmud perhaps); I, however, drink purified water. Sometimes I pray and read Scripture aloud, therefore, if I do not drink water, I would be too parched to do so. Also, fasting releases toxins in the body, and so one might find it necessary to drink water to avoid serious illness, though most people will simply experience a headache from the toxins. If you care for the temple, though, such an occurrence will be rare. During Yom Kippur, one should drink water to keep themselves functioning mentally and spiritually so as to be fully focused on Yahoweh.
The fasting in Ester was a fast of food and drink. However, the word used for, “drink,” is the same word used for wine. The request for all to avoid wine and food, not water, was a wise one. However, three days without water or anything would send most people who were crying and wailing to the their deathbed or grave, and Haman’s job would have been done for him. Hadassah certainly would not have had enough power to stand before the king. The alleged rabbis say this means to not drink, but what does the real Rabbi say? At the end of the Messiah’s forty days of fasting the Word say, “He was hungry.” Not thirsty? No mention of drink? Forty days without water and you would not live save you were basking in the radiance of Yahoweh Elohim, and He willed it so. Fasting may include water. “And after having fasted forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.” (Matthew 4:2).
“Be not among heavy drinkers of wine or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton become poor, and slumber puts rags on a man.” (Proverbs 23:20-21). Beware of that strong water, or no, wait, strong alcohol. Drink does not mean water, and if it does then I have never had any strong drink. What would that be, after all? Hard spring water?
If you have hypoglycemia, diabetes, heart palpitations, hyperthyroidism, are pregnant, or so forth, and feel fasting could be dangerous to your health, or even deadly, then I encourage you to do as Yahoweh leads. The command is to afflict our souls (Leviticus 16:29), not kill ourselves. Afflicting ourselves is to deprive ourselves of the things we want, not need. Do not be a fool. Do not eat unless you have no other choice, do not drink broth unless you have to. Do what you can.
Some have said they would rather die than forsake the fasting, but to injure ones self, or to even die, in this fast, rather than drinking a bit, would be an issue of missing the big picture for the little one. Take for example prayer, and the customs that surround it, which choke prayer quite often to a sterile death. Most people fold their hands, and close their eyes, when they pray, and so will forfeit prayer when driving. The later is silly, but the former is stupid. If you are one of the very rare who must consume something, then consume little, and then continue with the fast in deep prayer … eyes closed and hands folded or not. To be zealous for His Word is indeed wonderful, but to be foolhardy in the observance to the point of missing the intent is lunacy.
Exodus 15:22 shows that the Israelites were in the wilderness for three days, and found no water, not that they didn’t have any. Yahoweh was mad at their grumbling. Many view this as a proof we ought not grumble about water on Yom Kippur, but I am not grumbling. The Israelites did not ask, “Moses, please ask Yahoweh for water for us to drink.” But rather, many times they asked more like this, “We came out here just to die! We should have stayed in Egypt!” Not really asking is it? Now that will get you in trouble. Regardless, the Israelites had many miracles to protect them and keep them alive. This one-day fast should be had without food, and, if you feel it best, and it is safe to do, you may refrain from water if you choose, but I do not see it as a Commandment.
“When I went up into the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which Yahoweh made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I did not eat bread nor did I drink water.” (Deuteronomy 9:9). The Great I AM sustained Moses, yes, but He also parted the Red Sea … don’t lose faith if you go to the Red Sea and it doesn’t part for you, or if you die from fasting even water, as an average person will within three days. Moses was sustained supernaturally, not because this is humanly possible. Again, look to the Messiah.
To afflict one’s soul is to testify and give account, looking down in prayer, to chasten oneself by humility, seeking forgiveness and correction. To afflict oneself includes not eating, but let me tell you what is even more afflicting than not eating: It is searching deep down into the soul. To do this hurts quite often more than the stomach. To dreg up old memories of rape, death, blame, broken marriages and friendships, to look at the violent behaviour or bitterness in ones own heart of ones own self. Searching ones heart is afflicting the very heart of the soul! The stomach is empty so we can devote more time to this daylong affliction. That is, after all, the central theme: afflicting one’s soul, not health, which has been the central theme for too long. It is time to dig deep … to afflict one’s soul, as the Torah states, and seek forgiveness given and received.
Right before Yom Kippur, I have my last meal. Many make the mistake of eating a huge meal, and I, even knowing it is best not to, sometimes do anyway. (Not overtly bright in that area I guess.) The best I have found is to have a big glass of pomegranate juice with about fifty grams of rice protein added, and a small bowl of cashews or pecans. Thereafter, I pray and read Scripture until I turn in for the night. Upon waking, I take a small drink of water, wash my face, and, if it is nice outside, I sit outside where read and pray the whole day. Privately part of the time, and with my wife part of the time, and with the group of others the rest of the time. I read aloud Psalms, and praise Him for forgiveness. It is a wonderful gift. Cherish this time with Him.
“then you shall delight yourself in Yahoweh. And I shall cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Ya’aqob your father. For the mouth of Yahoweh has spoken!” (Isaiah 58:14).
Those who adhere to the Bible refrain from work and embrace fellowship while fasting on the Day of Atonement. In modern Israel, this day is the only day in the year when restaurants, places of entertainment, stores, offices, factories, and even the radio and television stations close down for more than twenty-four hours. In Israel, Yom Kippur has a nickname. They call it, “Festival of Bicycles,” referring to the children’s practice of freely riding their bicycles in the streets with the absence of motor vehicles. I have seen this with my own eyes. Rare is there even a car or a light on. And the reunion and celabration—the joy of His Word proclaimed openly in the street—it is clear who still fears Yahoweh when seeing such devotion. My eyes have never seen such a thing in America, though I have searched for it. The closest I have found is the ‘”National Day of Prayer.” yet, it lacks, as it should, as there is no fasting, and it is not on His appointed time. I know I have said this before, but: Yah never misses His Festivals. Do we? Let us not forfeit appointments with Him.
There are more reasons than can be easily counted to keep His time. “And you shall seek Me, and shall find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13). This is what my household does on Yom Kippur to a whole other understanding. During this fast, I am somehow brought beyond my best. There is never a thought that is not on Yahoweh for the entire day, and, indeed, there is no doubt, my Father celebrates with me. I boast in this, yes, I boast in Yahoweh the Wonderful Who does this.
Before I decided to follow Him, I felt as if the Father was saying to me, “How long have you been fasting Me?” This whisper continued until I gave His Word a chance. However, be warned, “Beware of doing your kind deeds before men, in order to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in the heavens.” (Matthew 6:1). “And when you fast, do not be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that they appear to be fasting to men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:16-18).
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loosen the tight cords of wrongness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to exempt the oppressed, and to break off every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6). As we fast, let us remember those who go without food and water so often. Let us pray for them, and also help them. As I have said, “Never pray for a crop unless you are behind the plow.” It is sad that we take so much grain from these poor nations to needlessly feed animals raised for slaughter here. Let us this day repent and refrain from harming these people any further by our absence of prayer and action. On Yom Kippur, Jews have a tradition where they do not wear leather shoes, as it is not considered proper to plead for compassion when one has not shown compassion to the creatures of Yahoweh. I feel this is a good tradition with one minor alteration. Do it the other days of the year, too. After all, sincere compassion does never cease. Praise Yah!
Continuing: “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, and cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:7).
Therefore, let us be vigilant in caring for others. Who knows, perhaps it will be said to you, privately, face to face, “Thank you for the food and Food.” Sending a New Testament Bible to people who are hungry is like giving roofing tile to the homeless. Twisted and wrong! Most of the time these people are not even converted, and, if they are, then they are converted to the same believer type as those who threw away half of His Word and do not even have enough love to send people food. I would always rather send twenty full Bibles with food, than send a hundred New Testament only abominations to starving people. If we do not disregard His Word, then they be able to see creation, the fall of man, the Torah of Righteousness, mercy, kings, and histories that have the power to save one’s very soul through putting a true trusting love in the Messiah Who died and rose to redeem us for the coming Day of Judgment. Let us keep His Desire in a true fast: Share your bread with the hungry. Thus, let us share both bread and the Bread of Life. The whole world needs the whole Word. The whole world needs enough of our love to be able to eat. And last, but not least, let us not close our eyes to own family.
“And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, but one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it? So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead.” (James 2:15-17). Let us have action!
While the phone and the computer are unplugged on Yom Kippur, and we blow the shofar as His Word shows in Leviticus 25:8-10, and we fast and pray, there are some Jews who are still missing one thing, as well as many professing Christians, and that is the blood atonement. There is no more stone temple; therefore, Jews do not sacrifice. They go to the Talmud and say fasting will suffice, but that is not what the Real Torah states: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your lives, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the life.” (Leviticus 17:11). And also, “For it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4). There has to be a blood sacrifice whether we want this or not. And there is One if we accept Him, but how can we say we accept Yahoshuah if we deny His plan for us? His Yom Kippur. Will you accept Him fully? Or casually?
“‘And this shall be for you a law forever: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you afflict your beings, and do no work, the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on that day he makes atonement for you, to cleanse you, to be clean from all your sins before Yahoweh. It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you shall afflict your beings—a law forever. And the priest, who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, the set-apart garments, and he shall make atonement for the Most Set-apart Place, and make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar, and make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. And this shall be for you a law forever, to make atonement for the children of Yisra’el, for all their sins, once a year.’ And he did as Yahoweh commanded Mosheh.” (Leviticus 16:29-34, see also Hebrews 9). Read this passage slowly, one more time. Read each sentence twice and think of our Redeemer, our High Priest. This is indeed His Festival.
Therefore, let us afflict our soul with fasting. The wording for afflict means to decrees, chasten, deal hardly, and inwardly but not outwardly hurt oneself. The wording for soul means our breathing, vitality, appetite, beast, and body. While the words for fasting show us it is an act of covering ones mouth. Therefore, let our words be His, and not trade this blessing for mere food. To afflict your soul means to deeply humble ourselves in fasting as Isaiah 58 describes. On Yom Kippur, it is good to worship. One part of worship lost is that of prostrating on the ground in prayer. This, with the understanding that Yahoweh is loving, but also very jealous, is the path we must take. The hunger in our stomachs does not compare to the desire in His Heart for our friendship. Humble your soul and acknowledge His Judgment Day rehearsal.
Judgment: A day the righteous long for, but the wicked fear it with mockery. It will come, and I long for the day when you and I can prostrate our selves on the ground, and offer up the praise He deserves: the praise of a life with the goal of being like His Son, His Sacrifice for us.
Sacrifices of animals, grains, and oils were not sufficient to atone for sin, only cover it, yet, there had to be a sacrifice. The Blood of Yahoshuah is atonement. However, we have all kept hidden sins, which He is able to forgive, both those known, and those unknown. We ought desire to make atonement for these sins by seeking them out, and truly repenting of them to our Saviour. Sometimes, wickedness, demons, spirits, sin, ill temper, and so forth, can only be cured a certain way. “And He said to them, ‘It is impossible for this kind to come out except through prayer and fasting.’” (Mark 9:29). Yet, we need even more than that. We need a relationship with Him, through fellowship, and what better way to have both then to be with Him as He celebrates His Feast of Forgiveness. Will you dine with Him this fast?
“If, then, you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother holds whatever against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go, first make peace with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24).
The Messiah will fulfill this festival when He returns. When He was here, He fulfilled the Spring Feasts, but, as we can clearly see, even in the mist of symbols and complex revelations, in the last Book of Books, our Commander and Chief will one day soon fulfill the Fall Feasts. Will you have rehearsed them? Will you be rehearsing them when He returns? Or will your heart be set on things of the world?
“‘Yet even now,’ declares Yahoweh, ‘turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.’” (Joel 2:12).
What harm have I done in keeping Yom Kippur? Was opening my heart for Yahoweh, and praying for forgiveness while forgiving others, some way and for some reason done away with? No, and let me tell you, this Holy Rehearsal for the Day of Judgment is not a rehearsal in vain. This practice teaches us to pray more, to forgive more, to fast more, and to look to Yahoweh always. However, I am not going to further argue the need, or the joy of keeping, what the Messiah kept, and what the letter writers continued to keep in Acts 27:9. You cannot understand the beauty of Yom Kippur until you keep it in love! Only then, by your heart, will you understand my loss of words, yet my yearning to speak.
All these feasts have led up to one last great feast of Yahoweh: Sukkot. It is only a few days away from Yom Kippur, but in this holy rehearsal we will understand the entire play. Before the ending of the play can be understood, the first parts must be known. Have a blessed Yom Kippur. Fast and dig deeper, and seek our Father’s great hunger, and forgive the forgiven.
“Yahoweh! We are celebrating Your Sabbath. We fast this Yom Kippur. We thank You for allowing us to celebrate forgiveness with You. In humility, we fast as we forgive others, as You have forgiven us by the blood of Your Son, Yahoshuah. As I look at the blue of my Tzitzit, I long to stand before You, to fast with You, to feast with You. You are indeed Wonderful beyond all measure. Thank You for the shalom of forgiveness. Thank You for Your rehearsal. HalleluYah.”
…
A devil’s fear, and a doubted hope upon the thread of treasonous reason: Could it be, oh, would it be, that upon the final trump of seasons, all dead and fleeting living, have one more chance still given, before the hall of judgment, of Yom Kippur. Time He gave in rehearsal; I pray it stay for the play. … I pray it stay for the play.
“For the reign of the heavens is like a man, a householder who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the workers for a silver piece a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You too go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I shall give you.’ And they went. Having gone out again about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did likewise. And about the eleventh hour, having gone out, he found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you shall receive.’ And when evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a silver piece. And when the first came, they thought they would receive more. But they too received each a silver piece. And when they received it, they grumbled against the householder, saying, ‘These last have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answering, said to one of them, ‘Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a silver piece? Take yours and go. But I wish to give to this last man as also to you. Is it not right for me to do what I wish with my own? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ Thus the last shall be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:1-16).
“And this is the desire of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him should possess everlasting life. And I shall raise him up in the last day.” (John 6:40).
“And his master answering, said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.’” (Matthew 25:26).
“Therefore, since Messiah suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so that he no longer lives the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but according to the desire of Elohim. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the desire of the gentiles, having walked in indecencies, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties, and abominable idolatries, in which they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same flood of loose behaviour, blaspheming, who shall give an account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the Good News was also brought to those who are dead, so that, whereas they are judged according to men in the flesh, they might live according to Elohim in the spirit.
But the end of all has drawn near. Therefore be sober-minded, and be attentive in the prayers. And above all have fervent love for one another, because love covers a great number of sins. Welcome one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, serve one another, as good trustees of the manifold favor of Elohim.
If anyone speaks, let it be as the Words of Elohim. If anyone serves, let it be as with the strength which Elohim provides, so that Elohim might be praised in it all through Yahoshuah Messiah, to Whom belong the esteem and the rule forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:1-11).
Once upon a time, a man did know the rewards for obedience. He found that to tithe 10% off all his income would gain him a huge mansion made with tons of gold, rare stones, and woods, and so he tithed from his garden, work, and time. He always gave a little more to make sure the reward would be there. He also found that to be faithful to one’s spouse was only worth an ounce of steel, and so the man saw the commandment as a lesser one, and kept it not. He had affaires with his wife’s very friends, and felt no guilt.
He died.
… We do that.
In Heaven, he found his mansion of gold. It was even more wondrous than his greedy heart could have ever imagined. He walked up to his house, ever so excited, and grabbed the doorknob. To his horror … the door was locked, and he was without the ounce of steel, the key, to open it. The mansion faded before his eyes, as did Heaven, for with what heart did he give with, and with what heart did he lose his steel?
While some deathbed repentances are indeed genuine, I fear most are not. For they knew there is an Elohim, and they waited and lived how they thought they wanted to live. How sincere was their repentance? If they were cured instead of dying, would they have remained a brother or sister to the end? Only Yah knows these things.
This may well be the reason that much is hidden from us. For what would we do if we knew we could always just love Him later? We may never be able to honestly love Him. Fear misunderstanding the rewards, and fear losing the knowledge of the curses, as even if everyone arisen was given a chance to love Him after the blast of the shofar, few would. For indeed, few do, even those professing Him, for it is no lie that few love Yah. “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy,” (1 John 5:3).
Be satisfied with being a walker of His footsteps. Dear brothers and sweet sisters, His footsteps never once strayed from the joy of the festivals of Yahoweh. May your Yom Kippur be filling, not with food or drink, but with loving prayer and fasting, in the Spirit of He Who had written above Him: Yahoweh!
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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Additional Scripture References:
Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 16:7-22, 23:27-31, 25:9, Numbers 29:7-11, Isaiah 1:18, 53, 58, Psalms 2:6,8-9, 22, 35:13, 98:6, Proverbs 27:7, Joel 2:12-14, Daniel 9:3, Nehemiah 9:1, Ezekiel 24:17, Romans 2:23-24, 3:23-24, 10:1, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:19, Revelations 20:1-3, Psalms 35:13, Numbers 29:7-11
