Yom Kippur Day of Atonement
Monday, September 18, 2006 at 06:03PM
Yom Kippur
Day of Atonement and the High Priest
By: Dan Fraley
It is the twelfth month on the Jewish calendar. It is the month of Elul, a time of tashuvah/repentance. The month before the High Holy Days of Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur. Rosh Ha-Shanah means "head of the year" in Hebrew and is their new year. On the eve of the 22nd of September (06) this year is Rosh Ha-Shanah, so happy new year ya-all!
Seven days after the Feasts of Trumpets/Rosh Ha-Shanah or as the Jewish people call the "Days of Awe", comes the "Day of Atonement" or "Yom Kippur". This is the one and only day of the year that the High Priest would go into the "Holy of Holies" or "Kadosh Ha- Kadoshiem". He would sprinkle blood of a lamb (only a lamb or kid goat on this special day) on the "Mercy Seat" atoning himself, all of Israel and God fearers in the gentile nations (Leviticus 16:2). When the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies, he saw the Lords presence as a brilliant cloud hovering above the Mercy Seat. The Hebrew word used for Mercy Seat is "Lafar", and it can also be referred to as the "Seat of Atonement". The Mercy Seat stood upon the "Ark of the Covenant" but was not actually a part of it (Exodus 35:12, 25:17-22, 37:6-9, !Cron. 28:11). The Mercy Seat was the most important part of the Holy Place, because it is where Heaven reached down to Earth. Moses talked to God here face to face (Ex. 25:22, 30:6, and Num. 7:89).
The High Priest
The High Priest had to prepare himself for this very important task by memorizing the complete 16th chapter of Leviticus, making sure he made no mistakes that would cost him his life. He took a "Michvah" or cleansing bath, replaced his usual gold garments with a jeweled shield on his breast and a golden diadem on his head, bearing the inscription Holy to the Lord" (Kadosh la Ha-Adoni) Ex. 28:36, and put on garments of linen. This was the same fabric worn by angels of the Lord (Ezk. 9:2-3, 10:2, 6-7; Daniel 10:5, 12:6-7) and by the risen Messiah Himself (Rev. 1:13_15). The Holy garments of Leviticus 16:4.
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