Purpose to Make Atonement for our Sins once a Year Leviticus 16:29-34, And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all . . . . For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever . . . . And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. Exodus 30:10, And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD. Why is atonement for sins needed? Ezekiel 18:4, 20, . . . the soul that sinneth, it shall die [unless that sin is atoned, or covered]. Hebrews 9:22, . . . without shedding of blood [there] is no remission. Significance of Old Testament Atonement Rites The Old Testament rites of the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16:1-34) have great significance: “Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering. He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body . . . These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on. And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering. “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the SCAPEGOAT. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the SCAPEGOAT shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the SCAPEGOAT into the wilderness. “And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. “Then Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of meeting, shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. And he shall wash his body with water in a holy place, put on his garments, come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. " (Leviticus 16:3-16, 20-24, NKJV)
Aaron is a type of Christ. The holy place represented, was a type, of the throne room of the Almighty in Heaven. See Exodus 25:17-20 and Jeremiah 17:12. The mercy seat was the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Ten Commandments. The high priest was an impure human being, unfit to stand in the presence of the sinless spiritual Creator, so he had to be cleansed and his sins removed. The physical rituals did not really do this, but reminded them of sin and the need for the coming messianic sacrifice. The priest's "holy garments" represented righteousness, Revelation 19:8. The Hebrew word translated "scapegoat" in the King James and New King James Bible Versions is Azazel. A more correct translation of the verses discussing the "scapegoat' is: "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel. . . . But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement upon it and sent away into the wilderness for Azazel . . . And he that let go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp." (Leviticus 16:8, 10, 26, Holy Bible in Its Original Order)
The problem with understanding what these verses are saying stems from the fact that the meaning of the word scapegoat is different today than it was during the time of the King James translators. The Online Etymology Dictionary states concerning the word scapegoat and its original meaning that it is: " . . . a mistranslation in Vulgate of Hebrew 'azazel (Leviticus 16:8,10,26), which was read as 'ez ozel or the "goat that departs," but is actually the proper name of a devil or demon in Jewish mythology . . . "
Today, the word scapegoat has the connotation of someone who is UNJUSTLY blamed for the sins of others. The Azazel goat represents SATAN, who is no scapegoat. He is guilty of his part in our sins! Notice that the high priest cast lots to decide which goat was for the LORD and which was to represent Satan. He could not humanly determine which one was which. A lot is a solemn appeal to God to decide a doubtful matter. A sacred religious ceremony, casting of lots includes a supernatural act of God. Thus, lotteries and gambling are of the devil, profaning a holy ceremony. Proverbs 16:33. Men today are unable to tell who is of Christ, who is of Satan. The devil has done his work of deception so well, that the world does not know who is of God and who is of the Devil. Most Christian professing people who think they are worshipping God are actually worshipping the Devil, 2Corinthians 4:4. The incense of the high priest represented prayer, Revelation 5:8, the kind of petitions the Almighty will hear. Sweet incense shows that our attitude in prayer should not be bitter or vindictive. Beaten fine indicates that we are to be specific in prayer requests. Don't use the trite generalization: "God bless everyone." As incense rises from hot coals, so our prayers are to ascend like a cloud. Just as the cloud of incense protected the high priest from the glory of the Almighty, so prayers bring God's protection. The goat of the sin offering represented Christ. Its blood symbolized the shed blood of our Savior. Why did the high priest sprinkle blood on the mercy seat? Because the mercy seat covered the Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments written in stone by the finger of God. Breaking these laws made a sin offering necessary. Blood covered the Ark, thus symbolically "covering" broken law. The altar, tabernacle, and mercy seat were defiled by sin. During the year, the sins of Israel were symbolically transferred to the tabernacle and its fixtures. Once a year sin was symbolically removed at Atonement so that God could continue to dwell among His people. Sin separates us from God, Isaiah 59:2. The priest entering within the vail with the blood of the goat represents the risen Messiah entering God's tabernacle on Wavesheaf Sunday in Heaven, beseeching the Almighty to apply His precious blood for our sins. Christ is our high priest today, Hebrews 7:25, 4:14-16, our intercessor with the Father. Laying on of hands on the live goat reminded Israel that their sins needed to be placed on the head of Satan, the father of sin. Laying on of hands symbolizes a setting apart, bestowing some characteristic or attribute to, a being. The second goat cannot represent Christ, for when He died, He fully paid for our sins. Satan has a principal role in our sins. Christ paid for our part in our sins. Satan's part in our sins will be placed right back on his own head, where it belongs. Revelation 20:1-2 is a parallel passage, showing Satan will be bound. The "fit man" of Leviticus 16:21represents an angel, who takes Satan away. Azazel, Satan, carries his own sins, he is no longer allowed to deceive people, and lives on in the wilderness. After the ceremony is over, the high priest must wash his garments. After coming in contact with the symbolic Devil, he has to purify himself. Changing garments signifies putting away sin. The whole Christian life involves cleaning our garments, Zechariah 3:3-4, Revelation 3:4. We must continually wash ourselves from associations with this sinful world, Ephesians 5:26. Every Christian must have the appropriate wedding garments, signifying righteousness. All spiritual Israelites must keep the Day of Atonement, an everlasting statute and reminder that we need the atoning blood of our Savior. Hebrews 8, 9, 10 Explains the Meaning of Leviticus 16 -
Christ is our High Priest; Physical Things Served as Examples of Spiritual. Hebrews 8:1-2, 5, We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary [holy things], and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man . . . . [which physical things] serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things . . . . -
What was in Holy of Holies; Mercy Is Available to Cover Broken Law. Hebrews 9:3-5, And after [inside] the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant . . . and the tables of the covenant [two tables of stone having the 10 Commandments]. And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat . . . . -
Physical Ordinances on Day of Atonement Did Not Make Israel Perfect; Reminded them of Sins and need of Atonement (covering), or Forgiveness. Hebrews 9:7-10, But into the second [tabernacle, or "holy of holies"] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people . . . the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest [available] . . . was a figure [type] . . . in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect . . . . Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal [physical] ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation. Hebrews 10:1, 3-5, For the [ceremonial] law having a shadow of good things to come . . . can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect . . . . But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins . . . . Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared me [a perfect human sacrifice -- Christ -- is necessary]. Hebrews 10:11, And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. -
The Offering of Christ Once and For All Provided a Means of Atoning for Our Sins: Old Testament Sacrifices Done Away. Hebrews 9:11-12, 22, But Christ being come an high priest . . . . by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us . . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [of sins]. Hebrews 9:26-28, . . . but now once . . . hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself . . . . So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many . . . . Hebrews 10:10, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:18, Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. See also Hebrews 7:26-27. -
By This Atonement, Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant. Hebrews 9:15, And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of his death . . . they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Hebrews 10:16-17, This is the covenant that I will make with them . . . I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. -
We Have Constant Availability of Mercy (Atonement for our sins). Hebrews 7:25, Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. -
We Cannot Disdain the Blood of the Covenant Whereby We Are Forgiven -- Not Use Mercy As Excuse for Breaking the Law. Hebrews 10:26-31, For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? . . . The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
What KIND of Sacrifice does God want TODAY? Psalm 51:16-17, For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it . . . . The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Hosea 6:6, For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 1Peter 2:5, . . . [we are] to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Leviticus 23:27, . . . and you shall afflict your souls . . . . Psalm 35:13, . . . I humbled [afflicted] my soul with fasting. Psalm 69:10, When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting . . . . Isaiah 58:6-7, Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? The apostle Paul began his Voyage to Rome after Atonement Acts 27:9, Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them. Day of Trumpets foreshadows Atonement Joel 2:1, 15-17, Blow ye the trumpet in Zion . . . let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand . . . . Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children . . . let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet [time to refrain from embracing, Ecclesiastes 3:5, and sexual relations, because of fasting and prayer, 1Corinthians 7:5]. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep . . . and let them say, Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach . . . . Joel 2:12-13, 32, . . . turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil [is anxious not to punish you]. Matthew 5:7, Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Exodus 20:5-6, . . . visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Day of Atonement is a Special Time of Repentance Numbers 5:6-7, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD . . . . Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense [offer restitution for] his trespass . . . [Compare with Leviticus 16:2]. Numbers 15:30-31, But that soul that doeth aught presumptuously [refuses to confess his sins and repent] . . . . Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken His commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. Deuteronomy 4:30-31, When thou art in tribulation . . . in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant . . . [see Deuteronomy 30:1-6]. 1Kings 8:33-34, [Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple] When Thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again to Thee, and confess Thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto Thee in this house: Then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which Thou gavest unto their fathers. 2Chronicles 7:14, If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Job 11:14, If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. Psalm 51:1-19, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar. Proverbs 16:2, 6, All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes . . . . By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. Proverbs 28:13, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Isaiah 31:6, Turn ye unto Him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. Isaiah 55:6-7, Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Jeremiah 31:34, . . . for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Lamentations 5:21, Turn Thou us unto Thee [give us repentance], O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. Ezekiel 18:20, 21, 24, The soul that sinneth, it shall die . . . . But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity . . . shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned . . . in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die. Hosea 14:1-4, O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. Mark 1:15, . . . The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 2:17, . . . I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. I John 1:8-9, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Atonement Emphasizes Savior's Atoning Blood Matthew 26:28, For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Luke 24:46-47, . . . it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Acts 20:28, . . . the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. Romans 3:24-25, Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood . . . for the remission [passing over] of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Romans 5:9, Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 1Corinthians 15:3, . . . Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Ephesians 1:7, In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 2:13-18, But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us . . . . For through Him we both [Israel and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 1Peter 1:18-20, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. I John 1:7, . . . the blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanseth us from all sin. I John 2:2, And He is the propitiation for our sins . . . also for the sins of the whole world. Revelation 1:5, . . . Jesus Christ . . . that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood. Revelation 5:9, . . . for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood . . . . Revelation 7:14, . . . These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 12:11, And they [God's Church] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. How does God JUSTIFY his command to redeem the land and people? Leviticus 25:23-24, The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is Mine: for ye are strangers and sojourners with Me. And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
For us to be free, something and someone else must go into bondage: 2Corinthians 10:5, . . . bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Leviticus 16:21-22, And Aaron [after atoning for himself and the people] shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live [Azazel] goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness . . . unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. Revelation 20:1-3, And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit . . . that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Comment: The Day of Atonement is a time we are to free ourselves from sin and Satan, asking God to mercifully cover (atone) our sins. It is also a time of great rejoicing, when Satan is put away and our sins are covered: Psalm 32:1-2, Blessed [happy] is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
The Name "Yom Kippur" Yom Kippur (literally, "Day Atonement") is the common Jewish form of the Biblical Yom Ha-Kippurim ("Day of Atonements," plural). We need atonements for the many sins we have committed. Kippurim and Kapparah mean "to scour," "to cleanse thoroughly," "to ease," or "to cover, hide out of sight." Fasting From the earliest times, "afflicting the soul," Leviticus 16:29 was understood to mean fasting. Isaiah 58:3 proves this. The Mishnah (code of Jewish interpretation) forbids eating, drinking, washing, anointing and marital intercourse on the Day of Atonement. The four main reasons for the command to fast on the Day of Atonement: -
By fasting we show contrition for the wrong we have done and the good we have failed to do. It is not masochism. Fasting fulfills the need to make a self-sacrifice in order to demonstrate that one has repented and not merely given lip service of sorrow for past sins. Fasting affirms a man's sincerity, and shows he knows he deserves to be punished for his sins. -
Self-discipline. Repentance must be preceded by an attempt at self-discipline. The ideal person is one who is hard on himself but indulgent towards others. Fasting on the Day of Atonement serves as a reminder for the need of self-discipline which leads to self-improvement. -
Fasting is a means of focusing the mind on the spiritual. -
Fasting is a means of awakening compassion for others. See Isaiah 58:6-7
The Reality of Sin The Day of Atonement drives home three points, (1) that sin is real, an offense against God, (2) that God, nonetheless pardons sin, and (3) that such pardon does not come unless man does something -- repents with fasting, rends his heart. There are three Bible Hebrew terms for sin: -
Pesha means rebellion. It is the attitude of mind in which a man sets himself up as the sole judge of his actions, recognizing neither God nor His law. Pesha signifies the refusal of man to consider himself accountable to God for his actions. -
Avon comes from a root meaning "to be twisted," or "to be crooked" (compare our word, "a crook"). An example is man who starts out right, but throws everything away in an act of folly. - Het comes from a root meaning "to miss," used, for instance, when an archer fails to hit the target. Hetdenotes lack of character or staying power. It can also mean unwitting sin, and the careless driver, slack teacher, overindulgent or neglectful parent, and thoughtless son, are all guilty of het.
Repentance Teshubah, the Hebrew word for repentance, means "turning back." It involves, according to Jews, (1) contrition for the sin committed and (2) firm resolve not to repeat it.
How can there be LIBERTY through FASTING? After Jesus Christ returns as a conquering king, there are events that must occur before the Kingdom of God can be set up. God must perform some unfinished business. The tenth day of the seventh month is the fifth of God's seven annual Festivals, the Day of Atonement. This festival must be fulfilled before the Millennium can commence. What does this day of fasting have to do with the Fall Harvest? Atonement Jesus Christ died for our sins, and all our sins were borne by Him. This is the likely meaning of the two goats: two aspects of Christ. Although it might be poetic justice to place all sins on Satan's head, the fact is that it is Christ who will bring reconciliation with our heavenly Father. "The goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat [azazel], shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an ATONEMENT . . ." Leviticus 16:10. It is Christ that makes atonement with God. Fasting The Day of Atonement is the only festival of God which requires fasting by those observing it. No work including preparation of food is allowed on this day, Leviticus 23:27-28. Why is there no work? "Ye shall do NO WORK in that same day: for IT IS A DAY OF ATONEMENT, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God," Leviticus 23:28. One of the best ways to get close to God is to "afflict your soul," Leviticus 23:27, which means to fast. David said, "I humbled [margin: afflicted] my soul with fasting" Psalm 35:13. Fasting on a regular basis is an excellent way to tame your human nature and get close to God in prayer and study. It is only once a year that God names the specific day for you to fast (other fast days are on an individual choice basis). And this is so you can be more at one with Him. |