Meditation for Monday
Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement; it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. Leviticus 23:27
It was not surprising, on reflection, that an Arab coalition led by Egypt and Syria would choose October 6, 1973, as the day to launch major surprise offenses against Israel. Known as the Yom Kippur war, this conflict was launched on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, the day when everything in Israel was at a standstill. Even today, the nation of Israel virtually shuts down on the Day of Atonement. You could safely walk down the middle of a normally busy highway in Israel because all traffic stops for the day, all business, industry, and activities of all kinds are halted to mark this event. In ancient Israel, this was also the most significant day on their calendar, marked by ceremony and fear. On this day, and this day alone, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with blood to sprinkle on the mercy seat. A rope tied to his ankle allowed others to pull the high priest’s body out if the offering was not acceptable, so this ceremony was conducted with great care and dread. If he emerged alive, the high priest would raise his arms and bless the people. Yom Kippur was important. Its significance still is.
Yom Kippur has a future fulfillment. That is important, because the Jews are unable to carry out this ceremony today. Their temple is gone, and the Aaronic priesthood is unable to function; and they as a nation have rejected their Messiah. God has for a time set aside His earthly people and has taken up His work among the Gentiles. But this will change. Prophecy is clear that as the end times approach, the way will be made for the Great High Priest to arrive. And Israel will be ready and willing to welcome Him. All of the types and foreshadows of the old day of atonement in ancient Israel will be fulfilled in that great day. Israel will be restored by their acceptance of the One Who has provided for their individual and national atonement by His own blood.
As Gentile Christians, the day of atonement is not on our calendar. But we too can appreciate that the Lord Jesus has purchased our atonement by the shedding of His blood at Calvary. We appreciate how He entered the darkness of Golgotha, and emerged alive after three days, proof that God has accepted the blood sprinkled there. The day of atonement holds great significance for us in the lovely pictures it presents of God’s great plan of salvation.
Although we will not take part in Yom Kippur with the Jews, we will certainly take part in the appreciation of the atonement made by the same One Who the Jews will someday accept and worship as their Great High Priest. – Jim MacIntosh