Today is Yom Kippur, the Hebrew day of atonement. It is one of the yearly divine appointed day of fasting for His people. It is the most important of all the holy days because it is the day in the Old Testament, when the High Priest of Israel, entered the Most Holy Place on his behalf and on behalf of the whole house of Israel to make atonement for their sins, once a year.
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. And 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. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath (Leviticus 23:27-32).
The past ten days were the days of awe following the Rosh Hashanah, the head of the Hebrew New Year (October 2-4). Rosh Hashanah also marked the anniversary of the birth of the Universe, the creation of Adam and Eve. This was thus followed by the ten days of awe when every Jewish person has been searching his/her life, asking for -, and receiving forgiveness for sins committed against one another and against God. This has prepared them for this most holy day of atonement; an intense day of prayer for confession of sins to make things right before God for the coming year; to have their names inscribed in the Lamb’s book of life. It is also a time of rejoicing because of God’s forgiveness for the sin of Golden Calf-the sin they committed in the wilderness when Moses was on the Mountain with the LORD for the Ten Commandments; the sin which led Moses to smash the two Tablets of those Ten Commandments. The LORD later forgave them after punishing the culprits, and replaced the Tablets of the Ten Commandments when Moses sought His face for another forty days. So this day, the people rejoice also for their forgiveness. Joshua before his death said to them:
THE FASTS OF JOY
In this Millennium Kingdom, the fast is the fast of joy. In Zachariah 8:18-19, the LORD says:
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore, love the truth and peace.
The fasts listed here are the various fasting of the Jewish people. These fasting days commemorate most of the historical tragedies that befell the nation of Israel. However, through the death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ, the ultimate Lamb of sacrifice for the sins of mankind, the LORD has reconciled all things to Himself. We are made nigh to Him in His Most Holy Place of the Most High through the Blood of Jesus, to receive mercy and grace. The Gentile nations are no longer foreigners and strangers to the covenant of God with Israel, but through the Blood of Jesus are adopted as sons of God. The House of Israel are also forgiven of their waywardness and are married back to the Father through the New Covenant in the Blood. His Blood has set us free and given us freedom and uprightness and justification before God, and we are fully restored and comforted; accepted in the beloved as fellow heirs with Christ.
Today’s fasting therefore, is a fast of joy whereby we can fully rejoice in the LORD for what He did for us on the Cross, giving us full access into His Presence as sons and no longer as the High Priest of Israel who was the only one that could enter on behalf of the nation. We are sons, not slaves; we are sons not foreigners, we are covenant seed of Abraham to inherit the full covenant blessings. We have eternal life in Crist Jesus Christ. We thus enter the Hebrew New Year with full confidence of the assurance of the Love of God and as full citizens of the Kingdom of God, and as His sons because the debt is paid in full, Halleluyah!
As we were entering this day, the Holy Spirit gave me a song that has not stopped singing in my heart and which I also not could stop playing since yesterday. ONE THING REMAINS (By Jesus Culture).
https://youtu.be/6_KXsMCJgBQ
The lyrics of the song are:
Higher than the mountains that I face Stronger than the power of the grave Constant in the trial and the change One thing remains One thing remains
Your love never fails, never gives up Never runs out on me Never runs out on me Never runs out on me
On and on and on and on it goes It overwhelms and satisfies my soul And I never, ever, have to be afraid One thing remains
In death, in life, I'm confident and Covered by the power of your great love My debt is paid, there's nothing that can Separate my heart from Your great love
The power of God’s holiness is demonstrated in His justice against sin. He judged it on the Cross of Calvary, on His only begotten Son on behalf of mankind whom He dearly loves. He did not spare his Son though He was innocent, blameless but the Father judged our sins on Him on the Cross in order that through Him, we have eternal life and inheritance that He preserved for us through Him. God’s love is beyond our comprehension. He paid dearly to give us full access into His Holy Presence and to restore His marriage covenant with Israel; to adopt the Gentiles into the commonwealth of Israel and share the Glory of His Dear Son, our LORD Jesus Christ as His Bride.
Today is a great day of thanksgiving offerings and praises unto God our Father, to appreciate His deep love and gift to mankind; for taking away our judgments and for reconciling us back unto Himself. For giving Himself fully unto us and never rewarded us according to our ways. Blessed Be His holy Name forever, amen. Let’s therefore rejoice and be exceedingly glad in Him.