9th of the 7th month 2014/2015
Shabbat shalom all,
This Shabbat evening begins the 9th of the 7th month, which means that at the end of this Shabbat (sunset tomorrow), which is at the end of the 9th day of the 7th month, we will keep the Sabbath of Sabbaths – Yom Kippur – the day in which we ‘afflict our beings’. Known also as the Day of Atonement or better put – the Day of the Covering!
Each year at this time I run through a brief overview of what Yom Kippur is all about, and so this year I will once again do the same, with a couple of extra word pictures that will give us greater understanding and meaning to this day and how this Day of Yom Kippur describes for us the great and powerful work of our High Priest and King, יהושע Messiah.
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:27-32 “On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a set-apart gathering for you. And you shall afflict your beings, and shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה. 28 And you do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before יהוה your Elohim. 29 For any being who is not afflicted on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30 And any being who does any work on that same day, that being I shall destroy from the midst of his people. 31 You do no work – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 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.”
As we consider these words tonight, may we be reminded of how important this Sabbath of Sabbaths is for us, in a message tonight called, ‘COVERED AND CLEANSED – ANCIENT WORD PICTURES OF AN EVERLASTING PROMISE!’.
We are reminded to take special note of the following:
1 – It shall be a set-apart gathering for you!
We will be coming together on the 10th of the 7th month (this coming 1st day) and have a SET-APART time of prayer, worship and fellowship – do not miss it! Just to recap on what set-apart gathering means:
A – Set-Apart:
Hebrew Word: קֹדֶש– qoḏesh/ko-ḏesh – Strong’s H6944 – and it means ‘apartness/ consecrated/ dedicated/ that which is dedicated and separated unto יהוה’. The word is really self-explanatory and carries with it great weight in its identification of truly setting something or someone apart from another with a clear distinction of being marked as separate and apart from the rest.
B – Gatherings:
Hebrew word: מִקְרָא – miqra – Strong’s H4744, meaning: assembly/ group/ convocation/ a collective of people gathered for a purpose/a calling together, which comes from the root word קָרָא qara – Strong’s H7121 meaning, ‘proclaim, call, read, summons, invite, to be called out’.
2 – You shall afflict your beings! The Hebrew word used here for afflict is עָנָה ‘anah’ H6031 and means, ‘to be bowed down, afflicted, humbled’ and it can also carry the meaning ‘to be occupied or busy with’. Busy or occupied with what? Well the next word tells us – our beings! That is the word נֶפֶשׁ ‘nephesh’ H5315 which is ‘a soul, a living being, the inner being of a man’. So then, it is a day that we are to humble ourselves and be busy with our being – that is, to be spending the time reflecting on our life; and that which needs to be dealt with must be dealt with. Typically this is translated as the day when we deny our flesh of food or drink, and fast, with the sole focus on humbling ourselves in prayer before our Maker, and then come together as His body united as One!
עָנָה ‘anah’ also carries the meaning of ‘giving an account or an answer’. This carries the picture of the one who humbles himself and comes to give an account of what he has done. This can give us the picture of ‘coming clean’, so to speak, and confessing our sin. In order to do that one has to be looking at the One to whom you are coming clean to, and herein lies a powerful lesson in the ancient pictographic lettering of this word when understood in regards to Yom Kippur.
In the ancient pictographic text the Hebrew word עָנָה ‘anah’ H6031 looks like this:
Ayin – עָ:
The original pictograph for this letter is and represents the idea of ‘seeing and watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’. as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’.
Nun – נָ:
The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as , which pictures a ‘sprouting seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy.
Hey – הּ:
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as a man standing with his arms raised up and out as if pointing to something, and in essence carries the meaning of ‘behold’ as in when looking at something very great. It can also have the meaning to ‘breath’ or ‘sigh’ as when looking at a great sight and having your breath taken away so to speak! It also has the meaning of revelation or to reveal something by pointing it out.
When we understand the command for us to be ‘busy with’ our beings, and ‘be occupied or bowed down and humbled’ before our High Priest and King, we are able to recognise through these ancient pictographic symbols, the concept of fixing our eyes on Messiah, the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our faith. The picture of the eye and the seed gives us the meaning of an ‘eye of continuance’, meaning that we continue to keep our eyes fixed on the One who is to be praised, for He has covered and cleansed us in His Blood!
3 – Bring an offering made by fire to יהוה! We know that the offering made by fire is a whole burnt offering – that is that we come to surrender all and allow our lives to be presented as a living sacrifice. It is on this day when the work that we have done in Messiah will be tested through fire!
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 3:11-15 “For no one is able to lay any other foundation except that which is laid, which is יהושע Messiah. 12 And if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work shall be revealed, for the day shall show it up, because it is revealed by fire. And the fire shall prove the work of each one, what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work remains, which he has built on, he shall receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, but so as through fire.”
4 – It is the Sabbath of Sabbaths! – This is the only day outside of the weekly Sabbath that is actually referred to as a Sabbath. It is a Sabbath of rest to you – שׁבת שׁבתון “Shabbat Shabbaton”.
Other feasts are referred to as ‘Shabbaton’ which is a ‘Sabbath like rest’, but this day specifically is referred to as a Sabbath, irrespective of what day it falls on – because this is the Day when יהוה finishes and completes His redemptive work for His ready Bride! This is the Sabbath of Sabbaths!!! Now this Sabbath is unlike the others in that this is the day when we, as I mentioned, ‘afflict our beings’ and the stern warning we have here in is that anyone who does not afflict their being on this day, or if anyone works on this day, that being will be ‘cut off and destroyed from the midst of his people’! Scripture is very clear on this – so, no excuses!
This day signifies so much for us, and it is so much more than just a day of ‘fasting’, as it is a culmination of, and the bringing to completion, the work of Messiah in us, as His redeemed body!
This is the day when the Master is coming out of the Set-Apart Place to begin to “complete His work on the 7th day”; and on that day we will be able to show Him what we have made with that which He gave us – the talents which He has given us (each one according to his ability). Now for many this may not be a very pleasing day as they have only viewed the Master from a viewpoint of being a ‘hard man’, and have not lovingly laboured for Him and have done nothing with what they had. But for us who labour daily in Him, working with what He has apportioned each one of us – this will be a wonderful day of hearing the words we all would like to hear… “Well done, good and trustworthy servant”. The Parable of the Talents is a clear reference to this very day, when the Master comes back and the servants must give and account, as their ‘offering made by fire’, that is their works, are tested!
It is on this day when He comes back that we do not want to be found thinking about what we could have or should have done – for it will be too late. And so as we keep this Feast as a shadow picture of what is to come, we should all be aware that it is certainly a time for us to take account of our walk in Messiah. Are you walking or running or simply standing still?
Yom Kippur – this day symbolises the complete purification of the Bride of Messiah – the Day of Atonement.
One might ask why do we have this day separate from Pěsaḥ – isn’t that when we were redeemed? This is a good question, yet יהוה’s Appointed Times are perfect shadow pictures for us, and so in understanding these great shadow pictures, it could best be explained as Pěsaḥ symbolising for us personal redemption – it was on that day we were bought at a price and received our personal deliverance. Pěsaḥ symbolises for us the personal deliverance from bondage to slavery, as each household would put the Blood of the Lamb on their doorposts, so would they be saved. We each must accept, receive and apply the Blood of the Pěsaḥ Lamb personally in our lives. The Day of Atonement speaks of the national redemption of a nation, as a cleansed Bride has made Herself ready for Her Husband.
Atonement means ‘to make ransom for or to cover over man’s sins’. The English word Atonement was derived when the translator wanted best to describe what ‘kippur’ meant as there was not a definitive English word to describe or translate the meaning of this and so what he translated it to was – ‘At-One-Ment’ – therefore later being called ‘Atonement’. This was the best way he could express what this day carries for us – it is when we are made to be ‘one’ with יהוה – be ‘at one with’ Him and finally be fully restored unto Him as a washed and purified body together as ‘one’! So this is also a day where we truly come and remember the ransom that was paid for us by the shed Blood of the Pěsaḥ Lamb – יהושע Messiah, once and for all, and reflect on our lives as to how we are living out our covenant relationship with our Saviour, who is not only the Pěsaḥ Lamb, but is also the ‘ram’ that is provided for us, and the complete sin offering that covers us and cleanses us in His own Blood!
The Hebrew word for atonement is כִּפֻּר ‘kippur’ H3725 and comes from the root word כָּפַר ‘kaphar’ H3722 and means: ‘to cover over, pacify, make propitiation, atone’. As a noun it can also carry the meaning of ‘a ransom’, ‘gift’, or ‘to secure favour’. It literally means to ‘cover over’ or ‘smear with pitch’ as in the sealing of a ship. Therefore ‘kaphar’ or atonement means to cover that which is bare or naked or shamed, and also means to ‘smear the ship so that your ship will not sink and drown all those aboard’! Wow – we are ‘covered’ – that is – Atoned for by His Blood!!!
Noaḥ was commanded by יהוה to cover the ark inside and out with pitch – he was told to ‘Kaphar’ (cover) the ark with ‘Kopher’ – כֹּפֶר H3724 (a covering):
Berěshith/Genesis 6:14 “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with a covering.”
‘Kaphar’ also means to ransom – and so we know that יהושע has paid our ransom and atoned for us.
It also means to reconcile with someone who has the power of death over you, and to pacify the one who has the power to do you harm! We must realise that the punishment for sin is death, and no sin goes unpunished. Through the Atonement of יהושע for our sins we are reconciled to the One who has the power to put us to death!
In Wayyiqra/Leviticus, where the priestly service and sacrificial system is presented and discussed, the very word we have been looking at, ‘kaphar’ is used 16 times in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16 and 48 times in the entire book! 39 times, however, it is used in Wayyiqra/Leviticus in the specific description of the priestly service and sacrificial system where the other times are descriptive regulations in regards to the instructions for the Day – this alone is a wonderful representation for us – for it was the exact number of stripes that יהושע took across His back – and it is by His stripes that we are healed!!! By His Stripes and His sacrifice, we are covered, cleansed, redeemed and reconciled to Him!
Scripture clearly teaches us that atonement involves something which is ‘lacking’ (or leaking in respect to a boat not sealed), and is in danger of judgement (or sinking) – and then having that ‘lack’ (which is caused by sin) ‘covered’ with something that will restore and keep it from sinking or being destroyed, just as the pitch applied to ancient boats would keep them from sinking!
It is only by the favour and loving-kindness granted by יהוה, who has the power of life and death over us, that His liberal smearing or covering us inside and out, that is the covering of the soul of man with His favour and loving-kindness through the blood of יהושע, our High Priest, that man can be kept from sinking in a relationship with his Creator. When sin occurs, a price must be paid.
Yom Kippur is the day when יהוה will be reconciled with His creation – a day set aside and appointed for Him to pardon, to cleanse and to forgive. It was only on this one day of the year that ‘one’ among the children of Yisra’ĕl were able to come ‘face to face’ so to speak with יהוה and live! – This occurred when only the high priest in office entered the Most Set-Apart place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16 gives us the entire ceremony that was instructed by יהוה, for the High Priest to perform, and clearly shadow pictures for us the perfect cleansing and atoning work of Messiah, our High Priest forever in the order of Malkitseḏeq.
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16:29-34 “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. 30 “For on that day he makes atonement for you, to cleanse you, to be clean from all your sins before יהוה. 31 “It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you shall afflict your beings – a law forever. 32 “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, 33 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. 34 “And this shall be for you a law forever, to make atonement for the children of Yisra’ĕl, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as יהוה commanded Mosheh.”
This day of Yom Kippur was the day that was set-apart each year for the nation to be cleansed from all their sins before יהוה, and this is what we come to carefully consider, as we ‘afflict our beings’ each year, and recognise the perfect work of our High Priest and King, who has perfected for us the cleansing we need, in His own Blood. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin, and so was only a covering each year until the perfect Blood of Messiah that can take away sin, would come to cleanse us!
This Hebrew word for cleanse is טָהֵר ‘taher’ H2891 and means the following: “to be clean; to cleanse; purify’ made clean”, “properly to be bright; to be pure – that is physically sound, clear, unadulterated, morally innocent”, “to be purged, purify, to declare something or someone clean.”
You get the picture; He makes us clean – really clean – by His Blood! This Word ‘taher’ is used in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16:19, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the horns of the altar and all around, seven times. 7 as we know signifies perfection, and so by the Blood of יהושע there is a perfect cleansing, and a perfect reconciliation! It is also used twice in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 16:30, telling us that the atonement that is made for us is to cleanse us from all sin before יהוה!
And so we can clearly see how the picture of Atonement is fully met by His sacrifice, and our cleansing in His Blood is sufficient in cleansing a Bride that makes Herself ready for His soon return, equipping His Bride to be cleansed from dead works and ready to serve the Living Elohim.
Iḇ‘rim/Hebrews 9:11-14 “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, 12 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. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?”
It is through the one time atoning sacrifice of Messiah that He makes His Bride ‘taher’.
Because of this we have the full assurance that when we come to Him and confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The Hebrew word for cleansing is טָֽהֳרָה tahorah – Strong’s H2893 meaning, ‘purifying, cleansing, becomes clean, purification’ and comes from the primary root verb טָהֵר taher – Strong’s H2891.
As we look at the Hebrew word טָֽהֳרָה tahorah we see a wonderful picture in this word alone that speaks of our need to come to Messiah who cleanses us from all sin. Why I say this is because, when we look at the ancient symbols of these letters we get a clearer picture of the very message of this total and complete cleansing that is given to us by the Blood of Messiah, contained in just one word!
טָֽהֳרָה tahorah – read from right to left, are the letters: ט –tet; ה –hey; ר –resh; ה –hey; and when you see this word as written in the ancient pictograph script we see the message clearly:
The original pictograph of these letters (from right to left):
Tet – ט:
The original pictograph for this letter is , which is ‘a container made of wicker or clay’. Containers were a very important item among the nomadic Hebrews. They were used for storing grains and other items. Wicker baskets were used as nets for catching fish. The meanings of this letter are ‘basket, vessel, contain, store, clay vessel’.
Hey –ה:
The original pictograph for this letter is , which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’. The Modern Hebrew and original name for this letter is “hey”. The meaning of the letter is ‘behold, look, breath, sigh’ and ‘reveal or revelation’ from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of ‘surrender’ as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!
Resh – ר:
The Ancient picture for this letter is , which is ‘the head of a man’. This letter has the meanings of ‘head or man’ as well as ‘chief, top, beginning or first’.
Now in terms of the cleansing we have in the Blood of Messiah, we see through this pictograph lettering of:
טָֽהֳרָה tahorah the following message:
We, as ‘clay baskets’ come and surrender to Him, and ‘raise our hands’ in acknowledgement of His perfect atonement, and confess our sins/lawlessness before our ‘Head’ and High Priest, יהושע Messiah; and put our lives into the hands of Him who ‘lifts us up’ from the miry clay, and makes us clean and purifies us from all unrighteousness!
We have been covered and cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb and we will soon be with Him forever. Yom Kippur is a time for us to reflect and remember what our High Priest has done for us, and be reminded that we are to walk as His spotless Bride, as He cleanses us through the washing of His Word. This is a day to afflict your beings – why? Well it is a day to realise and remember that we are to lay down our lives – to put to death the flesh and intercede for the rest of the lost Bride, as we embrace His work of salvation that will be made complete on this Day of Yom Kippur, and so as we continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, may we not take lightly the importance of this Great Day that pictures for us the work of Messiah יהושע who took His Blood into a temple not made with human hands and offered His Blood on the altar, perfecting for all time those who are set apart.
Therefore let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water and hold on to the hope we have, for He who promised is trustworthy, amen!
Covered and Cleansed is what Yom Kippur pictures and proclaims for us, as a Bride being made clean and ready to be reunited with her Groom forever! As we wait for Him, we are cleansed in Him by the putting off of the fleshly, and clothing ourselves with His righteousness, which is to be walking in obedience to His Torah as we eagerly await His imminent return with great anticipation! So, in our obedience to the prescribed rehearsals of the good things to come, let us certainly be obedient in keeping this day as we are commanded to, laying aside the flesh and humbling ourselves before our Master, ready to give an account and be washed in His presence by His Blood, as He has imputed to us His Righteousness that we are to clothe ourselves in daily!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face toward you and give you Shalom! Aměn!