The Day of Atonement: Honoring God’s Sacred Covenant

We are coming into the season of the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement – God’s holiest day of the year.  In Hebrew “Yom” means day, (from sunset to sunset), and “Kippur” means to pardon, or condone. The word “atonement” means to make amends or to reconcile - to become “at one.”

First commanded by God to be performed by Aaron in Exodus 30, the Day of Atonement was a mandatory and solemn annual observance of the Israelites. It’s the only God-commanded Biblical Holy Day during which fasting from both food and water was required!

And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations.  It is most holy to the Lord.  (Exodus 30:10 NKJV)

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the “Most Holy Place” of the Tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant (the consecrated vessel/cube which held the “law,” or commandments God had given Moses) was kept, to approach the “mercy seat”  (the golden covering of the Ark—considered the resting place, or throne of God).

The high priest would sprinkle blood from a sacrificial bull or goat on the mercy seat and around the tabernacle as a “sin offering” for the people.  He would then lay hands on the head of a live goat – which would become the “scapegoat” – and confess the sins and iniquities of the children of Israel…symbolically putting them on the “scapegoat.”  The goat was then sent away into the wilderness, along with the sins and iniquities of the people.

As Christians, we are encouraged to observe the Day of Atonement also in remembrance of Christ – our own High Priest, who became the ultimate “sin offering” for us – guaranteeing our eternal “atonement” and salvation. 

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12 NKJV).

Observance of the Day of Atonement might include prayer and fasting, sacrificial offerings, and studying God’s Word.

During God’s specially decreed “feasts” (holy days) and observances, Israelites were commanded to honor Him with their offerings, as is written in Deuteronomy 16:16-17:

…and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.  Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you (NKJV).

Individuals seeking reconciliation and blessing brought their best sacrificial offerings unto God in covenant.  Not only was it done out of ritual…it was also an opportunity to honor Him by giving sacrificially from the heart.