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Yom Kippur Overview
In the Bible, Yom Kippur bears three names: the
Day of Atonement, the Day of Judgment, and the
Sabbath of Sabbaths. Yom Kippur occurs on the
tenth day of Tishri. This is a holy day of the
Lord that remains “a statute forever.”
Day of Atonement is the day in which the people
of Israel are to be judged by God and the sins
of the nation of Israel are atoned. The Day of
Atonement is also referred to as “the Day
of Redemption.” This day pictures the transference
of sin. It is a time of fasting, cleansing, and
reflection which is to be observed once a year.
The Day of Atonement served as a reminder that
the daily, weekly, and monthly sacrifices made
at the altar of burnt offering were not sufficient
to atone for sin. Even at the altar of burnt offering
the worshipper stood “afar off,” unable
to approach the Holy Presence of God, who was
manifest between the cherubim in the Holy of Holies.
On this one day in the year, atoning blood was
brought into the Holy of Holies, the divine throne
room, by the high priest as the representative
of the people (New Bible Dictionary).
It is customary to wear white on this holiday,
which symbolizes purity and the promise that our
sins shall be made as white as snow (Isa. 1:18).
Some Jews wear a kitel, the white robe in which
the dead are buried.
Weakness of the Law
The commandment itself explains the weakness
of the law. For the law having a shadow of good
things to come, and not the very image of the
things, can never with those sacrifices which
they offered year by year continually make the
comers thereunto perfect (Heb. 10:1).
The Jew knew something was missing. There is a
multitude of sacrifices. The sacrifices attempt
to supplement one another but there is still something
missing, because Hebrews 10:4 says: For it is
not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats
should take away sins. Obviously, this means of
taking away sin was temporary. The sacrifices,
are only a forerunner, like John the Baptist,
or to prepare the way for the better hope (Edersheim
1994, 241) described in Hebrews 7:19: For the
law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in
of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh
unto God.
A
Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays
includes several sections about Yom Kippur (the
Day of Atonement).
Purpose of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur in Bible Times
Jewish Customs of Yom Kippur
Messianic Significance of Yom Kippur
Suggestions for Celebrating Yom Kippur
- Crafts and Activities
- Centerpiece (pattern and instructions)
- Secret Scroll Message (Message in code to
decode)
- Yom Kippur Crossword Puzzle
- Yom Kippur Word Search
- Yom Kippur Coloring Page
- Grace Unit Study - The special homeschool
section includes suggested activities for
Bible, history, science, geography, writing,
and resources. Recommended studies in this
unit include grace, redemption, blood, circulatory
system, slavery, Calvin, and more.
Read More About Yom Kippur
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