Yom=day   ha=the   Kippurim=coverings

YHWH rescues us through what we know as atonement (kaphar or kippur in Hebrew).  Humans were given the option to know good and evil and of course we wanted it all.  Don't you want it all?  Isn't that what life is all about?  Human exploration, endeavor, discovery, experience, belonging, love and purpose?  But to have what we want and be who want to be each of us needs a covering.  Why?  Because we came to this earth with nothing and we will leave with nothing except atonement and a new beginning. 

We can't and didn't create life, our moms and dads were given our lives as a gift from YHWH. 

Everything we have is borrowed including our very own lives.  We are living on borrowed time because time is tied together with matter and therefore finite. 

We can debate the age of the universe, but neither do we know how long it will all last.  Why would we be so presumptuous to think it should last forever, no not even the earth or sky?  Scientists and theologians are universally convinced that the universe began at a point in time, that it didn't always exist and so by this thinking we know what comes goes.

Atonement is the bridge between what is finite and what is infinite.

An up close and personal perspective, atonement is perfect "reconciliation" between a lower and a higher element.  Sin for example represents the incomplete form of man, that we refer to as the carnal element of man.  Perfection is what we call the new man, or the spiritual element of man therefore the carnal must make way for the spiritual man, but to do this there are "bumps" that require "atonement" which reformats our hearts and minds into the things of YHWH.

Relationships between individuals prove the elements of atonement that are also required between us and YHWH.  We are evaluated by YHWH based on how we treat one another, those who are less "privileged" for instance become the measure of our compassion.  Fidelity within marriage or love for children (whether ours or not) are very big elements of how YHWH instructs us in atonement.  Whenever the weak, poor, elderly or orphan is in a vulnerable position or being abused by the strong and wealthy there is an equalization element of atonement that must extended to the poor, whether we step up or YHWH credits their sufferings for righteousness sake.  Those who are victims of injustice, inequality and all form of abuse are extended reconciliation from heaven, but of course lots of people don't believe in ultimate perfect justice, because they are not familiar with the ways of Mashiyach.

Atonement is the most supreme truth of the universe, it is the connection between all living forms, physical, mental and spiritual that glues life together.  There is nothing that can be overstated about Atonement because nothing could exist without it.  It is woven into our existence on this planet now, and our future existence is solely based on atonement.

The quest for Atonement with YHWH is something we have all experienced and for some there have been occasions where atonement meant either life or death.  People have been savagely martyred because they would rather suffer and die in this life so their atonement is established by sanctifying the Giver of atonement.

Just as the material universe came to exist in a point of time so will it cease to exist, pretty hard to believe though isn't it?  But in a moment of time something like a black hole will ingest all time and matter, molecules as we know it will turn into "spirit".  Imagine being a spirit being and watching the universe dematerialize into a spiritual realm, each of the orbs have great significance and purpose but they are also connected to a reality outside of time and space, they "state" a truth that has not yet been revealed to its fullest extent.

We could discusse azazel (the goat of departure) and wax eloquently on the sacrificial system and the blood and love in one's heart for one another and unto YHWH, the two Greatest Commandments.  But within YHWH's Commandments is a Universe that is not of this Universe, each Commandment is a connection to the Divine and Yom haKippurim is the central focus of the Divine that is connected to the spiritual element within finite man.

When you see atonement within you (in your spirit) it is glued to who you are.  The day of Atonement this isn't just a "theology" about do I keep Yom Kippur or do I go out for fine dinning.  Knowing who you are and your strengths and limitations with YHWH is what Torah observance is all about.  The day of Atonement is where you purposefully return to these wonderful and intimate connections with the Divine whose Name is YHWH.

Being as we are discussing the Day of Atonement let's stick with it's observance.  We fast on the Day of Atonement because YHWH said, fast... awwwwwwwwwww (rising crescendo) some people say that "you don't have to do those old laws" that they are "done away with", that "they are not for today" and they speak from a theological knowledge base of do's and don'ts.  However, what they are missing the salient point of being rather than doing.  Very big difference.

The Rabbis were stroking their beards one day and came up with an idea...

We don't eat on Yom Kippur, so who else doesn't eat?  Well, the angels are spiritual beings, THEY don't eat.  Wait a minute!!! Is Yom Kippur a picture of heaven?  Are we being trained that one day we will be like the angels within a spiritual rather than physical body?  The Rabbis know this as a fact and all the theology in the world is irrelevant when you see the deeper elements of the Word of YHWH.  The Rabbis are right, but it's mindboggling that Christians (those who walk in the anointing of Mashiyach) haven't quite figure this out yet.  For most Christians the day of atonement is connected with Y'shua's blood which is very good but then what?  What a travesty to deny their own reality as Christians (Christ-like).  Mashiyach is the point of contact between time and space and his Father YHWH.  All who follow Mashiyach are called to walk as he walked and also enter in and experience the Spiritual man and the lessons to be learned about the spiritual man.

Inconvenience yourself.  Fast.  Pray.  Repent.  Go big.  Sure you may have had a very good year and not swindled any money (in the broadest sense), hurt someone's feelings or feel that you've fallen short, but perhaps that's also because you haven't compared yourself to Perfection (this it takes mediation, prayer and study).  What about sins within your family?  or your church or synagogue?  your country?  The lower nature of man, our sins is what provokes us to clean up our act but we need to washed and cleansed by Perfection Himself.

The Day of Atonement provides a most beautiful opportunity to leave our turf where we are comfortable and go on YHWH's turf, rise above the need of fine wine and dining for one day, not to see if we can do it but to let the physical hunger rise up so the spiritual needs can be satisfied.  I'm not going to attempt to explain this, it is something for each individual to experience for themselves, it's not even something that you may want to discuss.  There are people out there who will listen to you and then find reason to trash what you have to say because they themselves have not experienced much in the way of divine atonement.

In conclusion, Yom Kippur is a Torah commandment that YHWH gave, it is full of wonderful symbols and connections but if we try to intellectualize the Day of Atonement without experiencing it then we miss the point of why YHWH gave this to us.  Also, we must be careful about hearing someone's theological conclusions about these very important Feast Days and then write them off as an intellectual exercise because others do this.  No, don't follow a multitude.

Fast, pray, repent... Go big.  Enter into Yom Kippur in Mashiyach Y'shua and you will see the Ancient Path come alive with new spiritual live being birthed inside of you.

YHWH be with you,

Shalom U'Vrachot,

Baruch ben Daniel

Behold how good and how blessed is for brothers to dwell together.

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