Yom Kippur Just a Day of Fasting?
What did Yah truly mean by His people afflicting their souls on Yom Kippur? Was He commanded us to engage in just a fast?
Turns out that Abba requires more from us on Yom HaKippurim than just a full day of not eating and drinking.
Afflicting One’s Soul Means What Exactly?
Yah commands us to afflict our souls on Yom Kippur. And we find in the Tanach that our Ancient Jewish cousins were indeed faithful in doing the required fast on this set-apart day each year. However, Yah was clearly not satisfied with their obligatory fasts. Yah in fact required that their, and by extension us today, Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement soul affliction transcend their obligatory fast.
Although Yah commanded that His people afflict their souls on this set-apart day, His required fast transcends the simple act of fasting. For to afflict one’s soul on Yom Kippur gets him or her to the very heart of this set-apart day.
It in fact requires/demands that the Child of Yah step out of their comfort zone and into places that may not be familiar to them. Into Kingdom Living.
Yah requires His people to completely die to self, which when done properly and fully is afflicting to the soul. For when we truly afflict our souls by dying to self, it brings discomfort to our souls. And if we’re successful in truly afflicting our souls, we stand the greatest chance of being “at-one-ment” with the Creator of the Universe.
Afflicting the Soul in the Book of Esther
What does true affliction of one’s soul look like on Yom Kippur?
Well, we find a brilliant example of what it looks like in the Book and story of Esther. For we find therein that our Jewish cousins were facing an existential threat from some of their disgruntled captors. This existential threat led the people, via the leadership of Esther, to afflict their souls for purposes of securing Yah’s salvation from the threat levied against them.
Their affliction involved displaying great anguish; sitting in sackcloth and ashes; crying out to Yah; mmourning; fasting; weeping, and lamenting.
These bore everything in a great appeal to Yah that He stay His wrath and judgment against them.
Afflicting the Soul in Isaiah 58
We find probably the most definitive example of what it means from Yah’s perspective for His people to afflict their souls.
The Prophet Isaiah/Yeshayahu was sent to Judah to advise them that Abba was not the least bit happy with the substance of their fasts, no doubt the fast they were engaged in on Yom Kippur. So, instead of punishing them outright, Yah in His grace and mercy provided the nation a pathway to the reason and purpose and heart for which the set-apart day stood for.
The Prophet provided the people with a number of specific things that would constitute proper affliction of the people’s souls. But the most poignant of those things or elements involved the people dying to their old selves and living according to Yah’s way, and operating with a contrite heart and spirit before Yehovah.
When is Yom HaKippurim/The Day of ATonement This Year?
If you keep the observational calendar, Yom Kippur will begin for you at sundown on T-ursday, 10/6/2022. If you by chance keep the calculated rabbinic calendar, Yom Kippur for you will begin at sundown on T-esday, 10/4/2022.
Previous Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement Teachings You Might Find to be a Blessing to You
May you have a meaningful and blessed fast beloved.
Shalom
When our Covenant Relationship with God is Tested-Akeida-STAR-19
This week’s Torah Reading is that of the Akeidah or the binding of Isaac. It is a story about obedience, trusting faith and the ultimate goal of the Abrahamic Covenant. We will also explore the ramifications associated with God’s testing of those whom He loves. This is one of the most important Torah Reading Discussions of the Torah Reading Cycle. Come fellowship with us and let’s discuss the Eternal Mysteries of Yah’s Eternal Words of Life.
The In’s and Out’s of Covenant-Justice and Mercy-STAR-18
Many of us view covenant as an exclusive club or culture that belongs to God’s elect and those who find themselves outside of covenant are doomed to be outside of God’s blessings and provision. But the truth of the matter is that God operates in ways that are often foreign to us and that defy how we believe God should operate. In today’s Torah Reading discussion, we discuss the in’s and out’s of covenant and how God’s justice and mercy define how He will interact with those who are in covenant versus those who are outside covenant.
Abraham and the God (Yah) Culture–Sabbath Thoughts & Reflections 15
This week’s Torah Reading touches on a number of relevant themes that include righteousness, justice, reverence, hospitality, boldness, laughter, theophanies and covenant. But the one theme that stands out most is culture. In this installment of TMTO’s Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections, we explore each of these themes, in particular the theme of culture. What is the God Culture/the Hebrew Culture? What was Abraham’s role in that Culture? And what does that culture have to do with us today?
El Shaddai-The Mothering Side of our God-STAR 14
Seems we have been indoctrinated to view God exclusively from a “Fathering” perspective. But could one of God’s revealed names be indicative of a “Mothering” side to the Creator of the Universe? In this installment of TMTO we explore and discuss the power and meaning of El Shaddai.
Yehovah-The God Who Sees-STAR 13
In our reading today, we’re led to think and reflect on the themes of:
● Trusting Faith
● Respect
● Patience & Perseverance
● Responsibility
● Honor
● The Spirit Realm Intersecting with the Physical Realm
● Promise
● Sonship
We Must Operate at Abraham’s Trusting Faith Level-So How Do We Get There? STAR 12
Today’s Torah Reading discussion will touch upon a great many themes that include operating in a trusting faith; the righteousness of Elohim; obedience to Yah’s instructions; divine protections and rewards; and the wisdom of challenging or questioning Yehovah.
Our Example of Abraham Being a Friend of God-STAR-11
The circumcised heart of an individual—contrite and broken and humble in spirit—is the one thing that captures Yah’s attention and places him or her in contention for being chosen as His friend and ultimately His child. If our heart ain’t right, we ain’t going to be chosen to enter into an obedient covenant relationship with Yehovah, much less a friend or child of His.
The Righteousness of God Rests Upon the Faithfulness of Yeshua Messiah
Indeed, the Righteousness of God is the place where faith and obedience come together through the Person and Ministry of Yahoshua Messiah. His faithful obedience to Yehovah becomes our faithful obedience, even unto death.
The Abrahamic Covenant Holds the Key to God’s Plan of Salvation-STAR 10
The Abrahamic Covenant is the essential element of this week’s Torah Reading. We find in our discussion that the Abrahamic Covenant holds the key to God’s Plan of Salvation. Shabbat Shalom.
Hanukkah-Truth and Spirituality Versus Traditions of the Rabbis
Many within our Faith Community will be celebrating Hanukkah this week. But is their celebration aligned with the Truth and Spiritual Reality of the Holiday or rather on the Traditions that revolve around it.