Yom Kippur also called the Day of Atonement is the most sacred of all the festivals of Elohim. It falls on 10th of the Hebrew month of Ethanim (late September or October in the Gregorian calendar) and marks a special day of introspection and self-evaluation when we confess our sins before God. The festival was enacted by God after He forgave the Jewish people for the idolatry sin of the Golden Calf. Moses had just descended from Mount Sinai and found the children of Israel worshipping an idol. The wrath of God burnt upon them and it was only after Moses' intervention that God pardoned the children of Israel (Exodus 32:1). It was because the Israelites atoned for their sin of idolatry, that God forgave them and offered Moses a second set of tablets.
Yom Kippur marks the conclusion of the ten Days of Awe, (a period of introspection and repentance from Rosh Hashanah -the Jewish New Year, which falls on 1st Ethanim). In addition to seeking for forgiveness on the Day of Atonement, we also pray that our names will be sealed in the book of life (Exodus 32:33).
Someone might ask, why should we keep Yom Kippur?
The answer is simple and straight forward; because Elohim said so.
Yom Kippur is one of the appointed feasts of Elohim that are recorded in Leviticus chapter 23. The feasts do not necessarily or explicitly belong to certain group of people. In Leviticus 23: 2, it is written, "Speak to the children of Israel and say unto them, concerning the feast of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts." The feasts belong to Elohim meaning that as the lawgiver, He is also present during these festivals. Compare this verse with Genesis 2:2 "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He Had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made." The seventh day does not belong to man. God has given six days to man but the seventh one belongs to Him and that is why He rests on it so as to have a special time with His people who are also resting on it. As the giver of the law of Sabbath, He is also showing a good example by resting on this day. Therefore all mankind ought to show obedience to God by keeping the 7 appointed feasts mentioned in Leviticus chapter 23.
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