“On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work.” Numbers29:7
The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, was regarded as the most holy day of all. Lev. 16 describes this as a day of fasting rather than feasting, of solemnity rather than rejoicing. Once a year, the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the nation Israel. Leviticus 16:34: “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as the Lord commanded Moses”.
In the year of Jubilee, on the Day of Atonement, there shall be blowing of the shofar to usher in the Jubilee Year. It is a day for deep soul searching and repentance before the Lord – both individually and corporately. It falls on the 10th day of the 7th month in the Jewish calendar. 5 days later, the Feast of Tabernacles will begin on the 15th day of the 7th month. It is expected, after a time of repentance, there will be a time of offering of sacrifices and celebration for God’s people.
After every 7 sabbath year, i.e. on every 50th year according to the Jewish Calendar is the Jubilee Year. 2015-2016 is the year of Jubilee. In a Jubilee year, God shows His supernatural favour on His righteous and faithful people, and eradicate anything that are out of His will, purposes and designs. It is a significant time for us to seek the Lord’s face, it is a time of God pressing the “reboot” or “reset” button, figuratively speaking.
The Day of Atonement this year falls on 22 September. A day in the Jewish calendar begins at sun down, so for this year, the Day of Atonement begins at sun down on 22 September (Tuesday). This is also a significant day as it would be a day when we usher in the Year of Jubilee for the nations according to the Jewish calendar. It is a time for us to seek God’s mercy, a time of reflection on our lives, a time of repentance before the Lord. I wish to encourage us to come together this Tuesday at Power Station, to seek the Lord’s face and declare it a holy day unto the Lord, to seek His mercy and forgiveness, over our lives, our Church and our nation. The sins of individuals are dwelt with at the Cross of Jesus. Individual sins are forgiven when we confess to the Lord and repent from them. However, the sins of a nation are forgiven on the Day of Atonement, let us usher in the Year of Jubilee, the Year of the Lord’s Favour into our lives.
Adopted from NECF 40-days Fast and Prayer