17 Sept '26 / 6 Tisheri - WhatsApp post
Yom Kippur and Pesach / Firstfruits - Standing in the Gap ... A mystery.
NB - Although I believe we are to keep a 24 hour full fast (I attempt to present my present day findings in this blog) please make sure that you are healthy enough to partake of this fast!!
INTRO: That time of the year when there are all these factions / questions coming once again to the fore- Pesach ... what calendar, when is Moed of firstfruits, is the "Last Supper" a Pesach meal or a newly introduced N/T Meal .... Shavuot - completed 7 Sundays, 50 physical day after Pesach AND NOW Yom Teruah - do we fast, what does the fast entail etc.
There is a place for discussion, debate HOWEVER we need on occasions as required and led to also step back from these endless discussions sometimes and seek out the MYSTERIES of these MOEDIM - see what Shaul accuses of in 1Co_3:1-4 and answers and sets straight in 1Co_3:5-9 ... NB vs 9 arw 1Co_12:1 fwd (NB The various spiritual gifts in ONE BODY) and Eph_4:11-12 to build up The Body until Messiah returns for the purpose of reconciliation and Eph_2:8-10 vs 10-
Question - Should we be fasting seeing as Yeshua has already been Crucified, resurrected ascended and sitting on the right hand of the Father interceding for us?
My understanding is YES we should still fast as part of the affliction of souls - Fasting humbles the soul - Psa_35:13 - see both affliction with fasting accompany each other
See the practice in the time of Yeshua - Act_27:9 - Fast - G3521 (Strongs - From G3522; to abstain from food; abstinence (from lack of food, or voluntary and religious); specifically the fast of the Day of Atonement: - fast (-ing.) <<<< G3522 (Strongs - From G3523; to abstain from food (religiously): <<< G3523 ( Strongs From the negative particle νη nē and G2068; not eating, that is, abstinent from food (religiously): - fasting.
Commentaries relate this fast noted above to Yom Kippur - and this was in the time of the Apostles and His establishment of The Early Apostolic Assembly as established by Yeshua (Jud_1:3) additionally showing through this verse that winter was now approaching with the Yom Kippur Fast / Festival being a marker to this approaching winter accompanied with the storms in the Mediterranean.
I backup this opinion with the writings of the historian Josephus - (extract) "The Day of Atonement ("The Fast"): In his historical works like Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus refers to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) directly as "the Fast," reflecting common first-century vernacular and the observation of "The Fast"as shown in the New Testament (such as Luke's reference in Act_27:9)"
Looking at Is 58 and the reference to the care of the widows / orphans and so forth it is my understanding that we are supposed to always look out for widows, orphans, strangers etc - Not just at Yom Kippur - so I am leaning towards doing these things as normal everyday practice and evidence of being part of The Kingdom (which it appears the Jews of Is 58 were not doing at the time of Isaiah's writing) and in the time of Yom Kippur this normal action is accompanied by a literal fast -
In Is 58, or in any other Scripture that I am presently aware of, we are never told that to physically fast is wrong - however it is the lack of heart inspired actions behind the fast that are not acceptable to YHWH Elohim - the same measure is applied to Mat_23:23-24 - trying to follow letter of Law without G26 - agape divine Love (1Co_13:1-13)
Finally reading all the above with Mat_28:19-20 (Discipleship / evangelical work to the world) with Mat_5:17-19 and Mat_5:1-16 it would seem Yeshua never taught HIS Disciples that Yom Kippur fast was not Scriptural - in fact His instructions in Mat_5:2-14 would seem to be in line with Is 58 and Jas_1:27 & Jas_2:14-18.
In conclusion regarding this matter I never see Yeshua or the Apostles speaking against the Fast and it would seem that it was an accepted practice at the time of Yeshua and His Apostle and it was taught to the Exiles (later to the gentiles).
Secondly - we need to establish some common ground on which we can build a consensus -
Torah is spiritual - Rom_7:14
Torah is good - Rom_7:12 arw Rom_7:16 and 1Ti_1:8 arw Mat_13:14 and Joh_12:41 and Isa_6:9-10.
Torah is eternal - Mat_5:17-19 - Psa_119:160 - and in keeping them are great rewards Psa_19:9-11 arw Deu_28:1-14 & Lev_26:1-13 - and the converse to break them (in either physical actions or uncircumcised heart) leads to curses ... see the rest of Deut 28 and Lev 26.
Keeping TORAH is wisdom - Deu_4:4-6; Psa_119:1-10 - vs 10 >>> "with the whole [circumcised] heart."
Keeping the TORAH by conviction leads to a circumcised heart arw Deu_10:16 arw Deu_30:6 - again we see that we play our part in this circumcision process by applying His Law - as for Yeshua - HE weighs our heart Pro_21:2 - John 14:15-19 - HE, Yeshua will circumcise and releave our Captivity delivering us from SIN (1Jn_3:4) - Exo_20:1-2 ... and bondage - illness - Isa_58:8 arw Pro_3:5-9 .... Read Heb_11:1 (this is FAITH based and is applicable whilst under pressure / opposition) with a confidence and actions built out of a Heb_11:6 conviction!
This action / mindset / conviction ties into - firstfruits - ..... more comments to follow HOWEVER being Firstfruits through Messiah qualifies us to be part of the "Nation of priest" requiring us to stand in The GAP - Exo_19:5-6, 1Pe_2:9 Jas_2:8 Rev_1:5 - ie FIRSTFRUIT and Rev_1:6 Rev_5:9-10 & arw Mat_26:28 ;
Continuing on ... Isa_58:9-10 arw Jer_33:3 is directed towards Jeremiah as he intercedes for Israel - NOT just anybody - those fulfilling HIS spiritual criteria and instructions alone will qualify - see again Mat_13:14 and Joh_12:41 and Isa_6:9-10
HOWEVER just keeping TORAH instructions for own benefit - profit - selfish motives (ie religiously) is not acceptable or beneficial to a person - Mat_5:20 ...
TORAH observation, even in the so called "O/T times" led to a NATION OF PRIESTS (NB NOT LEVITICAL PRIESTS OR THEIR FUNCTIONS IN SERVING YHWH EXCLUSIVELY - having been set apart by YHWH for HIS exclusive use and possession - Lev_8:4; Lev_8:18; Deu_10:8-9 and again reintroduced in the millennia Eze_40:46; Eze_43:19; Eze_44:15; Eze_48:11 .. but rather in the role as defined in Deu_4:6 - Deu_34:9 (again NOT A LEVITICAL PRIEST) and Mat_5:1-21 and following the pattern of Mar_12:29-31 and Mar_12:33-34 (See 1Co_13:1-3)
Yom Kippur is to be kept as a "statute forever" (Lev_16:29, Lev_23:31). The Command to Afflict the Soul: The fast itself is described as an instruction to "afflict your souls". See explanation above ....
Yom Kippur is also a preparation to cleanse the sanctuary - Lev_16:16 and Lev_16:33-34 - and see Dan_8:14 - could this as read with Mat_24:15-29 be pointing to a future Yom Kippur at the return of our Messiah ???
We in and through Messiah are members of His Living Tabernacle - 1Pe_2:4-6 1Co_6:19 2Co_6:16 all read together with and for Spiritual Sacrificial purposes in and through Messiah see Rom_12:1-3 and we too need to have our "portion" of the sanctuary cleaned... 1Co_6:16-20
Again even though we are firstfruits we still sin and need our sanctuaries cleansed - 1Jn_1:8-10 - so even with out High Priest Yeshua in the Heavenly Holy of Holies we still need to repent and be cleansed just as our forefathers did - and then once per year Yom Kippur, a formal set-apart time deemed necessary by YHWH to gather as a whole house / nation in one place at one time to collectively clean out the sanctuary (unfortunately not possible right now though but we commit to try and be a shadow presenting UNITY (Joh_17:21-22 and Joh_13:34-35) of what is to come when Messiah reunites His House and Nations of Priests) - I am of the opinion that in our case as firstfruits, and here is a MYSTERY ... UNITY IN MESSIAH - THE INTERCESSION BY HIS FIRSTFRUITS ON YOM KIPPUR FOR OUR HOUSE / RECONCILIATION OF BOTH US AND HIS SPIRITUAL HOUSE >>>> leading to becoming through The Ruach - Deut 6:4-9 !
We celebrate Yom Kippur as an eternal memorial looking back to The Crucifixion and forward to the Return of and ingathering of the whole Harvest by Yeshua- ALL THE WHILE STANDING IN THE GAP FOR OUR LOVED ONES AND THOSE STILL TO COME IN PLUS THOSE OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH WHOSE NAME ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAMB - Rev_20:15 and Rev_21:27
It is written there can be no forgiveness of sin without blood (Heb_9:22 Lev_17:11 ) and here again we should take into consideration the Resurrection of Yeshua at Firstfruits and Yom Kippur linked to Sukkot; thus walking in TORAH as led by the Ruach HaKodesh brings us under the Blood of The Lamb - and Covenant (Psa_91:1-2) and causes us to eat of HIS Flesh (foreshadowed by The Lamb offered on the Altar and shared with the Priesthood) and drink of HIS Blood (Joh_6:53-58) - read this with Eph_5:30-33 - the mystery of the Marriage (Covenant) tying into and merging with Yom Kippur - see vs 30 of Eph 5 -
Thus coming under the Covenant makes us "priests of His Kingdom" and grants us the privilege to intercede (stand in THE GAP) on behalf of our loved ones who, would also become part of The Body should they be reconciled with YHWH through Yeshua (1Pe_2:9 arw 2Co_5:17-19) -
To once again bring about a UNITY in the Body with Messiah we have been given this set apart divinely designated day of YOM KIPPUR for the whole house to be ONE in action and purpose led by The High Priest (ours is now Yeshua - and even then it was His Blood presented before the Foundations of The Creation - Eph 1:4; 1 Pt 1:20; Rev 13:8 ) - Lev_16:33 now in and through Yeshua -
Looking again at Eph_5:30 we need to really take note of the fact that it is The Blood of Messiah which ratifys and empowers The Covenant enabling us to become ONE with Messiah (into a future marriage relationship) - Because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones .. we are now representing Him and Elohim as Yeshua did - ie: becoming lights to the nations - Mat_5:1-20
For examples of this form of intercessory pray - 1Sa_1:1 fwd - Channah - see His desire and His will will become our desire and will (Php_2:13 Psa_40:8 Psa_37:4 all read with Eze_36:26-27) - Although what Channah desired may have been a natural desire when the time was right and birthed through the Ruach Channah was led to this desire / action of prayer by being barren as decided by YHWH. . NB This cry for a child was to the benefit of Channah, her Husband and the whole House of Israel --- Rom_8:26-30
Moses - Exo_32:11-14; Exo_32:30-32.
Prayer of a wife 1Pe_3:1-6 and 1Pe_3:7-9 - husband and generally -
A few things to note here - Looking at the prayer examples above we see that the prayers alway benefit those praying AND the whold house of Israel / Body in some way!
Also note that none of these spiritual attitudes of heart can be achieved without The Fruit - The Spirit of Life - in and through Yeshua - Joh_14:15-17; Gal_5:21-22; 1Co_13:1-13 - all the Fruits grow out of LOVE - (Agape Love - Strongs G26 - a Divine self-debasing Sacrificial LOVE Joh_15:10 Rom_5:5 arw Rom_5:8 1Jn_3:16 as shown by Yeshua through keeping the actual TORAH commandments - G25 Joh_14:15 - showing Love, Respect, Honour for His Father)
Keeping and fasting on Yom Kippur and interceding for our LOVED ones and those in The Book of Life / The Lamb is akin to G26 - Agape LOVE - sacrificial Divine love growing out of G25 - agepao - obeying HIS commandments show a commitment to The Covenant and if led by The Ruach a Commitment to Yeshua -
Concluding in my considered opinion we should be keeping this Moed knowingly bebasing ourselves (afflicting) through fasting.
Remember Lev_16:33 and Lev_16:34 - it is an eternal Statute.
