ChoosingKings

      Like last Sabbath, this Sabbath's reading portion covers two titles: Acharei Mot, meaning "after the death", and K'doshim, meaning "Holy ones." Although they are two different reading portions, as we will see, they go together well in theme.

     As the first reading portion, Acharei Mot, "after the death," begins in Leviticus 16, two of Aaron's sons have died because they offered the LORD "strange fire." In both of our reading portions for this Sabbath, the LORD will forbid the strange fire offerings of the children of the Israelites' in horrifying worship of the false god, Molech (see Lev. 18:21 and Lev. 20:1-5). The offerings by fire to Molech and the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) sacrifices to demons (sa'ir/sa'ar - devil, demon possessed goat, having goat's form or feet, satyr/be horrible afraid, take away as a storm or whirlwind) (see Lev. 17:7) were the abominations that the nations did, both Egypt and the nations of Canaan, which would cause them to be overthrown from the Promised Land. (see Lev. 18:24-29). The LORD said that His people were not to follow the ways of these foreign nations but to follow His word and ways. (see Lev. 18:1-5).

      The name Molech means "king, to induct into royalty and therefore to consult and take counsel from." We see a form of Molech worship today in the destruction of children, both born and unborn, and also in the counsel and consultation we seek and receive from anything and anyone who is not God. By doing so, we make that counselor ruler over us, as a king would be. Some even receive counsel from occultic practices that seen harmless but move through spirits that are not God. The LORD warns in these Sabbath verses not to consult these things (Lev. 19:26, Lev. 20:6, 27). The LORD has given His people the means to consult Him, but more and more of us are consulting and receiving counsel from man (or devils) instead. We hear the counsels of man all around us every day until they become part of our culture and understanding, accepted as truth, while not knowing of what spirit they are. How can we know? The LORD tells His people in these two Sabbath readings to follow His Word and His ways, and not the ways of the peoples around them. (Lev. 18:4-5).

     Who or what have we "inducted into royalty" (see Molech, above) over our lives and land to rule over us as a king that is not the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? To whom or to what are we giving our money, lives, time, children and service? Offerings made were not to reflect the images of demons but the Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega who is the Messiah/Christ as found in the written Hebrew noted above (see *note below also). The land and the lives within it are defiled by these things according to the scriptures of these two Sabbath portions. We can easily see the evidence of the defilement that is present, and we, the people of God, are the ones who have chosen these spiritual and natural kings. One choice installs kings that lead to death, and the godly choice installs THE King who is life and leads to life. (Jn. 14:5-6).

      In another part of scripture, Moses told the Israelites: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them." (Deut. 30:19-20, see also Josh. 24:15). All creation bears witness to the truth that life is found in God only.

     It is odd that man chooses to induct into royalty the spiritual kings like Molech that ultimately seek our death and destruction, when the LORD is the kind of King who calls His people to a kingship like His own for the purpose of life. One kind of king keeps its subjects in slavery, while the Great and True King has always wanted to elevate His servants to freedom and kingship. 

     From one of our Sabbath portions, after the deaths of Aaron's two sons, the LORD commands Moses to institute the Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur. "Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering. He shall put the holy (qodes - holy, sanctuary, consecrated, apartness, sacredness) linen (bad/badad - white linen, [woven] flaxen thread or yearn, a thread/withdraw, be separate, be isolated, solitary, disjoin, cutting apart) tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) body in water, and put them on." (Lev. 16:3-4). Unlike his two sons who approached the LORD with strange fire, Aaron and the future high priests could not come before the presence of the LORD whenever or however he chose. They had to be covered in the garments of the LORD's Kingship and holiness. Through Christ, however, we have been given the boldness and permission to enter into His presence. (Heb. 10:19-23, Rom. 5:1-2).

     The LORD repeats in another place: "And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) [himself] to minister as priest in his father's place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) clothes, the holy garments. (Lev. 16:32). The priest wears this clothing to minister the atonement in the Holy Place before the presence of God once a year on the Day of Atonement: "This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day (the priest) shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD." (Lev. 16:29-30). The words "the priest" in the above verse are not present in the original Hebrew.  To me, this is a hint that the atonement is made, not by man, but by Someone else. We know that Person who would appear generations later to be Jesus Christ. Because the priest's clothing is connected to The Aleph-Tav/Alpha and Omega, the holy linen clothing of atonement is connected with the identity of Jesus Messiah/Christ. (see also Rev. 19:6-9 and11-16).

     We also know from scripture that the high priest wore a golden plate or crown on his turban that said "HOLINESS TO THE LORD", "and it shall always be on his forehead..." (Ex. 28:36-38).

     The LORD's Kingship is established in His holiness. In these two Sabbath reading portions, Acharei Mot, "after the death," and K'doshim, "Holy ones," the LORD called His people into His holiness: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." (Lev. 19:2). The LORD also says: "Consecrate (qadas - be holy, set apart, keep oneself apart or separate [see also "linen" above], to show oneself sacred or majestic) yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies you...And you shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." (Lev. 20:7-8, 26). Jesus also prayed to His heavenly Father about the separateness that defined His disciples (see Jn. 17:14-15), and their sanctification by God's Word of truth (Jn. 17:17). Our separateness defines us as belonging to God. We live in the world, we minister the truth of the Word and the Blood of the Atoning sacrifice, Jesus, in the world, but we are not of the world. We are spiritually separated for consecration.

     The LORD announced His purpose for His people both in the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the New Testament. His purpose for us is as a kingdom of priests, as a holy nation, being both kings and priests in His Kingdom, which He fulfilled in Jesus Christ (see Ex. 19:6, 1 Pet. 2:9-10, Rev. 1:5-6, Rev. 5:9-10).

      As mentioned above, the high priest's holy crown upon his turban connected the priest to the kingship of God. The LORD spoke of His people's connection to His Kingship when He spoke of Zion's righteousness and salvation: "The Gentiles/nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. You shall also be a crown (atara/atar - crown, wreath, wedding crown/crown, crowning, crown bestower) of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem (sanip - turban of the high priest, headdress, piece of cloth wrapped around the head) in the hand of your God." (Isa. 62:2-3). Earthly kings shall see the royal glory of God upon His people, Zion, and His city, Jerusalem.

     Psalm 21, written by David, is written by an earthly king who is giving God praise, not for the natural crown placed upon him, but for the spiritual crown that God has given him. It is the crown of God's salvation (yesua - salvation, deliverance, the Hebrew name of Jesus): "For You meet him (the king) with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him - length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon him." (Ps. 21:3-5). Do we perceive the pure golden crown of salvation that the LORD has placed upon our heads as He welcomes us into His Kingship? The New Testament describes several crowns given - not just one! There is the crown of righteousness to all who love His (Christ's) appearing (2 Tim. 4:8), the crown of life for those who love Him faithfully (James 1:12, Rev. 2:10), the crown of glory from our Chief Shepherd for faithful, willing service to His flock (1 Pet. 5:4), the crown of rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19), and the imperishable crown for those who run with certainty of faith (1 Cor. 9:24-25).

     The LORD shares His holiness and His Kingship with us through Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Why would we choose another king? As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!

     If you would like to learn more about the holiness and Kingship of the LORD in our lives, you can join in my prayer: "Lord of all, You are the King of the universe, and yet You desire to share Your holy Kingship with Your people who will believe Your Word. You have sent Your Son, Jesus, the Son of David, to teach us how to follow Him. Man crowned Jesus with a crown of thorns, but You have crowned Him with glory forever more. He rules and reigns in heaven and on earth, and the nations will come before His throne in worship. Lord, forgive me for choosing any other king over my life. I choose You and Your Kingdom. I choose You and Your holiness. You have clothed me in garments of salvation, pure, white linen. Your Word promises us that we will rule and reign with You, and we are seated with You in the heavenly places. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and lead me in the paths of righteousness. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

Incense

Last Sabbath, we read about the golden lampstand, or menora, that was to be placed in the first chamber of the tabernacle called the Holy Place (please see previous post, "Lampstand" for more information). In this week's Sabbath reading portion titled T'tzavveh meaning "You shall command", which includes Exodus 30, another piece of furniture of the tabernacle is discussed. It is the Altar of Incense, and it was placed directly in front of the veil that leads into the second chamber of the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, which contained only the Ark of the Testimony covered by the Mercy Seat (Ex. 30:6). The Altar of Incense was also connected to the use of the lampstand. Twice a day, in the morning (boqer/baqar - split, penetrate the darkness, the end of night, breaking forth of light), and at twilight (ereb/arab - sunset to deep twilight, the time when the paschal lamb was slain, to give as security as a kind of exchange, to be surety for the life of another, to be liable for another's debt) , when the priests attended to the lampstand, they would burn incense at the Altar of Incense at the same time (Ex. 30:7-8). By doing this, there would always be "a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations." (v. 8). As we can see above, the timing of the offering of incense on this altar, morning and evening, also carried the meaning of resurrection (Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1), and Jesus offering of Himself as a surety for us, in exchange for us, and in the exchange of Himself for our debts. The Altar of Incense was a very special item in the tabernacle, which we will see. First, these are some of the commandments that God gave to Moses regarding the Altar of Incense: Aaron could only burn "sweet incense" (sam - sweet spice aroma, sweet perfume, fumigation, sweet smoke of sacrifice) upon the altar, and no "strange incense" (zur - turn aside, to depart, foreigner, stranger, estranged, one alienated, an enemy, profane, of adultery) was allowed. The incense to be burned on this altar was made of very fragrant sweet spices made from certain aromatic gum resins tempered together with salt. While we don't usually consider the burning of incense as a noisy event, the root meanings in Hebrew of the resins used in the making of this fragrant incense (Ex. 30:34-38) are very noisy! One is associated with the roar of a fierce lion. Another means a concussive sound so loud, it can peel off outer coverings. A third root means to speak by inspiration in prophecy. These spices make a great deal of noise in the Spirit. Jesus' sacrifice is described in terms of fragrance also: "And walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Eph. 5:2). This incense used on the Altar of Incense is for use in the tabernacle only, because it was holy for the LORD (Ex. 30:34-38). Once a year, on what is called Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, before the High Priest entered behind the veil to sprinkle the atoning blood upon the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Testimony, he first had to place the atoning blood on the Altar of Incense. This was to be done because the Altar of Incense "...is most holy to the LORD" (v. 10). On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would also take some of the burning incense from this special altar with him as he entered the Holy of Holies behind the veil to apply the atoning blood there. The incense created a cloud in front of the Ark of the Testimony/Mercy Seat. If the priest did not do this, he would die from being in the presence of God (Lev. 16:12-13). So the cloud of incense also served to cover and protect, and to sanctify. What made this incense so precious to the LORD that the High Priest must also bring it with him in order to enter the Holy of Holies? This sacrificial incense represented the prayers of God's people. David wrote: "LORD, I cry out to you; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening (ereb/arab - see meaning above) sacrifice." (Ps. 141:1-2). In the Gospels, Zacharias was serving as priest before the Altar of Incense, when he received an angelic visitation promising him a miracle son, who would be John the Baptist: "...according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense, when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense." (Lk. 1:9-11). The importance and holiness of our prayers before the Lord cannot be overstated. Jesus is alive in order to make intercessory prayer for us to the Father (Heb. 7:25). His prayers for us save to the uttermost. In His last hours before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for all those who believed in Him, and would come to believe in Him in the future (Jn. 17). Peter called us a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9), and as such it is our role to pray and intercede. Paul wrote: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4, excerpt). Our prayers for all men impact their opportunity to receive salvation. Do we understand the power of prayer? Why aren't we more constant in prayer? There are many, many references to the prayers of God's people in scripture. We know that all of the tabernacle and its furnishings were given to Moses after the pattern of those things in heaven (Heb. 8:5, Ex. 25:40). We are given a further revelation of the importance and value of the prayers of the saints as incense before God, in the events that unfold in heaven and on earth in these end times. As Jesus the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, begins to open the scroll in heaven that will unleash the events, "..the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp (for praise), and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Rev. 5:5-8). Great praise to the Lamb then began to break out in heaven. Also: "Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar (in heaven). He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand." (Rev. 8:3-4). After this, judgment in the form of fire breaks out on the earth. The prayers of the saints played a role in both events as an offering. Often times, we believers look to do the miraculous works of Christ, even the greater works that He promised. One of the most important of these works according to scripture is the offering of the sweet-smelling incense, which is our prayers. As the times become more troubling and dangerous before Christ's return, the sacrifice of prayer, rising as incense before the throne of God, and before the Lamb, Jesus, plays a central role. The pattern of the Altar of Incense in the tabernacle teaches us the truth about how God treasures our prayers. Incense from the golden altar represents our prayers, and we discovered how "noisy" incense is within its root meaning (see above). Therefore our prayers, even the silent ones said in the secret place of our hearts, create great noise in the Spirit! If you would like to learn more about the importance of prayer, you can start with a prayer! We can pray together: "Father, You called the Altar of Incense, and the incense burned upon it, "most holy to the LORD". Your Son, Jesus, lives to pray continually in intercession on our behalf. He prayed for us while He was on earth, and He prays for us in heaven. You called Your house a house of prayer for all people. I am Your living house. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who guides me in prayer, and makes my prayers holy before You. Let Your Spirit quicken me to pray always, and for all men, not just for a few, and not just in moments of convenience. Help me to understand the role that my prayers have in affecting all men, and all circumstances, in heaven and here on earth. In Jesus' name, AMEN."

Ephod

Today is Purim. We can read about Purim in the Book of Esther. It is the day that an enemy of God's people had planned for their condemnation and destruction, but those plans were exposed and overturned, and God gave, instead, complete victory and favor to His people. As Esther was implored by Mordechai to intercede with the king on behalf of the Jews, she told Mordechai that the Jews were to fast for three days, as she would do also, before she entered the king's presence. Fasting is a form of repentance and consecration before God. When she then entered the king's presence uninvited, he looked upon her with favor, and extended his scepter to her. He listened to her and agreed to banquet with her. It was at this banquet that the enemy's plans were revealed to the king, and the king acted on Esther's behalf. Esther had consecrated herself, and went before the king, and he heard her petition. This week's Sabbath reading has much in common with Esther in a way. It begins in Ex. 27 and 29 in the Torah. Here we read the description of the high priest's garments that were to be prepared according to the pattern that Moses was shown on the mountain by God. One of the parts of the high priest's garments was called the ephod .Ephod, in general, means "an image". These were God's instructions: "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to me as priest...They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked...And the intricately woven (ingenious work) band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen." (Ex. 28:2-8 excerpt). God gave Moses a very detailed description of the ephod that the high priest would wear over his tunic. It would cover his chest and back. It would also contain gems representing the twelve tribes of Israel. An interesting point to note is that the LORD said that these garments would "consecrate", or set apart and treat as holy, the high priest. The garments were to be made by only the most gifted of the artisans, not just gifted with talent, but with wisdom as well. From the detailed description of the ephod, or breastplate worn by the high priest, this item meant a great deal to God. Through the ephod, God would communicate with, and guide His people. The stones on the ephod would light up, these lights being called the Urim and Thummim (meaning lights and perfections, or perfect light), when His people sought guidance from Him. Can we see how lovingly God placed His guidance and voice among His people in the pattern of the ephod? It was also important to God because of the prophetic fulfillment of the ephod that we will see later. Many centuries after the time of Moses, the ephod will save David's life. In this Sabbath's haftarah reading from 1 Sam. 23, Saul is the king of Israel, although he was informed by Samuel the prophet that God has rejected him from being king. David has already been chosen by God and anointed to replace Saul as king, and therefore, Saul has sought to kill David. In fact, Saul had by this time killed all of the priests of God (1 Sam. 22:20-21). Only one priest, Abiathar (meaning "my Father is great"), has escaped with the ephod of the high priest, and fled to David. At this time also, the Philistines were attacking the city of Keilah (meaning "fortress"), to rob it of its grain. David sought the LORD to ask if he and his men should go to fight the Philistines at Keilah. The LORD answered, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah." (1 Sam 23:2). David's men, however, were afraid even in Judah, because they were hiding from Saul. It was too risky to show themselves at Keilah, they told David. David inquired again of the LORD, and the LORD again confirmed that he was to go: "I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." David and his men did defeat the Philistines at Keilah, and saved the city (v. 5). King Saul indeed heard that David was going to save Keilah, and "called all the people together for war" (v. 8). He planned to trap David there. David called the last surviving priest, Abiathar, to him and said, "Bring the ephod here." (v. 9). He inquired of the LORD through the ephod, and the LORD confirmed that Saul intended to trap David there in Keilah. David and his men fled that city and were spared. Saul, unlike David, did not value either the prophetic Word, or access to God's counsel through the high priest's ephod, seeing that he killed the priests of God. Eventually, Saul was killed in battle, and David did become the new king of Israel, as God had prophesied. David would later say of the importance of the ephod in his life, "One thing I have desired of the LORD, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple." (Ps. 27:4). The glory and beauty of the ephod are refleted in these revelations of Jesus, our Perfect Light: "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn. 14:13-14). Speaking to His disciples about His going to the Father after His death, Jesus said, "And in that day, you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (Jn. 16:23-24). Hebrews says: "Seeing we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession...Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:14-16). In another place, "...continue to believe in the name of Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 Jn. 5:13-15). Not only does the Father desire to listen, but He made the provision of His Holy Spirit, so we may hear from Him in return. Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truuth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (Jn. 16:12-15). God still wants to communicate with His people. There is a living High Priest, a living Ephod, who enables our petitions to our Father: "In that day, you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (Jn. 16:26-27). We are represented among the precious gems that Jesus wears on the breastplate over His heart as our High Priest. We need have no hesitation to bring our thoughts, hopes, prayers, questions and troubles to our Father, and He will answer. The title of this week's Sabbath reading is T'tzavveh, which is translated, "you shall command". May we understand the heart of our Father, who sent His Son to be the Perfect Light for us - a Son who opens the Holy of Holies to us through His own flesh, and asks us to inquire of His Father regarding all things, and He will answer. Our Father wants to communicate with His people. If you would like to know Jesus, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I come to You as my High Priest. You gave Yourself so that I could have access to our heavenly Father, who is perfect and holy. You died for my sins, and You rose from the dead and went to be with the Father on my behalf. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, according to Your promise, so I can walk with You in wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and truth. I thank You that You hear my prayer, spoken in Your name, and You have answered it. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Mercy (Pt 3 of 3)

This is Pt. 3 in a series covering these three fall feasts of the LORD commanded in scripture: the Feast of Trumpets (see the previous post, "NewMoon"), the Days of Awe/Repentance (see the previous post, "AWE"), and today's post, "Mercy" which is about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These posts cannot cover all that can be said about these feasts, and their importance not only to the Jewish people, but also to all who know Jesus as Messiah and Lord. I wanted to look into them to discover how these feasts that have been ordained by God to all generations must also contain a great impact on my spiritual walk. God has a purpose for us in these feasts, as well as the revelation of Jesus within them. 
Let's do a brief review of the previous two posts, and then begin our look into Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
We found that as well as the significance of the shofar or trumpet, the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, is directly tied to the new moon (root word "chadash") of the month of Tishrei (meaning "beginning"). This feast marks the beginning of a process. The chadash meaning of the Feast of Trumpets involves renewal, restoration, rebuilding, as well as the polishing and cutting of a sword. The rapture of the church is the most dramatic "renewal" of all, and it is associated with the sounding of the trumpets on this feast day.
We begin that personal renewal, and the even wider process of renewal of creation, during the self-examination and repentance associated with the Days of Awe, the days between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur. Repentance is the means, but the end result the Lord is looking for in us is change. Jesus addressed His churches and sought this serious change in them in the Book of Revelation. Failure of the church to address and change our serious shortcomings would result in great loss, according to these scriptures (see chapters 2 and 3). Heeding the Holy Spirit, and seeking the changes that the Lord required of His churches would result in rewards.
According to the rabbis, on  the Feast of Trumpets, our names are written or inscribed into books based upon the Lord's examination and determination regarding us. On Yom Kippur, the names in those books are sealed, or finalized. We have the days in between to search ourselves and determine to change those things that would have us inscribed and sealed into judgment books, "to avert the severe decree", as it is taught by the rabbis. As we saw in the previous post, "AWE", for those not found inscribed in the (Lamb's) Book of Life, the ramifications can be very serious. even deadly. This judgment of Yom Kippur is not the judgment of the dead, but the judgment of the living.
While on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, our names are sealed in those books, Lev. 16 also shows us the pattern for the provision of the atonement and mercy of God, which are also imbedded in this feast day. As we saw in the previous entry, scripture says that mercy and judgment always dwell together in God. The Day of Atonement is a solemn feast day (Lev. 23:26-32). The LORD commands that we fast, pray, and afflict ourselves. We are not to be busy with "life as usual" on this day. The pattern of heavenly intercession for the sins of the people is revealed in this feast day as given to Moses from God (see Lev. 16). The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of sacrifice, and sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat. This atoning blood was for himself and his family, the tabernacle, and all of the people.
In the prophetic fulfillment of this most holy purpose of the Day of Atonement, God has not relied upon man, but has appointed His only Son to be not only the blood of sacrifice (Heb. 9:13-14), but also the High Priest who applies the sacrificial blood (Heb. 6:20, Heb. 7:24-26), and the Mercy Seat (meaning of "propitiation" used in Rom. 3:25, 1 Jn. 2:2) itself upon which that holy blood is sprinkled. That Mercy Seat is the throne of the presence of the glory of the LORD. Jesus is the Person, the Place, and the Means, the All in All, of the mercy provision of God. Leviticus 16:17 tells us that while the High Priest is fulfilling his duty on this day, no man may be present in any part of the earthly tabernacle. Now, instead of men, who have weaknesses, to intercede as High Priest, using the blood of animals, God has appointed His Son, who has been perfected forever, to be our High Priest as on the Day of Atonement (Heb. 7:28). The purpose of the approach to the Mercy Seat is to seek mercy in the face of the judgment of the living sealed in the books, and to bring reconciliation of man with God.
The Book of Hebrews tells us that we too can now approach that Mercy Seat, having been cleansed ourselves through Christ (Heb. 10:19-23). We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together for this purpose, especially as we see this Day approaching, as some forsake it (Heb. 10:24-25). Here again, scripture tells us that the significance of these feast days are for the church, as well as for the Jewish people. Although it is the current custom of the church to ignore the true observance of these feast days, and the repentance and change that is required within them, we are warned in scripture not to overlook the significance in our walk:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?..."The LORD will judge His people"...It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."   Heb. 10:26-31 (see also Deut. 32:35-36)
The verses above were all written in the context of the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement by our High Priest, Jesus Christ. The whole Book of Hebrews teaches the church about this feast, and how it applies to the believers in Christ. The provision of this mercy, and its sanctification is forever. However, that doesn't mean we can take it for granted that the judgment of the living does not also apply to us as believers in Christ. Our Good Shepherd, Jesus, Who examines us, expects us to understand and observe the provision of mercy (and completed renewal) that pushes back the judgment deserved, and has been so lovingly and powerfully provided for us in this feast day. Are we diligent at the Mercy Seat of God on behalf of ourselves and all people? The mercy of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is precious to our walk with Christ. That mercy cost our Father, and His dear Son everything.

Our Father has sent His mercy, His Son, to provide the atonement for us.

Psalms

If it is even possible to measure and weigh such a thing, to me the Book of Psalms is one of the greatest books of scripture. It has everything: prayer, song, worship, praise, prophecy, even Messianic prophesy, and deep spiritual revelations. Every time I open the Book of Psalms, I find something new and amazing.
King David did not write all of the psalms, but he organized the use of psalms in worship. As the Israelites carried the ark of the covenant up to the tabernacle in the City of David, David, after consulting God regarding the proper order, assigned the singers and musicians:
"Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy."  1 Chron. 15:16
The instruments appointed by God to David to be played with the psalms were just as important as the voices that would sing them:
"Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph ("gatherer", gather/harvest, to gather in, take away, assemble, to be brought in, together), of Heman ("faithful", believe, assurance, trust, steadfast, established, verified, made firm/sure/lasting, pillars, be carried by a nurse, confirmed, stand firm, to be certain) , and of Jeduthun ("praising", celebrating, make confession, give thanks, cast out, to revere or worship with extended hands, to throw a stone, shoot an arrow), who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbols..."  1 Chron. 25:1
These specifically chosen men and their sons following, were to prophesy on their instruments. Several psalms, according to traditional knowledge, had instrumental breaks ("higgayon/higgayon sela") amid the singing so the instruments alone could prophesy (examples: Ps. 9:17, Ps. 92:3-4).
Regarding the presence and importance of stringed instruments used for the Psalms, it is interesting that in Rev. 14, those who follow the Lamb, Jesus, wherever He goes have the voices of harps (v. 1-5). The harp is the voice of the redeemed! Since the instruments of the Psalms were given to David by God, and are called "the musical instruments of God" (1 Chron. 16:42) we can rejoice that we, the redeemed of Christ, known to God before the foundation of the world, were included in the Psalms, and are voicing our prophetic praise within them.
Even the musical instructions at the beginning of some of the Psalms carried great significance: 
Psalm 9: To the tune of "Death of the Son" or "To Die for the Son"/Muth Labben
Psalm 22: "The Deer (or great ram) of the Dawn (dayspring, rise, early, seek early, to look for diligently with painstaking care)"/ Aijeleth Hashahar
Psalm 45, 69, 80: Set to "The Lilies" (for whiteness and trumpet shape, to rejoice, exult, to be bright, be glad, to leap, to spring / Shoshannim, A Song of Love
Psalm 56: Set to "The Silent Dove in Distant Lands (or strangers)/ Jonath Elem Rechokim
Psalms 57, 58, 59, 75: Set to "Do Not Destroy" or Thou Must Not Destroy, Corrupt/ Al Tascheth
Psalm 60: Set to "Lily of the Testimony (evidence, testimony, witness)"/ Shushan Eduth
Often, Jesus has been called "The Lily of the Valley" among Christians, and there was also a hymn written with that title. He is mentioned as a "lily" prophetically in Song of Songs 2:1-2.
The apostles encouraged the believers in Christ to sing psalms (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16, James 5:13). It is believed that the "hymns" that Jesus sang with His disciples after the Passover Meal, or Last Supper (Mt. 26:30), and the songs sung by Paul and Silas while they were in prison (Acts 16:25) were the Psalms 113-118, 136, which are the Pascal Psalms, also called "The Great Hallel", sung after the fourth cup of blessing in the Passover Seder.
The Apostles quoted from the Psalms in their teachings to the Church. One such quote shows us the riches and depth of the Psalms:
"...to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says, "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." (Now this, "He ascended" - what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?...)  Eph. 4:7-9 
Paul quotes Psalm 68:18 above, and revealed that this verse refers to the Messiah. From this verse in Psalms, Paul reveals to us that Jesus descended into Hell, and then took those held in Sheol out with Him when He conquered death, Hell, and the grave, before He ascended to His Father. The Apostle Peter also tells us that Jesus preached to the captives in Hell (1 Pet. 3:18-19).
When we go back to that verse in Psalms, and look at it in the original Hebrew, we discover something amazing. The root word for the phrase "led captivity" (shebeh/shebun) means "a precious stone on the breastplate of the high priest". It was a stone with divisions of "flashes and flame". The Book of Hebrews makes clear that Jesus is our High Priest, not a mortal high priest like the Levites, but an eternal High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, who had no beginning and no ending (Heb. 5:9-10, 6:19-20, 7:1-3). This verse in the Psalms not only tells us that the earthly Levitical high priest wore a stone on his breastplate that represented the captives of Hell, but also that this stone prophesied Messiah's deliverance of those captives. This verse reveals the truth that our eternal, heavenly High Priest must also have worn this priestly breastplate and captivity stone from eternity, since the earthly things were patterned after the heavenly (Heb. 8:4-6). Jesus entered Hell and ascended with the captives as part of His role as High Priest forever. This is only one example of the depths found in just one verse from the Psalms.
The reading of the Psalms is considered so important, that groups called, "Hevrot t'hillim",  societies of Psalm readers, divide the Psalms among themselves and read them daily at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Every day, the rich prophetic prayers and worship contained in the Psalms are spoken on earth, as they exist in heaven.
I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Psalms and all the scriptures.

Our Father has placed eternal depths of truth in the Psalms.