Yom Kippur.. what fascinating and beneficial truths i have gained pursuing an understanding of the Jewish roots of faith. i'd love to share some of these insights from Tzvi Freeman with you as Yom Kippur begins tonight. there is much a western culture-based faith can learn about God. may He guide our exploration and growth as He initiates interest and desire...
Yom Kippur is described as the most solemn day of the year. yet despite the deep spirituality of the day, it is suffused with an undertone of joy that expresses confidence in G-d's acceptance of our repentance, forgiveness of our sins, and sealing our verdict for life, health and happiness for the new year.
a fantastic concept of spiritual confidence combined with joy in a time of repentance. such a true picture of God we so often miss. Psalm 16.11 (Amplified Bible) "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
the Jewish people request and receive honey cake as acknowledgement that all are recipients in this, God's world, and in prayerful hope for a sweet and abundant year. i love this right perspective that sees all as recipients. sees that this is God's world and yet hopefully requesting and receiving. i see such beauty of trust in this prophetic symbolic enactment.
Tzvi Freeman writes of how the English language gets the key word of the day 'exquisitely' right. the essence of Yom Kippur is 'atonement' meaning 'at one-ment' and how atonement achieves at one-ment; the moment of time when man below and God above turn toward each other in forgiveness and are once again 'one.'
what a wonderful picture of the depths of forgiveness. our being 'at one' with God. the picture Sha'ul gives us in 1Corinthians 5.14-6.1 where God through Messiah Yeshua has reconciled us to Himself - made an at- onement. at-onement that doesn't happen but once per year, but at once any time of the year that we turn to accept the forgiveness offered. that allows us to live and 'dance' with God as 'one' in that grace of forgiveness. hearts at 'one' as we embrace God. not 'should be', but 'are' in reality. living at onement. living as one.
i pray, this Yom Kippur, we intentionally join the dance as 'one.' that we consciously choose to live this new year's at 'onement' with God ...
"Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one"
4 comments:
you might enjoy reading some books by Lawrence Kushner (no relation to Harold): Amazon books has a lot of his. I like "Invisible Lines of Connection" and Jewish Spirituality, a brief introduction for Christians.
He spoke at a clergy conference in my Diocese a number of years ago - a fabulous story teller.
Thank You ! that's the input i love !
looking fwd to finding your recommendations :)
Wonderful blog..What a wonderful holiday..one we could all learn something from..just great.
THank You !
for responding and for stopping by !
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