Week of Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur

Torah Reading:  Leviticus 16:1-34

Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14-21

“G'mar chatima tovah!” (A good final sealing). We are in the high holiday of Yom Kippur (Sunday September 24 - Monday September 25).

There aren’t any daily Torah Parashat (portions) this week. There is however, a Torah Reading and Haftarah for Yom Kippur (read below). I encourage you to read it every day this week and ask Hashem to reveal something special to you!

The last reading and daily Parashat of Deuteronomy will begin next Sunday, October 1. 

Remember Sukkot begins Friday, September 29 and goes through October 6th! 

Torah Reading:  Leviticus 16:1-34

16 Hashem to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before Hashem, and died; 2 and Hashem said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.

3 “Aaron shall come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen tunic. He shall have the linen trousers on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on. 5 He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 He shall take the two goats, and set them before Hashem at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 8 Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Hashem, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Hashem, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Hashem, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

11 “Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12 He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Hashem, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. 13 He shall put the incense on the fire before Hashem, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that he will not die. 14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness. 17 No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

18 “He shall go out to the altar that is before Hashem and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

20 “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready. 22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.

23 “Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. 24 Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.

26 “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire. 28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

29 “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, whether native-born or a stranger who lives as a foreigner among you; 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean from all your sins before Hashem. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

34 “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.”

It was done as Hashem commanded Moses.

Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14-21

He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way!

    Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of My people.”

15 For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity,

    whose name is Holy, says:

“I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit,

    to revive the spirit of the humble,

    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry;

    for the spirit would faint before me,

    and the souls whom I have made.

17 I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness and struck him.

    I hid myself and was angry;

    and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him.

    I will lead him also,

    and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

19 I create the fruit of the lips:

    Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,”

    says Hashem; “and I will heal them.”

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea;

    for it can’t rest and its waters cast up mire and mud.

21 “There is no peace”, says my Elohim,

    “for the wicked.”

Haazinu - Reading #7

Haazinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

Apostolic Writing: John 6:26-35

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 32:44–52

My Thoughts:

Here is the end of Moses' journey with Hashem to the Promised Land. It is so very sad that after all of Moses’ dedication and work that he can not enter the land. But it is a stark remembrance to all of us, that sin is powerful and has strong repercussions. Yes, we know Hashem forgave Moses, but He did not forget. He passed a judgment at the time of Moses sin (at the water of Meribah) and He held to that judgment. It makes me think that there is a consequence to disobedience. We can repent and teshuvah, but we still must suffer the effects of what we have done. This reminder to us today should keep us in check. Let us think carefully before disobeying the Father. Amen. 

Challenge:

Today we are reminded also that Torah is life! In verse 47 we read, “...it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long…”. As we have studied Torah each day throughout this past year we have been “filled” with Hashem’s Word. What a blessing it is to have eaten it every day. Now soon we will go back to the beginning of Torah and start all over again. It will be a new year with new revelation and more miracles in our lives. We will be reminded every day of Hashem’s promises and His requirements of how to live our lives! My challenge to you today is to start over again after Sukkot in the new Torah cycle. Read, study, pray, worship and live His Word every day! It will give you abundant life and liberty! Amen!

Reading #7 - Deuteronomy 32:44–52

32:44 Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun. 45 And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

48 That very day the Lord spoke to Moses, 49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession. 50 And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.”

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

Here is a beautiful testimony from David about Hashem’s deliverance, love and faithfulness. In verse 36 we read, “You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.” Hashem gave David a special anointing. He protected in fierce ways and yet was gentle in displaying His love for him. This is just what we can look forward to today in Hashem. Again His faithfulness and protection requires us to be righteous and faithful to Him. We must be obedient to His Laws and Commandments. Make today a new day and resolve that you will do this. That you will serve Hashem with your whole heart, soul and strength. Amen!

Challenge;

If you are in trouble, sick or need Hashem’s help -- here is wonderful Scripture to read -- especially verse 7, “In my distress I called upon Hashem; to my Elohim I called. From His Temple He heard my voice, and my cry came to His ears.” I believe when we call out to Hashem with all of our heart, that He does hear us. Sometimes it may not seem so because it doesn’t appear that our prayers are being answered. But from my experience, I can testify He always does hear you. He just may have a different way of hearing your prayer. Sometimes we pray for healing for someone and they die. We think He didn’t hear our prayer. But He did. That person we prayed for has ultimate wonderful healing in Paradise with Him! That person is in the best part of eternity! My challenge to you is to ask for more faith from Hashem. Faith that He does hear us and that we have evidence of that. Amen.

Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

22:1 And David spoke to Hashem the words of this song on the day when Hashem delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,

“Hashem is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

3     my Elohim my Rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

    my stronghold and my refuge,

    my Savior; You save me from violence.

4 I call upon Hashem, who is worthy to be praised,

    and I am saved from my enemies.

5 “For the waves of death encompassed me,

    the torrents of destruction assailed me;

6 the cords of Sheol entangled me;

    the snares of death confronted me.

7 “In my distress I called upon Hashem;

    to my Elohim I called.

From His Temple He heard my voice,

    and my cry came to His ears.

8 “Then the earth reeled and rocked;

    the foundations of the heavens trembled

    and quaked, because He was angry.

9 Smoke went up from His nostrils,

    and devouring fire from His mouth;

    glowing coals flamed forth from Him.

10 He bowed the heavens and came down;

    thick darkness was under His feet.

11 He rode on a cherub and flew;

    He was seen on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness around him His canopy,

    thick clouds, a gathering of water.

13 Out of the brightness before Him

    coals of fire flamed forth.

14 Hashem thundered from heaven,

    and the Most High uttered His voice.

15 And He sent out arrows and scattered them;

    lightning, and routed them.

16 Then the channels of the sea were seen;

    the foundations of the world were laid bare,

at the rebuke of Hashem,

    at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17 “He sent from on high, He took me;

    He drew me out of many waters.

18 He rescued me from my strong enemy,

    from those who hated me,

    for they were too mighty for me.

19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

    but Hashem was my support.

20 He brought me out into a broad place;

    He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

21 “Hashem dealt with me according to my righteousness;

    according to the cleanness of my hands He rewarded me.

22 For I have kept the ways of Hashem

    and have not wickedly departed from my Elohim.

23 For all His rules were before me,

    and from His statutes I did not turn aside.

24 I was blameless before Him,

    and I kept myself from guilt.

25 And Hashem has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

    according to my cleanness in His sight.

26 “With the merciful you show Yourself merciful;

    with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless;

27 with the purified You deal purely,

    and with the crooked You make Yourself seem tortuous.

28 You save a humble people,

    but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, Hashem,

    and my Elohim lightens my darkness.

30 For by You I can run against a troop,

    and by my ElohimI can leap over a wall.

31 This Elohim—His way is perfect;

    the word of Hashem proves true;

    He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.

32 “For who is Elohim, but Hashem?

    And who is a rock, except our Elohim?

33 This Elohim is my strong refuge

    and has made my way blameless.

34 He made my feet like the feet of a deer

    and set me secure on the heights.

35 He trains my hands for war,

    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 You have given me the shield of Your salvation,

    and your gentleness made me great.

37 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,

    and my feet did not slip;

38 I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,

    and did not turn back until they were consumed.

39 I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise;

    they fell under my feet.

40 For You equipped me with strength for the battle;

    you made those who rise against me sink under me.

41 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

    those who hated me, and I destroyed them.

42 They looked, but there was none to save;

    they cried to Hashem, but He did not answer them.

43 I beat them fine as the dust of the earth;

    I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.

44 “You delivered me from strife with my people;

    You kept me as the head of the nations;

    people whom I had not known served me.

45 Foreigners came cringing to me;

    as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.

46 Foreigners lost heart

    and came trembling out of their fortresses.

47 “Hashem lives, and blessed be my Rock,

    and exalted be my Elohim, the Rock of my salvation,

48 the Elohim who gave me vengeance

    and brought down peoples under me,

49 who brought me out from my enemies;

    You exalted me above those who rose against me;

    You delivered me from men of violence.

50 “For this I will praise you, O Hashem, among the nations,

    and sing praises to Your name.

51 Great salvation He brings to His king,

    and shows steadfast love to His anointed,

    to David and his offspring forever.”

Apostolic Writing

My Thoughts:

In verse 29 Yeshua tells His disciples to believe in Him who Hashem has sent. I believe that to “believe in Him” means to believe in who He is and what He represents. He is an emanation of Hashem -- His representation to us. And when He came His teaching was to bring people back to Hashem through obedience in Torah. That is what He said. To believe in Him is to believe in Hashem and His Torah. He always “pointed” everyone to Hashem, to the Father. It is no coincidence that shortly after Yeshua was killed that the Temple came down. Maybe Yeshua was Hashem’s last chance for people to come back to Him. His people had strayed and followed other gods. Yeshua came to bring them back to Truth. He was not accepted. He was killed. The Temple was destroyed and the people were exiled. Someday the Mashiach will return and all will be well. But until that day, we must follow Hashem and His Torah with all of our being. Amen.

Challenge:

How beautiful is verse 35, “Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.” I believe what He is saying is that the “bread” is Torah. If we study (eat) the Torah (bread) we will never be hungry. If we follow Hashem and Torah we will never be thirsty because we will be filled up. Isn’t that a wonderful analogy? The challenge today is that you partake in the “daily bread” of Torah. Make sure you are eating and consuming the Word of Hashem every day. Get filled up with HIM and your life will be the best. Amen.

Apostolic Writing: John 6:26-35

6:26 Yeshua answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him Elohim the Father has set His seal.” 28 Then they said to Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of Elohim?” 29 Yeshua answered them, “This is the work of Elohim, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Yeshua then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of Elohim is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to Him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.”

Haazinu - Reading #6

Haazinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 32:40–43

My Thoughts:

Even though the people of Israel will fall after they arrive into the Land, Hashem is always faithful to bring them back. His love is so strong for His people that He will protect them through it all. We see this in verse 43, “He avenges the blood of His children and takes vengeance on His adversaries. He repays those who hate Him and cleanses His people's land…”. Even if people stray from Hashem, they still will have enemies or people after them. Hashem says He will take vengeance on these enemies and will “cleanse” the land. Somehow He will get rid of those who tempt and torment His people. That is unconditional love. Imagine if you “turned” on your best friend. But, then he/she saw that you were in trouble with another person. I’m sure he/she would defend you, even if you had hurt them. That is true friendship/love. To help someone when they have turned their back on you. Think about it. Amen.

Challenge:

Torah is clear that we are to “rejoice” with Hashem in all we do. The beginning of verse 43 says, “Rejoice with Him, O heavens; bow down to Him, all gods…”. Not only are we to bow to the King of the Universe, but He wants us to rejoice with Him! What does that look like? It could simply be giving praise and honor throughout your day. Every time you see His Hand and work, or feel His presence, or witness a miracle -- you thank Him with all your heart. That is my challenge to you today. Look for Hashem and praise Him when you find Him. If you can’t seem to find Him, praise Him anyways. He is always there, that is His promise. Amen.

Reading #6 - Deuteronomy 32:40–43

32:40 For I lift up my hand to heaven

    and swear, As I live forever,

41 if I sharpen my flashing sword

    and my hand takes hold on judgment,

I will take vengeance on my adversaries

    and will repay those who hate me.

42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood,

    and my sword shall devour flesh—

with the blood of the slain and the captives,

    from the long-haired heads of the enemy.’

43 “Rejoice with Him, O heavens;

    bow down to Him, all gods,

for He avenges the blood of His children

    and takes vengeance on His adversaries.

He repays those who hate Him

    and cleanses His people's land.”

Haazinu - Reading #5

Haazinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 32:29–39

My Thoughts:

Verse 36 should clarify the future for us, ”For Hashem will judge His people, and have compassion on His servants…”. It’s not like we can lead a sinful life, ignoring Hashem’s commands and not be judged. That is why we repent, teshuvah and make restitution -- so that He will have compassion on us. Make sure your heart is right with Hashem. If not, make it so. We want to experience Hashem’s compassion and not His judgment. Amen.

Challenge:

Sometimes it helps to understand that Hashem really dictates the length of our days. Verse 39 explains, “I kill and I make alive,  I wound and I heal. There is no one who can deliver out of My hand.” He can keep us alive or He can let us go. But the greater promise is no one can take you out of His hand. We must remember that Hashem can and will keep us alive and will heal us too. We just need to ask Him. That is my challenge today. If you need healing, maybe you have a serious disease. Don’t give up. Go to Hashem. Worship and pray before Him. Pray this Scripture that He heals. Then ask Him to heal you. Or someone you love or care about. It’s up to Him and we can ask. It will be in His time and in His way. Amen.

Reading #5 - Deuteronomy 32:29–39

29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this,

    that they would consider their latter end!

30 How could one chase a thousand,

    and two put ten thousand to flight,

unless their Rock had sold them,

    And Hashem had delivered them up?

31 For their rock is not as our Rock,

    even our enemies themselves concede.

32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom,

    of the fields of Gomorrah.

Their grapes are poison grapes.

    Their clusters are bitter.

33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,

    the cruel venom of asps.

34 “Isn’t this laid up in store with me,

    sealed up among my treasures?

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,

    at the time when their foot slides;

for the day of their calamity is at hand.

    Their doom rushes at them.”

36 For Hashem will judge His people,

    and have compassion on His servants,

when He sees that their power is gone;

    that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.

37 He will say, “Where are their gods,

    the rock in which they took refuge;

38 which ate the fat of their sacrifices,

    and drank the wine of their drink offering?

Let them rise up and help you!

    Let them be your protection.

39 “See now that I Myself am He.

    There is no god with Me.

I kill and I make alive.

    I wound and I heal.

    There is no one who can deliver out of My hand.