Podcast: https://youtu.be/qm1bB6zpAKM?list=PLtspfGIl74B36WKxFFEjdXQgwkk1PEGmH

Today is Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement.” Yom Kippur takes place on the tenth day of the seventh month and is the holiest day of the year, the one day of the year when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies. In the Year of Jubilee, it was on this day, Yom Kippur, that the trumpet of the Jubilee year was sounded and liberty was proclaimed throughout the land of Israel (Leviticus 25:9-10).

Read Isaiah 58:1-14 (TLV):

1 “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a shofar. Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 

2 Yet they seek Me day to day and delight to know My ways, as if they were a nation that did right, and had not forsaken their God’s decree. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”

3 “Why have we fasted, yet You do not see? Why have we afflicted our souls, yet You take no notice?” “Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and exploit all your laborers.

4 Behold, you fast for strife and contention and to strike with a wicked fist. You should not fast as you do today to make your voice heard on high.

5 Is this the fast I have chosen? A day for one to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and spreading out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to Adonai?

6 “Is not this the fast I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to tear off every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house? When you see the naked, to cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up speedily. Your righteousness will go before you, the glory of Adonai as your rear guard.”

9 Then you will call, and Adonai will answer. You will cry and He will say, “Here I am.” If you get rid of the yoke among you— finger-pointing and badmouthing—

10 If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will be like midday.

11 Then Adonai will guide you continually, satisfy your soul in drought and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.

12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins, will raise up the age-old foundations, will be called Repairer of the Breach,     Restorer of Streets for Dwelling.

13 If you turn back your foot from Shabbat, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call Shabbat a delight, the holy day of Adonai honorable,

If you honor it, not going your own ways, not seeking your own pleasure, nor speaking your usual speech, 

14 then You will delight yourself in Adonai, and I will let you ride over the heights of the earth, I will feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of Adonai has spoken.

On Yom Kippur, God desires us to “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke” (Isaiah 58:6). He wants us to take away the yoke, pointing of the finger, and wickedness. He wants the hungry to be fed and the afflicted to be lifted up out of their suffering. Today is a day of liberty. God desires to set people free from their bondages.

Today’s teshuvah:

• Have you put your soul into prison due to unforgiveness, regret of the past, bitterness, and resentment?  Repent, cast your burden on the Lord, and receive the freedom of His forgiveness. Do you know people suffering or in need? Help them and care for them. Do you know people who are depressed? Pray for them and encourage them.

Heavenly Father, thank You so much for this holy day, Yom Kippur. Thank You for Your salvation and mercy and for setting us free from our bondages. Please free me from the bondage of unforgiveness, guilt, bitterness, and resentment. Lord, I humbly ask for Your forgiveness for allowing myself to be bound by these. Please forgive me and help me to walk in liberty for You have set me free from the yoke of wickedness. Please use me, Lord, to set free others in bondage. To lift up the depressed and to care for the needy. Thank You, Father, for Your love and goodness toward me and for all that You have taught me these 40 days leading to Yom Kippur. Please bless this day, Yom Kippur, and help me to continue to draw closer to You.

Worship through these prayers and songs of repentance:

Avinu Malkeinu (“Our Father, our King”)

Adon Haselichot (“Lord of Forgiveness”)

Zion (this song speaks of how God will bring His people home, both physically and spiritually)