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Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts THE COVERING SHIELD For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life (Leviticus 17:11). What a mystical verse! Much is spoken about blood atonement in Scriptures. We are even told of the voice of the blood of Mashiach speaking a better word than that of the blood of martyred Abel’s crying to God from the ground (Genesis 4:10; Hebrews 12:24). Much has been lost in our understanding of Scriptures not only because of translations, but because of our failure to acknowledge the Semitic linguistic dynamics of their origins. Again we have an issue, this time with the word ‘atonement’. The word ‘atonement’ is very important in the Scriptures. It’s what they are all about, so we surely must make an effort to understand it properly according to its own cultural context, values and merits. The origins of the word ‘atonement’ is the Hebrew root word ‘kaphar’ from which we derive the words ‘lid’, ‘cover’, and ‘covering’. Even the word ‘kapporeth’ for the golden lid of the Ark covered by the wings of the cherubs called in English ‘the mercy seat’ (Exodus 25:17), and ‘Kippur; for the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27) are derivatives of ‘kaphar’. A way to explain the use of this word is to use the analogy of a credit card . Let’s say that like many of us you have contracted a very large balance on your credit card and you are unable to pay it. You risk losing your credit, even losing your car or your house until a generous soul comes around and say, don’t worry; I’ll ‘cover’ your credit card balance. It is not that the balance never existed or that it has been deleted from the records, it is only that it has been covered. The credit card company then doesn’t look anymore at your failure to pay your debts (which is a biblical command) but at the covering that expunged it. Even Matthew quotes the Master on the forgiveness of sin using financial terminology, he says, forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). We indeed because of sin have lost credit in the sight of the Father. He is ready the yank the rug from under us but He allows someone to cover the balance of our sins: Mashiach. It is not like we never sinned, but all He sees now is the covered balance by Yeshua. King David related to this principle as a shield. Here are a few of his statements, But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart (Psalms 3:3; 5:12; 7:10). As Ruth was by kinsman redeemer Boaz, may you be ‘covered’ (atoned) under the ‘wings’ of Yeshua the Messiah (Ruth 3:9).
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Kapporeth, Yom Kippur, mercy seat, Ark of the Covenant, Boaz, Ruth,
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