Activities for the Day of Atonement

Here is a fun study on the biblical Day of Atonement! In our house, we took one week to do this study.

Memory Verses – “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:10-11, KJV).

Vocabulary to learn – reconciliation, atonement, mercy, grace, restitution, forgiveness

Tabernacle – I found that it’s so much easier to explain the Day of Atonement to my children if we first construct a tabernacle together, then act out the Day of Atonement as we read aloud Leviticus 16.

You can do like we did and make your own tabernacle out of construction paper, being sure to include each of these things:

• Brazen Altar
• Laver
• Table of Showbread
• Altar of Incense
• Golden Lampstand
• Ark of the Covenant with Mercy Seat
• Aaron and another man to lead a goat into the wilderness
• Two goats, a ram, and a bull

You can see a diagram of the layout of this furniture at http://www.biblenews1.com/grace/gracea.htm

You can use scraps of poster board or cardboard, or even play-dough or gingerbread. You might have scraps of fabric that could be used for the tents, etc.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this project, consider spending $10 or so for a paper
tabernacle online. A good option is available at https://amzn.to/2ltMvK0 (affiliate link).

Read how a blogging friend of mine studied the tabernacle with her children at http://sbees.blogspot.com/2008/04/building-tabernacle.html

Share your testimony – Tell someone else about the atonement that has been given to you! http://5clicks.com/

Bible Drill –

• Exodus 29:36
• Exodus 30:10
• Leviticus 1:4
• Leviticus 16:34
• Numbers 8:21
• 2 Samuel 21:3
• 1 Chronicles 6:49
• Nehemiah 10:33

Application – Read the story of Jonah aloud. At the end, list together some parts of the story that remind you of the atonement. (For instance, had Jonah forgiven others before he sought forgiveness of God? How did God show mercy to various individuals in the story? How did God show grace?)

Coloring –

http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/days/yom.htm

http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/yomkipur/yomkclr.htm

Songs – We found that a wonderful way to close our week of study of the Day of Atonement was to gather around the piano on Friday night and sing every song we could think of that had to do with the atonement. “Power in the Blood,” “Lord, Have Mercy,” “Since I Have Been Redeemed,” and even “Amazing Grace.”

Serving Others – Read through Isaiah 58 and brainstorm things you could do for others on this special Sabbath.