The Day of Atonement - a Day to Deny Yourself
As the sun sets today, October 8th, 2008, the world enters into the most holy day on the Hebrew calendar. Many Biblically minded people are aware of this fact, while many have no idea that this 9th day of October has any special significance whatsoever.
According to the Torah of Moses, in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus certain days were set aside by YHWH as appointments (moedim in Hebrew). These are called “holy convocations” and the “Festivals of the LORD”.
A growing number of Christians, seeking to return to their Hebrew Roots, are among the newest observers of these sacred times and seasons.
It is really quite remarkable what we are seeing in our day. I tend to believe that this increasing emphasis on “things Hebraic” is nothing less than an awakening - a move of the Holy Spirit.
We are in the 7th Biblical month, and beginning at sundown we enter the 10th day of the month - a day that is called the Day of Atonement or Day of Covering. This 10th day of the 7th month is referred to as the Sabbath of Sabbaths. It is a day to “deny yourself” - a phrase that is associated with fasting.
There are two main texts that deal with this day in the Torah.
Leviticus 16
Leviticus 23:26-32
Leviticus 16 describes the ceremonial events of this day as they were performed in Ancient Israel. The word Atonement occurs 14 times in this chapter alone. Interestingly, every aspect of the day is performed by either Aaron or a priest - an appointed man; that is, except for verses 29-31. There we read that the people are to “deny themselves and do no work”.
The phrase mention above “to deny yourself” occurs 5 times in Leviticus 16 and 23 (Lev. 16:29, 31; Lev. 23:27, 29, 32). The Hebrew word (aleph, nun, heh) is associated with the idea of affliction. The verb means, “to be bowed down, afflicted” according to Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon. It came to be associated with “afflicting one’s self”, i.e. by fasting (see for example Ezra 8:21-23).
Fasting has long been one method that God-Fearing people have used in their attempts to express sorrow, grief or humility towards God. This fasting was often accompanied by the wearing of sackcloth, the tearing of garments, or covering themselves in ashes.
In the book of Jonah - a book read in synagogues during this season, we read of the actions of the people of Nineveh. When they heard the message of impending doom brought to them by Jonah, the king of Nineveh “rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat in ashes.” (Jonah 3:6) He then put forth a proclamation requiring everyone (including the animals!) to do the same. Everyone was to “Cry mightily” and to turn from the evil ways and from violence. The purpose of this “fast” was to appeal to God in hopes that he would relent from the decreed calamity. God obliged.
Many people have done similarly, refraining from food and drink and have afflicted themselves on the Day of Atonement.
It is interesting to note that Jonah 3:10 says that when God saw what they did, “how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he said he would bring upon them and he did not do it“. I think that this is important. God certainly saw all of the outward signs of “affliction” that the people put upon themselves. He saw the sackcloth and ashes and heard their wailing, but we should carefully note that what he “saw” that led to his “Change of Mind” was that they “turned from the evil ways”. This is the true definition of repentance. It really involves a “turning”. This is what God looks for. Too often “religious people” put on the show of religious life without ever truly turning to God. Isaiah quotes God as saying, “This people draws close to me with their mouth but their heart is far from me...” (29:13). What God is looking for is a humble and contrite person who trembles at His word (Isaiah 66:2).
So why does God forgive? The answer is found in the same story in Jonah. Jonah says that God is “a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.” (Jonah 4:2) There it is! The very nature of God is that he does not desire to punish, but rather that people repent (see Ezekiel 33:10-20).
With this in mind, see Joel 2:12-14. Here we read the words of YHWH, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD, your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” Did you catch that? The same description for God as we saw in Jonah. God forgives when we repent, because this is His nature!
Fasting and self denial are an important part of this process of repentance, but the outward acts must not be the center of focus. We must rend our hearts and change our inside. As one so aptly put it; “first cleanse the inside of the cup so that the outside may become clean” (Matthew 23:26).
To practice “self-denial” and to focus on the needs of others is the key theme for a renewed walk with God.
My prayer is that you turn to God at this time. Keep the appointment!
When it comes to fasting in the proper way, I suggest that one read the following texts:
ESV Matthew 6:16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
ESV Isaiah 57:14 And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. 17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” 58:1 “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. 3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 11 And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. 13 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
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