Day of Atonement ── a day to humble yourself before God!

by Leonard V Johnson

Greetings, dear Friends around the world! Welcome the United Kingdom; Madrid, Spain; Falkenstein, Germany; and Chochrane, Canada! Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries during this glorious season of the fall feast days! I'm your humble servant, Leonard V Johnson.

If you would, turn in your Bible to the Book of Leviticus, chapter 23 – the only chapter in the whole of the Holy Bible which gives us all the LORD God’s (the great and awesome Elohim, the family of God, which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!) holy days in order, giving us a thumbnail sketch about them. The greater majority of people who attend nominal Christianity-type churches have never heard these concepts, because they are not taught. And that’s terrible on the leaders' part who haven’t properly been feeding their people the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God. 

Verse 2 – “’ Speak to the children of Israel [including the New Covenant Church of God – cf. Galatians 3:29], and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, …’” – these are not Jewish feasts! “ … ‘ which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations [gatherings], these are My feasts.’” 

FEASTS OF THE LORD! They belong to God! And He’s sharing the information with us – those of us who have ears to hear and eyes to see and a willingness to accept the truth of God as being our teacher!

Verse 3 – the Sabbath day. The SEVENTH DAY OF THE WEEK! Not the first day – Sunday.

Verse 4 – “’ These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations [holy gatherings] which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.’”

Verse 5 – talks about the Passover. Now, if you would like more information on the Passover, here is a link: A Morning Bible Study: Passover Begins – The Beginning of God’s Master Plan!  (PDF).

Verse 6 – talks about the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And again, if you would like more information on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, here is a link: Christ In You (Sermon). How the true understanding of the Days of Unleavened Bread is so much different than what most churches of God continue to teach.

Verse 9 through to verse 22 – talks about the Day of Pentecost. A phrase which means “count fifty.” So, fifty days after the Sabbath day in the middle of the Days of Unleavened Bread – always landing on a Sunday. So, seven weeks, plus one day, is the Feast of Pentecost. Again, we have a wonderful article, “’ The Firstfruits Unto the LORD’” which has valuable information.

Verses 23 & 24 – the phrase, “ … ‘a memorial of blowing of trumpets, …’” – which truly represents the trumpet blasts warning of impending destruction and the glorious and powerful Return of Jesus Christ!

The spring holy days have specific meanings – and an overall arching premise. And, of course, the fall holy days also have specific meanings. Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost are an outline of how a single individual becomes confirmed and has his or her name added to the Book of Life. An outline for personal salvation.

Verse 26 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27) ‘Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation [gathering] for you; you shall afflict your souls [your lives], …’” 

That word afflict is poorly translated. There are other translations that nail the proper translation perfectly. The Hebrew word is ‘ānâ, meaning “to be concerned about, to be worried; to be humbled.” The New American Standard Bible (NAS) translates this verse – “’ On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls …’” 

Sadly, many ministers today continue to threaten the congregation with a very serious maniacal undertone – “You shall afflict your souls!”

As we have pointed out many times ── get out your concordance, get out your word studies, get out your different translations, and you too will discover that that phrase is supposed to say – “You shall HUMBLE yourself before the LORD.” It is the same thing that our Lord Jesus Christ teaches in the Book of Matthew, chapter 5.

Verse 3 – “’ Blessed are the poor in spirit, …’” – ‘poor in spirit’ means humility. To be humble before God.

Verse 5 – “’ Blessed are the meek, …’” – the same idea. Humility before God and Jesus Christ. It’s willing to know and believe in your mind that you are more impressed with what Almighty God and Jesus Christ say than what any human being says – including yourself.

Now, if you would turn to 1st Peter, chapter 5.

This is a Scripture that had a huge and profound influence on my life. And understanding these concepts has truly helped me to mature in my thinking and to gain much understanding. 

Verse 5 – “Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with HUMILITY, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’” – The apostle Peter is saying, ‘all of you be submissive to one another.’ It’s a cooperative enterprise. Everyone should be able to sit down at a table and – if their hearts and spirits are right – be able to offer information or suggest a change. 

That’s the meaning of the Day of Atonement - internally speaking! To “be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, …”

Verse 6 – “Therefore HUMBLE yourselves under the mighty hand of God, …”– Again, humility. 

What does that mean? Does it mean joining a monastery and taking a vow of silence, walking around in a robe, and looking all pious? Is this what God is talking about?

No. Humility is not what people can see – humility is what God sees. Truly becoming submissive to God, His will, and the will of Jesus Christ.

Going without food and drink for 24 hours, and letting everyone know that you are fasting ── is not being humble in the sight of God! Again, humility is what the LORD God sees. FASTING FOR GOD SHOULD BE A PRIVATE AFFAIR!

“ … that He may exalt you in due time.” – at the blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP – at the resurrection of the saints! That’s when you will receive your glory.

Verse 7 – “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” – This verse is so very important to all of us.

Verse 8 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – Satan, the Devil, is real; his demons are real. And, if you let down your guard, and the Spirit of God within you begins to drain – and you do not have that protective covering – Satan and his demons will find ways to mess up your life. And if they can, they will totally take you off the path of salvation. And, it’s happened to people that I know – tragically. And there’s nothing I can do about it, but ask God to have mercy on them.

Verse 9 – “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced [or have happened] by your brotherhood [your church members] in the world. 10) But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while …” – after you have gone through this human life with its ups and downs and sufferings, He will make you “ … perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”   

Verse 11 – “To Him [Jesus Christ] be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Let’s turn to the Book of James, chapter 4. It’s very similar to what we just read.

Verse 6 – “But He gives more grace. …” – we read that phrase over in 1st Peter, chapter 5. Now, as for me, “Dear Father, dear Brother, pour out all the grace You can manage on me! Because I need Your grace, Your forgiveness, Your help, Your love, Your kindness, Your support!” “ … Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’” – Again, we should humble ourselves before God.

Verse 7 – “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” – Recall the Apostle John, in his first epistle writes, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” – 1 John 4:1 NKJV.

Also, resist the distorted truth - and God’s living truth will surface in your understanding!

Verse 8 – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” 

This is the TRUE MEANING of the Day of Atonement – on a personal level! 

“ … Cleanse your hands, you sinners; …” 

And all repent means is to CHANGE – to ‘cleanse your hands you sinners.’ To go a different direction.

“ … and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – and truly the only way that you can purify your heart is to ‘with all your heart, mind, and soul’ seek the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God.

Verse 9 – “Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10) HUMBLE yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” 

That’s the meaning of the Day of Atonement! That’s the spiritual personal meaning of the Day of Atonement! 

Old Covenant Symbolism

Indeed, in the Old Covenant, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would “kill the [first] goat of the sin offering, … bring its blood inside the veil, … and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. … to make atonement for the Holy Place, … for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly [congregation] of Israel.” – Leviticus 16:15, 16, 17. 

“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat [the second goat]. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness …” – Leviticus 16:20, 21.

Both goats and the physical rituals done to them represented our Lord Jesus Christ and the work of His atoning sacrifice for all of us!

The high priest was the only one who was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies – the inner sanctuary of the temple. Now, if you want to continue to live in that system with its symbolism, you,  the individual, will never have access to God Almighty or Jesus Christ! However, in the New Covenant, ANYONE ANYTIME ANYWHERE has access to Jesus Christ if they will only humble themselves before the mighty throne of the Most High God! 

My friend, seek to change your life and submit before God!

The true meaning of the Day of Atonement isn’t about God wanting you to afflict your body. It’s about God wanting you to HUMBLE yourself before Him, His will, and His word. A MEMORIAL of the glorious ATONEMENT that our Lord Jesus Christ has done for all of us! □