College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Leviticus 23:26-32
e. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT 23:26-32
TEXT 23:26-32
26
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
27
Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
28
And ye shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Jehovah your God.
29
For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day; he shall be cut off from his people.
30
And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people.
31
Ye shall do no manner of work: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32
It shall be unto you a sabbath of solemn rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye keep your sabbath.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 23:26-32
549.
This surely was a distinctive day. Mention the distinctions.
550.
What was the purpose of fasting?
551.
What was the penalty for not properly observing this day?
552.
Is this the only day in the year just like the weekly sabbath?
553.
Please read again our comments on Leviticus 16:1-30. Cf. Leviticus 19:8. Just what is involved in being cut off as Leviticus 23:30?
554.
Just what is meant by afflict your souls?
PARAPHRASE 23:26-32
The Day of Atonement follows nine days later: all the people are to come together before the Lord, saddened by their sin; and they shall offer sacrifices by fire to the Lord. Don-'t do any work that day, for it is a special day for making atonement before the Lord your God. Anyone who does not spend the day in repentance and sorrow for sin shall be excommunicated from his people. And I will put to death anyone who does any kind of work that day. This is a law of Israel from generation to generation. For this is a Sabbath of solemn rest, and in it you shall humble your souls and be filled with remorse; this time for atonement begins on the previous evening and goes on until the next evening.
COMMENT 23:26-32
Leviticus 23:26-32 We covered the Day of Atonement in our comments on chapter sixteen. The emphasis in these verses seems to be upon the fasting of this day. This is the only day in the Hebrew calendar when fasting was required. Since the subject of fasting is almost unkown to the average church member, we feel it would be profitable to here include an outline of the subject:
FASTING: RESOURCE FOR SPIRITUAL POWER
1.
Our Lord's Teaching and Example:
a.
Please notice that our Lord did not say If you fast, but when you fast. Jesus expected His followers to pray, so He said when you pray in Leviticus 23:5. He expected His disciples to give, so He said when thou doest alms, Leviticus 23:2. In Leviticus 23:16 He uses the same anticipationHe expects us to fast. The wrong motive does not cancel the act.
b.
Jesus said there would come a day when His disciples would fast. When the bridegroom has left then will they fast in that day. We are living in that day awaiting the cry, Behold the bridegroom cometh, come ye forth to meet Him. Fasting is a grand catalyst for bringing the body into subjection. If we do not control the appetites of the body we will be controlled by them.
c.
Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1 ff.
At the beginning of His ministry, our Lord entered a period of fasting and prayer. It could be significant that Jesus was tempted by Satan to eat, but not to drink. Jesus was voluntarily refusing food as a part of His control of the body.
2.
The Example of Paul
a.
Saul of Tarsus became Paul the Apostle, and fasting was a part of his change. This was a three-day absolute fast. The normal fast of only water and no food was superseded by the circumstances.
b.
The list of events here given demonstrate the character of Paul. The use of the term fastings would seem to suggest that Paul was often involved in this practice. In Leviticus 11:23-27 fastings could be involuntary, i.e. because he had no food, but in Leviticus 6:3-10 there is no reason to believe that it is used in any but the ordinary sense of the term: Paul chose to fast often.
3.
The Early Church
a.
As the leaders in the Syrian church at Antioch ministered to the Lord they were fasting. This was a united effort. It was associated with their worship, and was yet apart from it. In this environment the Holy Spirit said, separate unto me Barnabas and Saul. In the action taken by the leaders of the church to set Barnabas and Saul apart fasting was accompanied with prayer and the laying on of hands.
b.
Prayer and fasting was practiced in the Gentile churches of Lystra, Derbe and Antioch of Pisidia. Fasting is here a part of the ordination of elders.
4.
Examples of Fasting From the Old Testament
a.
David - Psalms 35:13; Psalms 69:10
The control of ego's demands as well as the control of the lust of the flesh are here involved.
b.
Jehoshaphat - 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
We face as formidable a foe today as did Jehoshaphat. We need to use the same weapons in our warfare. Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:4.
c.
We sometimes presumptuously commit ourselves and only fasting and prayer can give us the answer.
d.
Esther 4:1 ff.
The whole nation was savedfasting had a part.
e.
Nineveh - Jonah 1:1 ff; Jonah 3:5-9.
Both God's blessings and His judgments are conditional. Fasting has never been an end in itself (except when hypocrites made it suchCf. Matthew 6:16 ft). It is a grand aid to the goal of buffeting the body and bringing it into subjection. Cf. 1 Corinthians 9:27; Cf. Galatians 5:17.
If an act or an attitude is wrong fasting will not make it right. Only prayer and restitution will do that. Fasting is not some type of holy gimmick or cure-all. Fasting is no substitute for any other part of God's provisions. On the other hand no other provisions of God are a substitute for fasting. The regularity of your prayer life is a pattern for your fasting. Fasting once a week would be a way to give practical value to this spiritual discipline.
FACT QUESTIONS 23:26-32
560.
Discuss the two references to fasting in Matthew 6:1-18 and Mark 2:18-22. What application does this have for us?
561.
Is the fasting and prayer of our Lord an example for us? Discuss.
562.
What shall we say of the example of Paul: Cf. Acts 9:9; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.
563.
Where did the early church get the thought that they should fast? Cf. Acts 13:1-3.
564.
How do we use fasting today? Discuss.
565.
We have given five examples of fasting in the Old Testament. What lesson is in this for us?
566.
What is the basic purpose of fasting?
567.
How can we incorporate this discipline into our life? Discuss.