Read Leviticus 23:26-32

“Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.” — Leviticus 23:27

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was a great day of significance for the Jewish people. For us, the church, it points to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ the Messiah who atoned for our sins once and for all. But before Christ came, it was this day that the people of Israel relied on to experience forgiveness and atonement for their sins. It would usher in a fresh start for the whole nation. All of this has already been previously outlined by God in Leviticus 16.

As we delve into this passage nearly six chapters later, we learn that the Day of Atonement was not to be treated as the other holy days and feasts. It was not to be met with celebration and dancing, but with solemnity and deferment; humility and meekness. Ultimately, the people were to observe this day and the ceremonies thereof as an opportunity to humble themselves before God. To do otherwise would be presumptuous.

The LORD makes it clear from this verse that the people were to afflict their souls. What an unusual statement. What does this mean?

The word afflict in Hebrew was synonymous with the word humble. In fact, the word is often translated this way in various other parts of the Old Testament. Its definition is literally “to bring low" and it carries the idea of surrendering to the will of another. As the high priest performed the holy ceremony of atonement, the people of Israel were to surrender to God's pardoning of their wretchedness — an action which could only happen through humility.

Truly, no man surrenders to God without humility! And no man can receive His grace without the affliction of his soul! Any other response is pretentious and presumptuous.

““God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”” (James 4:6)

And what a word of admonition for us who have received the eternal blood of Christ to wash away our sins. Tell me, what room is there for pride in ourselves? What space do we have to be vain and puffed up? Aren’t we witnesses of Christ’s blood dripping down the rugged cross and sprinkled upon our souls? We are! His Word has shown us. Therefore, Beloved, let us never take glory in ourselves.

Rather, let us humbly admit, as did Paul —

“By the grace of God I am what I am… I labored more abundantly… yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

If the atonement of Christ and the grace of God doesn’t humble us, nothing else will. Let us therefore afflict our souls in this way by walking humbly before our God, knowing that our Savior Jesus Christ has paid it all.

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