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Introduction:  Most of us have probably had the experience of trying to explain to friend or relative or co-worker what we do when we go to the Feast of Tabernacles.  There’s really no way to make them understand why we are so excited about going to a week-long series of church meetings.  It’s even more difficult to explain this day.  Why would people who have plenty of food available decide to do without food and liquid for 24-hours? 

We all have our memories associated with this day, especially the first time we ever kept it.  We had never fasted in our lives and had no idea what to expect.  We probably found it wasn’t as difficult as we thought, but all of us are still aware of what time sunset occurs and we are looking forward to ending our fast.

Those who speak on the Day of Atonement are faced with two major challenges.  The first is keeping everyone awake.  Many times on a fast day I have been grateful to be the one speaking because at least I knew I could stay awake.  Fasting is an integral part of this day, and we’ll touch on that in a bit, but it really isn’t the main point.

But the other challenge is a bit more difficult.  Scripture contains so much about this day and its meaning that it is difficult to decide what to include and what to leave out.  Some of you will remember the days when we had two services on the Day of Atonement, and I doubt most of us want to go back to that, but there is so much for us to consider on this unique day.

What an unusual day this is.  The Bible contains more detailed instructions concerning this day than any other day in the annual cycle of Holy Days.  Consider some of the ways this day is unique:

Lev:23:23-32[23]And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,[24]Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.[25]Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.[26]And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,[27]Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.[28]And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.[29]For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.[30]And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.[31]Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.[32]It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

While we all believe that fasting is a proper thing for a Christian to do in his or her efforts to draw close to God, this is the only time in the year when we all fast together. 

Fasting is commanded on this day, and anyone who doesn’t fast is to be cast away from God’s people.  (Of course this does not apply to those who are medically incapable of fasting safely.)

This is the only feast day that has an entire chapter (Lev. 16) devoted to instructions on how the day should be observed.

This feast day is the only one whose rituals are clearly explained in the New Testament, in the book of Hebrews.

It is the only day on which all work of all kinds is proscribed.  On the other Feast days, food preparation is permitted.

We are told this day is to be celebrated, yet we are denying ourselves even the basics of food and drink.  Therefore, the cause of our celebration must be spiritual rather than physical.

Many modern religionists try to say that the holy days were simply a modified form of ancient harvest festivals, but how do you explain a day of fasting in the midst of the harvest season?

God never does something without a purpose.  Before the creation of the first human beings, He set in motion a plan that would succeed in bringing uncounted sons and daughters into His eternal family.  He instructed us to celebrate that plan at specific times and in specific ways each year.  In his wisdom, God knew that we needed the annual reminders of His purpose for us or we would lose sight of that plan.  Sadly, we have seen that proven over and over through the years.  When people abandon the celebration of God’s Holy Days, they lose all understanding of His plan for them.

While the overall purpose of God’s plan is to bring sons and daughters into His family, it’s not enough to simply know that purpose.  He has further revealed the vital steps in that plan, and each step is intended to not only show us the step but to require a response from us.  To simply know what this day means is not adequate.  We are expected to respond to that knowledge in a way that changes the way we think and live.

SPS:    How Does the Day of Atonement Change Our Lives?

Body:  Whenever we find that God has instructed us to do something or refrain from doing something, it’s good for us to ask ourselves why He gave that instruction.  We begin from the premise that He is right whether we understand or not, and we may not always understand His reasons for that instruction.  As time goes by, we often gradually come to understand and appreciate more deeply the depth of God’s wisdom contained in His commands.

One of the important lessons we should learn from observing the annual Holy Days is that these Holy Days don’t simply show us God’s plan, they are an annual proclamation from God Himself of the certainty of their fulfillment.  It is as if God is telling us on each holy day, “I am fully aware of this and I will bring it to pass.”  As we looked at the Feast of Trumpets, we realized that the first portion of the famous Olivet prophecy of Matthew 24 addressed the signs leading up to Christ’s return, but they were never intended to reveal a chronology so we could figure out some timeline and know when He was coming back.  In fact, when we examine the rest of that prophecy, it really has to do with the response we are supposed to have to the realization that He will be returning and the fact that we cannot know just when that will be.  The Feast of Trumpets does not primarily tell us when Christ will return.  It tells us in no uncertain terms that He will return and we need to be prepared for that whenever it occurs.

Likewise, the other holy days and observances proclaim the certainty of God’s plan and remind us that God has neither forgotten nor delayed that plan.  Each step in the plan occurs whether we’re ready for it or not.  We don’t have the option of changing the plan or its timing.  Our only option is to be ready or not.

Passover – Proclaims the certainty of forgiveness.
Unleavened Bread – Proclaims that it is possible (necessary) to learn to live without sin.
Pentecost – Proclaims the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Trumpets – Proclaims the certainty of Jesus’ return.
Feast of Tabernacles – Proclaims the certainty of the millennial rule of Jesus with his servants – a time of peace and abundance.
Last Great Day – Proclaims the certainty that all who never knew God’s truth will have their opportunity as well.

I deliberately skipped over this day.  What does this day proclaim with absolute certainty?  This day promises us that God Himself will remove the primary cause of that separates man from God and causes all human suffering.

Some have thought this day focuses on Satan.  That is incorrect.  A proper understanding of Satan and his influence is a part of understanding and appreciating this day, but he is not the focus of this day.

What does “atonement” actually mean?  Sometimes people have tried to derive meanings by inaccurately dividing English words.  Remember Mr. Armstrong’s old story about the preacher who didn’t like the hairstyle called a “top-knot?”  During the demonstrations against the Viet Nam war, some tried to say that demonstrations were demonic.  We had a friend who used to tell us she didn’t like to fly because Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always.”

Perhaps you’ve heard someone try to divide the word “atonement” into “at-one-ment.”  Actually, in this case, though it may not be correct based upon the derivation of the English word, it does capture a proper sense of the original words.  The Hebrew word is “kippur,” which refers to uniting together as one.  The word is used to describe Noah joining the boards of the ark together to make them one and the ark able to float.

Atonement properly has to do with removing what separates and making one of those who had been separated.

Let’s take a few minutes to look in some detail at the instructions given to the priests for this day.  Keep in mind that what took place was carried out by the priests but everyone was informed about what was happening.  The priests had a part to carry out that was uniquely theirs, but all the people were required to be participants in this day.

Lev:16:1-22[1]And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;[2]And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.[3]Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.[4]He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.[5]And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.[6]And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.[7]And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.[8]And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.[9]And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.[10]But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.[11]And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:[12]And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:[13]And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:[14]And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.[15]Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:[16]And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.[17]And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.[18]And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.[19]And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.[20]And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:[21]And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:[22]And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.; 29-31

[NRSV]     8  and Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.  9  Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer it as a sin offering; 10  but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

It is interesting to note that when we come to the NT passage – in the book of Hebrews – that describes these events and this day, the Azazel is not mentioned at all.

We must have it clearly in our minds that sin separates us from God.

Isa:59:1-2[1]Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:[2]But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.  Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

In order for sin to be forgiven, we must first acknowledge it for what it is and turn from it.  If we substitute words like “failings” or “shortcomings” for “sin,” we are minimizing the seriousness of sin.

The sacrifices given on this day by the priest for himself and for the people, clearly acknowledge that each individual has a personal responsibility in his own sins.

At the same time, we also clearly recognize that there is an evil being that encourages sin.

Eph:2:1-2[1]And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;[2]Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Eph:6:10-12[10]Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.[11]Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.[12]For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Cor:4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Cor:11:1-4[1]Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.[2]For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.[3]But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.[4]For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him., 13-14 – a spirit that keeps trying to come into the Church

It appears that Satan’s greatest tool is deception.

Rev:12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev:20:1-3[1]And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.[2]And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,[3]And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

As long as Satan has power on earth, this world will remain in captivity to sin.

But aren’t we already forgiven for sin?  Didn’t the sacrifice of Jesus Christ bring us into a proper relationship with God?  Aren’t we already at-one with God?

In a sense, yes we are, but as long as we are human and Satan has power, we can still fall short. 

God’s kingdom cannot be set up on this earth until Satan is cast out.  The Day of Atonement occurs after the Feast of Trumpets.  When Trumpets is fulfilled, we are already made a part of God’s family and are at one with Him.  The Day of Atonement removes the one that blinds the rest of mankind and makes it possible for God’s kingdom to be set up.

This also helps us understand why fasting is such an integral part of this day.  What effect does fasting have?  Fasting doesn’t change God; it changes us.  It humbles us.

At the core of Satan’s rebellion to God and His ways was pride.  The prophets tell us how pride led to Satan’s rebellion and the entire way of life he has produced on this earth.  Fasting reminds us that pride can have no part among the people of God.

Heb 9-10

Conclusion:          This day should have an impact upon the way we live our lives today.

It should make us more aware of the power of sin and the need to turn from it.

It should make us more vigilant about the truth of God and the danger of deception.

It should humble us to remember that we don’t have the power to win this battle alone.

Lev:25:8-10[8]And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.[9]Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.[10]And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.