In the typical day of atonement, every man was required to afflict his soul before God. He was not to afflict the souls of others, but the work was between God and his own soul. The same work of self-examination and humiliation is required of each of us now; and I entreat you to make thorough work for eternity. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near.” Precious, golden moments which should be spent in seeking the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit, are frittered away in adorning the dress, and in other trifling matters not at all essential to comfort.[1]
On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) we are commanded to afflict our souls. “It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever” Leviticus 16:31 (KJV). As Ellen White says we are to afflict our own souls not the souls of others. Indeed, afflicting others is something that God strongly disapproves of.
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
Exodus 22:22-24 (KJV)
These are pretty strong words.
Just what does it mean for us to afflict our souls? I address this in chapter 10 of my book, God’s Sacred Occasions. It refers to fasting. This association is seen in Isaiah 58:3 (KJV): “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?” But is afflicting our souls nothing more than fasting? Is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) simple a day when we go hungry and nothing else?
The word for afflict in the verses above is עָנָה (ʿānâ, Strong’s H6031). In the King James Version of the Bible, this word is also translated as “humble” eleven times. For example in Psalm 35:13 (KJV) we read: “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.” This verse could have been translated “I afflicted my soul with fasting.”
This word עָנָה (ʿānâ, Strong’s H6031) is the root word of עָנָו (ʿānāv, Strong’s H6035). It is usually translated in the King James Version of the Bible as “meek.” Because these words are so closely related I think it is safe to say that God desires meekness in his people. There is very little difference between meekness and humility. In fact, עָנָו (ʿānāv, Strong’s H6035) is also translated as “humble” five times in the King James Version.
When we see that part of afflicting our souls is humility and meekness, we see that God’s purpose in the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is redemption of His people and reconciliation with them. “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation” Psalm 149: 4 (KJV). And then finally, “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” Psalm 37:11 (KJV). Humility and meekness may be traits that this world does not value, but they are requirements for God’s Kingdom.
References
[1] Ellen G. White. The Christian’s Hope. The Signs of the Times. May 29, 1884.
The photograph of Ellen G. White is Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.
https://whiteestate.org/resources/photos/#copyright
Posted: September 25, 2023 · Leave a Comment
Statements from Ellen G. White about the Day of Atonement: Afflicting our Souls
On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) we are commanded to afflict our souls. “It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever” Leviticus 16:31 (KJV). As Ellen White says we are to afflict our own souls not the souls of others. Indeed, afflicting others is something that God strongly disapproves of.
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
Exodus 22:22-24 (KJV)
These are pretty strong words.
Just what does it mean for us to afflict our souls? I address this in chapter 10 of my book, God’s Sacred Occasions. It refers to fasting. This association is seen in Isaiah 58:3 (KJV): “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?” But is afflicting our souls nothing more than fasting? Is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) simple a day when we go hungry and nothing else?
The word for afflict in the verses above is עָנָה (ʿānâ, Strong’s H6031). In the King James Version of the Bible, this word is also translated as “humble” eleven times. For example in Psalm 35:13 (KJV) we read: “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.” This verse could have been translated “I afflicted my soul with fasting.”
This word עָנָה (ʿānâ, Strong’s H6031) is the root word of עָנָו (ʿānāv, Strong’s H6035). It is usually translated in the King James Version of the Bible as “meek.” Because these words are so closely related I think it is safe to say that God desires meekness in his people. There is very little difference between meekness and humility. In fact, עָנָו (ʿānāv, Strong’s H6035) is also translated as “humble” five times in the King James Version.
When we see that part of afflicting our souls is humility and meekness, we see that God’s purpose in the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is redemption of His people and reconciliation with them. “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation” Psalm 149: 4 (KJV). And then finally, “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” Psalm 37:11 (KJV). Humility and meekness may be traits that this world does not value, but they are requirements for God’s Kingdom.
References
[1] Ellen G. White. The Christian’s Hope. The Signs of the Times. May 29, 1884.
The photograph of Ellen G. White is Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.
https://whiteestate.org/resources/photos/#copyright
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