This is the great day of atonement. How much better it is for us to afflict our souls than to be engaged in strife for the highest place, causing heart-burning and discord. Never think or speak evil. When tempted to do this, go by yourself, and ask God to help you to overcome this hateful sin. Humble yourselves in the sight of God, and He will lift you up. Let us praise God that when we humble ourselves, His merciful hand lifts us up.[1]
In the ten days between the Feast of Trumpets (YomTeruah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) the people were expected to humble themselves in preparation for the coming judgment. The Bible is very clear that God expects humility in His people. Pride has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven. “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” Proverbs 29:23 (KJV).
This relationship between humility and judgement is found in Psalm 9:
7 But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Psalm 9:7-12 (KJV)
In our world with its imperfect justice system, guilty people have walked free while innocent people have sat in prison for years for crimes they did not commit. On the Day of Atonement we have a perfect Judge who judges the world in righteousness. Everyone will get what they deserve. The good news is that the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is not really about condemnation. It is about redemption and reconciliation with God.
The best example of what God wants us to do in this time between the Feast of Trumpets (YomTeruah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is found in the story of Solomon and the first Temple. After the eight days of consecration of the newly finished Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and Shemini Atzeret, God came to Solomon in a dream. In that dream He said to Solomon,
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
In this text we see that there are four things God wants from us:
- Humble ourselves
- Pray
- Seek His face
- Turn from our wicked ways
If we do this God promises to hear us. He will then forgive our sins and heal our land. There is probably no time in history when we needed this forgiveness and healing more than we do right now.
References
[1] Ellen G. White. “Godliness in the Every-day Life.” The Review and Herald, December 31, 1901.
The photograph of Ellen G. White is Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.
https://whiteestate.org/resources/photos/#copyright
Posted: September 24, 2023 · Leave a Comment
Statements from Ellen G. White about the Day of Atonement: Humility
In the ten days between the Feast of Trumpets (YomTeruah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) the people were expected to humble themselves in preparation for the coming judgment. The Bible is very clear that God expects humility in His people. Pride has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven. “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” Proverbs 29:23 (KJV).
This relationship between humility and judgement is found in Psalm 9:
7 But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Psalm 9:7-12 (KJV)
In our world with its imperfect justice system, guilty people have walked free while innocent people have sat in prison for years for crimes they did not commit. On the Day of Atonement we have a perfect Judge who judges the world in righteousness. Everyone will get what they deserve. The good news is that the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is not really about condemnation. It is about redemption and reconciliation with God.
The best example of what God wants us to do in this time between the Feast of Trumpets (YomTeruah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is found in the story of Solomon and the first Temple. After the eight days of consecration of the newly finished Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and Shemini Atzeret, God came to Solomon in a dream. In that dream He said to Solomon,
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
In this text we see that there are four things God wants from us:
If we do this God promises to hear us. He will then forgive our sins and heal our land. There is probably no time in history when we needed this forgiveness and healing more than we do right now.
References
[1] Ellen G. White. “Godliness in the Every-day Life.” The Review and Herald, December 31, 1901.
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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