Leviticus 23:27 (KJV) 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.

ABSTRACT

The article “Sanctuary: Atonement’s Sacred Call” explores the Day of Atonement as a divine summons to worship, humility, sacrifice, and rest, revealing its lasting role in God’s plan of redemption. Drawing from Leviticus 23:27, Hebrews 9, Isaiah 53, and inspired writings, it highlights the four central practices—holy convocation, afflicting the soul, offering by fire, and abstaining from work—as timeless principles that point to Christ’s heavenly ministry. These observances illustrate God’s love, calling believers to repentance, renewal, and reliance on divine grace, preparing them for judgment and eternal fellowship with Him.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES OF THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

The Day of Atonement reveals profound insights into God’s redemptive plan, calling us to communal gathering, soul-searching humility, fiery surrender, and complete rest from labor. Detailed in Leviticus 23:27, this observance embodies repentance, reflection, and renewal, holding relevance for all seeking deeper connection with the Divine. Its four requirements—holy convocation, affliction of the soul, offering by fire, and abstinence from work—illuminate eternal truths of faith, obedience, and God’s profound love. Ellen G. White highlights this sacred rhythm in her writings, noting how these rituals foreshadow Christ’s heavenly ministry. Once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, the priest entered the most holy place for the cleansing of the sanctuary, completing the yearly round of ministration (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 355, 1890). We live now in that antitypical fulfillment, where confession and repentance prepare us for judgment (Selected Messages Book 1, p. 124, 1958). Hebrews 9:7 declares that into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. Isaiah 53:5 affirms that he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. These elements draw us into God’s merciful embrace, fostering transformation that echoes through eternity.

COMMUNAL WORSHIP: HOLY CONVOCATION

The holy convocation, a sacred gathering, emphasizes the power of communal worship. In ancient Israel, we assembled to honor God, mirroring our modern call to unite in worship (Hebrews 10:23-25). These gatherings remind us that faith thrives when shared, fostering encouragement and accountability among the community. Neglecting this practice risks spiritual isolation. A prophetic voice through inspired counsel affirms that the sacred observance of the Sabbath and assembly serves as a bulwark of strength for us. All business was laid aside, and the whole congregation of Israel spent the day in solemn humiliation before God, with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 355, 1890). In the typical service the high priest, having made the atonement for Israel, came forth and blessed the congregation (Great Controversy, p. 485, 1888). Psalm 95:6 calls us to come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. Psalm 22:22 urges us to declare thy name unto our brethren: in the midst of the congregation will we praise thee. Together, we ignite mutual inspiration toward love and good deeds, strengthening our shared path in faith. How does prioritizing fellowship today deepen our bond with God and each other?

HUMILITY AND REFLECTION: AFFLICTING THE SOUL

Afflicting the soul demands introspection, humility, and fasting. The Hebrew word anah signifies self-denial and repentance (Leviticus 23:27). This practice resonates across eras as we examine our hearts and humble ourselves before God. Even today, many in the Jewish community fast on the Day of Atonement, embodying contrition. Sr. White explains that fasting refines the mind, aligning it with spiritual pursuits. In the typical service, when the work of atonement was performed by the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary, the people were required to afflict their souls before God, and confess their sins, that they might be atoned for and blotted out (Selected Messages Book 1, p. 125, 1958). We now live in the great day of atonement, where all must afflict souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest cut off from the people (Great Controversy, p. 489, 1888). By abstaining from food and indulgences, we gain clarity and strength to conquer sin. The Apostle Paul reinforces this in 1 Corinthians 9:27: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. James 4:10 instructs us to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Psalm 35:13 recounts how, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. This discipline unveils God’s tender mercy, where He seeks not perfection but a contrite heart, aligning us with Christ’s intercession in the heavenly sanctuary for deeper divine connection. Are we ready to face our spiritual frailties with such resolve?

SACRIFICE AND SURRENDER: OFFERING BY FIRE

The offering by fire on the Day of Atonement symbolized total surrender to God. As Stephen N. Haskell writes in The Cross and Its Shadow (p. 226), the fire of sacrifice consumed not only the offering but also the sins of the believer. This act represented purification, echoing Malachi 3:2-3, which describes God as a refiner’s fire. Today, our offering becomes spiritual. Romans 12:1 urges us to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. This surrender demands releasing sin and yielding to God’s transforming grace. Just as ancient offerings foreshadowed Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, our acts testify to His redemptive love. The goat upon which the first lot fell was to be slain as a sin offering for the people, and the priest was to bring his blood within the veil, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 355, 1890). All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven (Great Controversy, p. 483, 1888). Psalm 51:17 reveals the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Hebrews 13:15 encourages by him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Through such yielding, we emerge as vessels of God’s purpose, mirroring His glory worldwide. Does this summons to full surrender stir your spirit?

REST AND DEPENDENCE: ABSTAINING FROM WORK

Abstaining from servile work on the Day of Atonement enabled focus solely on God. This rest underscores Sabbath observance, central to our practice. Ellen G. White emphasizes in Patriarchs and Prophets (p. 307), resting from labor signals trust in God’s provision and salvation. In a productivity-driven world, such pause proves countercultural. Yet, this sacred rest beckons reliance on God over self-effort. It harmonizes with divine grace, where salvation flows through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). By embracing rest, we declare dependence on His sustaining power. A passage from the inspired writings reminds us that the Sabbath, given as a day of rest, calls for abstinence from labor to honor God’s creative work (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 353, 1900). Through inspired counsel we learn that God designed the Sabbath for man’s benefit, providing physical and spiritual renewal amid earthly toil (The Desire of Ages, p. 206, 1898). Hebrews 4:9-10 promises there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God, for he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Exodus 20:10 commands but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work. Sacred rest thus proclaims our utter reliance on divine strength. How frequently does busyness eclipse our intimacy with God?

GOD’S LOVE REFLECTED IN THESE PRACTICES

Each practice of the Day of Atonement mirrors God’s boundless love. He draws us into communal worship to nurture faith together (Hebrews 10:25). He summons self-examination not for condemnation but cleansing and restoration (Joel 2:13). Through sacrifice, He grants transformation, refining us like gold (Malachi 3:3). Finally, He bestows rest as a token of provision and care (Exodus 20:10). Sr. White writes in Steps to Christ (p. 21), God’s love shines in every invitation to turn to Him. Jesus does not excuse sins but shows penitence and faith, claiming forgiveness and lifting wounded hands before the Father and holy angels, saying: I know them by name, I have graven them on the palms of My hands (Great Controversy, p. 484, 1888). In the great day of final award, by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ, the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven, thus the sanctuary freed from sin’s record (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 357, 1890). 1 John 4:10 proclaims herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Romans 5:8 declares but God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us. These divine invitations pull us nearer His heart, where grace abounds and eternal fellowship awaits.

ATONEMENT’S ENDURING LEGACY

The Day of Atonement urges us to embrace worship, humility, sacrifice, and rest as vital disciplines. These practices endure not as ancient relics but as vibrant principles for our time. They summon deeper faith, intimate walks with God, and amplified love within the community. As we ponder these truths, commitment arises to lives honoring God’s love and readying for Christ’s return. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and appears in God’s presence to perform investigative judgment and make atonement for all entitled to its benefits (Great Controversy, p. 479, 1888). The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above proves as essential to salvation as His death upon the cross (Great Controversy, p. 489, 1888). In this light, we step forward transformed, beacons of hope in a weary world.

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SELF-REFLECTION

How can I integrate the Day of Atonement’s rituals into my daily devotions, letting them mold my heart toward greater repentance and trust in God’s atoning work?

How might we present these sanctuary truths accessibly to varied listeners, from lifelong members to curious newcomers, preserving scriptural depth while sparking fresh wonder?

What prevalent misunderstandings about atonement and rest exist in our circles, and how can Scripture alongside Sr. White’s insights dispel them with grace and clarity?

In practical steps, how can our gatherings and personal habits embody these principles, becoming vivid testimonies to God’s loving redemption amid modern haste?