Numbers 29:1-11 – Day of Atonement
There are more sacred assemblies in the seventh month than in any other month partly because it is considered the first month in the civil laws of the jubilees and years of release, but also because it is the time of rest between harvest and seedtime, when they have the most leisure to attend the sanctuary, which shows that the more leisure we have from the pressing concerns of this life the more time we should spend in the immediate service of God. Care is taken that the sacrifices described here should not supersede the daily and monthly sacrifices. We must not look for reasons or excuses to not worship God, but rather rejoice in all the extra opportunities we have to worship. If we perform family worship, we must not think that this will excuse us from our private worship; nor that on the days we go to church we need not worship God alone and with our families; but we should always abound in the work of the Lord. Besides all the services of the day of atonement, here are burnt-offerings ordered to be offered. For in our faith and repentance, those two great gospel graces which are signified by the day of atonement, we must have an eye to the glory and honour of God, which is purely intended in the burnt-offerings. There is also to be a sin-offering, besides the great sin-offering of atonement, which shows that even in our repentance there is sin. Though we must not repent that we have repented, yet we must repent that we have not repented better. It also shows the imperfection of the sacrifices, and their insufficiency to take away sin, that on the very day the sin-offering of atonement is offered, there must be another sin-offering. But what the sacrifices could not do, that Christ has done.
Question
- What sacrifices are they not to leave out?
- Who was the perfect sacrifice?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.