Fasting on the Day of Atonement

Lev 23:26-32 / Lev 16:29-31 commanded to afflict yourself on the Day of Atonement

Afflict ~ Anah occurs about 80 times in OT is most often translated “humble or affliction”. Used to describe harsh and painful treatment… Egypt afflicting Israel for 400 years… for Sarai dealing harshly with Hagar… to take a woman sexually by force… Frequently the verb expresses the idea that God sends affliction for disciplinary purposes: "... the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart..." (Deut. 8:2)

And in the Day of Atonement observance to afflict oneself is understood to mean to fast, to deny oneself food and water for the entire day. But how do we know that is what Anah means with regards to the Day of Atonement? Couldn’t it be referring to some strange sort of self inflicted penance?

We get the answer from scripture:

There is no word for fasting in the first 8 books of the bible. But as the Hebrew language continued to develop and expand the started to use a separate word for what we know of as fasting (possibly to avoid confusion). That word is tsome (meaning to cover the mouth ie. not let food in). Tsome is always translated fast, fasted, fasting etc.

So, how do we prove that to afflict yourself means to fast?

There are three places in scripture that use the ancient term “anah / affliction” in association with the newer word “tsome / fasting”… Ezra 8:21, Psalm 35:13, Isaiah 58:3,5

One last point… How do we know that means no food or water? Esther 4:16

What are the spiritual implications of fasting on the Day of Atonement?

Grief: Not wanting to eat is a natural response/symptom of grief/loss… it’s a form of mourning/sorrow (use example of Liz Porter). In a religious setting fasting is a conscious act meant to demonstrate or bring forth a sense of grief… especially over sin.

Self Discipline: Fasting is also an expression of spiritual self discipline… exercise in mastery over the flesh (this is how a Buddhist would understand fasting)

Humility: While the newer word tsome / fasting is more descriptive of what is actually done… the ancient word anah is better at drawing our attention to the state of mind the activity is meant to induce. When we afflict ourselves on the Day of Atonement we humble ourselves before God.

Why Fast on the Day of Atonement Rather Than Any Other Holy Day?

Don’t we always want to present ourselves as humble before God? Why then is fasting only commanded on the Day of Atonement rather than another of the Holy days?

First, some back-story: In the grand scheme of God’s plan of salvation the Day of Atonement comes after the return of Christ as king of kings… and before the 1,000 years of Christ’s rule on earth. Atonement marks the occasion of Satan’s future removal from his current position of “God of this world”.

To prepare for the 1,000-year rule of Christ, Satan will be completely removed from the scene. He will be bound in a manner that stops him from influencing humanity for the entire 1,000 year period. Without Satan’s influence, Christ’s government will be a demonstration of God’s way in action before the final stage in God’s plan (the 8th day).

So, why fast on Atonement?

The spiritual qualities of fasting… humility, grief over sin, and self-discipline are key elements to God’s instructions for putting Satan out of our personal lives. And perhaps while we look ahead to Satan’s real removal on that day we should also be thinking of the need to remove him from our lives today in preparation for our future role in the rule of Christ.

God’s Instructions For Driving Satan Away

Satan is more powerful than you and standing up to him can seem impossible… but Jesus Christ is stronger by far… and if He is with you and in you there is nothing to fear. However, we must also do our part in driving Satan out. (use NIV from here on)

• Matthew 4:1-3a Jesus personal example for resisting Satan was to begin with fasting.
• James 4:6-10 Humble yourself… weep and mourn over sin (Godly sorrow leading to purity)
• 1 Peter 5:5-10 humble yourself… sober, vigilant, steadfast in the faith (self-disciplined)

Humility… grief over sin… self-discipline

What Does Humility Do To Drive Satan Away?

To humble yourself before God is to see yourself as lowly in comparison to Him and to submit yourself to Him. I admit that I am nothing with God… I do not have life within myself… I do not have power on my own… I do not have knowledge on my own. What life I have is given to me by Him and sustained by Him… what power I have comes from Him… what knowledge I have comes from Him.

I submit myself to Him even through suffering… I know He is in control wanting only what is good for me

I submit myself to Him to be my guide and teacher in life… I know He is truthful

I submit myself to His judgments… I know He is just and merciful

Psalm 25:8-9 / Dan 10:12

 

This is the opposite of Satan’s grand delusion “I will be like the Most High”

This is the opposite of Humanity’s delusion “you will be like God knowing good and evil”

 

Isaiah 57:15 To humble myself is also an invitation to God to dwell with me and within me

Matt 12:22-29 Satan driven out by a power greater than his own… God’s Holy Spirit moves is Satan moves out!

How Does Fasting Humble Me?

Fasting quickly makes us realize how totally dependent we are upon God your creator. He has stocked the earth with fresh water, plants, fruits and selected meats for you to eat.  But without that food + water He has provided our flesh will die.

Fasting, therefore, reminds us that our present life here on earth is limited… it is physical and temporary. Our real goal is life eternal spirit life. But without the power of His Spirit and His Word we die spiritually.

How Does Self Discipline Drive Out Satan?

In James 4:8 we read:

1. clean your hands from sin… change the way you act using God’s law as your guide
2. purify your thoughts from double-mindedness… (di-suchos) meaning wavering between two spirits… the spirit that is now at work in the children of disobedience… and the spirit of God that is now at work within you. 

Matt 12:42-43 we clean our house to make room for God to dwell there… if we don’t let Him fill us up… if we stay empty... then all the bad stuff we got rid of will come back.

Fill yourself with the word of God… fill yourself with the spirit of God… leave no room for Satan.

Ephesians 6:11-17 truth/righteousness / gospel/faith / salvation/spirit… to put on the armor of God is to fill you mind with these thoughts… and fill your days with these actions.

The self-discipline that drives out Satan is a combination of commitment to and practice of moral behavior as defined by God’s law’s statutes and judgments. It is also a commitment to and an understanding of doctrinal truth… understanding the big picture… the truth… the plan of salvation… the good news of the KOG.

Self-discipline that drives out Satan is a combination of head knowledge… to know and know that you know… and hand knowledge… to know and to do.

I Cor 9:24 -10:7

How Does Fasting Teach Discipline?

Going without food and water goes against our most basic instincts… the self-preservation of the flesh. Your mind might say… I’m going to go without food or water for an entire day… your flesh cries out saying WHY? Why do you want to do this to me?

Successfully fasting shows you that you can exercise control over your desires, wants, and passions. Mastering your appetite for basic sustenance gives you greater confidence that you can move forward in controlling those passions and desires that lead you into sin.

Consider: The first sin was one of desire

… a lust for something to eat “it was good for food”

… an appeal to vanity and pride “desirable to make one wise”

We must be in control of the desires of our flesh and of our mind.

What about Fasting as an act of grief and mourning?

A person does not decide to cast off pride and vanity unless they are convinced that a change in their thinking needs to happen… they are grieved over their foolish vanity.

A person does not begin the difficult course of self-discipline that seeks to control the desires which lead to sin… unless that are convinced that a change needs to happen. Unless they are grieved over their sin.

 2 Corinthians 7:6-11

Lev 16:29-30

This day of atonement let’s fast to remind ourselves of God’s instructions for driving Satan out… humility… Godly sorrow over sin… and self-discipline.