Topic: Honour The Lord’s Day [Monday June 12, 2017]
Text: Leviticus 23:23-32
Key Verse: “It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath” (Leviticus 23:32).
It is often easier for people to comply with man-made rules than obey the perfect will of God. The rules of man clearly appeal to the carnal senses of man, but to obey God will entail a certain spiritual transformation. Yet, without obeying God, no man has a chance of escaping divine judgement. The children of Israel were instructed by God to observe the Sabbath day. It was clearly spelt out that they should do no servile work on that day but to reverentially worship the Lord.
The day of Atonement was a time to set aside all thoughts and actions that typically fill the day and consider one’s relationship with God. This was to be a time to humble oneself and to remember that people who want to follow God must realign their lives with Him. The memorial blowing of trumpets was to serve the dual purpose of announcing the commencement of the New Year, which was to be religiously observed and of preparing the people for the approaching solemn feast of trumpets. This occurred on the first day of the seventh month, now regarded as the first month.
The year of jubilee was to begin with this month which was the Jews’ new year day. It was to be as other yearly Sabbaths namely: a day of holy rest and a day of holy work. The only peculiar festival was the memorial of blowing of trumpets. Though they blew the trumpet every new moon, but in the seventh month, it was to be done with more than ordinary solemnity, starting from sunrise to sunset thereby preventing all manner of work and not only from servile works as on other annual festivals. It must be as strict a rest as that of the weekly Sabbath. To become a believer requires that a sinner or sincere seeker humbles his soul and repent from all sins. This must be done whole-heatedly.
Thereafter, he is expected to honour the Lord all through life. We lay aside all worldly business on the Lord’s day and dedicate ourselves to honour, worship and reverence God. We obey all He has commanded us, lean on Him for guidance and strength to live right, and follow Him unreservedly, all our lives.
Thought for the day: God honours those that reverence Him.
Bible Reading in one Year: Job 16-18
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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