Leviticus 16:29-34 focuses on the people’s response to, and duty on, the Day of Atonement. God stipulated that His children were to keep the Day of Atonement forever (Lev 16:29, 31, 34) in order to remember the atonement. They were to:

1 Remember the atonement solemnly with afflictions of souls (Lev 16:29, 31). To “afflict” has the idea of abasement (the heart’s posture is made low). The person was to see God with humility, recognising his need, reflecting upon the atonement and enjoying the blessings of this day. No work is to be done that day.

For believers today, a similar occasion to reflect upon the atonement is the Lord’s Supper. Before partaking of the Lord’s Supper, we are to prepare ourselves by confessing and repenting of our sins with godly sorrow. When repentance is true, the believer will not justify his sins, but will come with utter humility before the Lord. For those who partake of the Lord’s Supper without examining themselves, the warning is in 1 Corinthians 11:30. Let us be like the Puritans who set apart time daily for self-examination. Let us partake of the Lord’s Supper rightly so that we will experience the forgiveness of our sins and the lifting of our souls.

2 Remember the atonement with holiness (Lev 16:30-33). We become positionally holy before God when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and we are to continue to be sanctified, growing towards spiritual maturity. As God’s people, we are to renew our consecration to the Lord, just as the priests were to have a holy succession, and how the sanctuary, tabernacle and altar were to be cleansed from sin’s defilement. Hence, as we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we must remember the atonement made for us, and we are to live a holy life for Christ, all the days of our pilgrimage on earth. Whenever we read His Word or come into His house, we must remember that we are His holy people, set apart for Him. And we must renew our commitment to be so.

3 Remember the atonement continually (Lev 16:33-34). The Israelites were to have a succession of priests, to ensure that the Day of Atonement was kept forever, for there would never be a time when they did not need the atonement. Likewise, we are to remember the atonement and share this important truth with our next generation, personally teaching them God’s truth, telling them of their need for salvation and repentance, and their need to fear God.

Remember the atonement. Without the atonement, we will be lost in sin, doomed. The atonement enables our sins to be forgiven, and we can be reconciled with God and live a holy life for God.