God commands his people to keep the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) as a time the nation gathers before God as one and repents sincerely their known and unknown sins. The Lord commands them to deny themselves and bring a sacrifice to God. This was a time when they realized collectively that they had sinned and took responsibility for each other's sins before God. They were not to work, but spend the day in worship and prayer. We need to take responsibility for our nation's sins, confess them before God, and repent sincerely asking his forgiveness and mercy.

The Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot) was a time of remembering how the Lord had cared for them for 40 years in the wilderness. They were to celebrate this feast after they finished the work of the harvest. They were to cut palm branches and wave them, rejoicing in God's love, protection, and provision. They were to live in temporary shelters to remember their life in the wilderness after God brought them out of 400 years of slavery in Egypt.

Verses 37-38 teaches them to keep these festivals by bringing to God burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, freewill offerings, and vow offerings. A life of grace is marked by thanksgiving and a giving spirit. Let's be such giving, sacrificial people.


Application: Father, thank you for your grace, protection, provision, and your mercy to forgive.
One Word: Commemorate God's grace