6. THE HEART OF A SERVANT

6. THE HEART OF A SERVANT

The Proclamation of the Jewish high holidays (Leviticus 23:23-32)

1. The sequence of the Jewish holiday observances:

● The blowing of the trumpets. This was the original Shofar (Ram’s horn), and it was sometime in August. The ram’s horn was caught in the thicket to provide the substitute for Isaac; it was saying – atonement, substitution.

● Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year on our calendar, usually in September (Leviticus 23:24).

● The 10 days of Awe. These days were getting them ready for the day of Atonement.

● Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.

2. The distinctions of the Jewish holiday observances:

● Neither was related to historical events. They were not connected to anything else on their calendar.

● Neither was a joyful celebration. On day 1 to day 10, the Jewish people become more solemn than any other time of the year. It is a time of absolute introspection and self-examination. They are to ready themselves for the absolute judgment of God. It emphasized holiness.

3. The purposes of the Jewish holiday observances:

● Rosh Hashanah: to urge the return to God and to stress God’s mercy and willingness to receive the penitent, forgive their sins, and grant them a clean slate. It was their opportunity to have an absolutely clean slate. This was commanded by God. They had the opportunity to come before God, and have complete forgiveness of sin upon confession, and be set free as acceptable to God. The focal passage for this observance was and still is Isaiah 1:18-20a.

There was a ceremony called “Tashlich” and many would go on that particular day for this ceremony to a body of water; stand by it, pull their pockets outside, and empty their crumbs into the water. This commerated to them that even God would release them from the crumbs of their lives down in the bottom of their pockets. To even the very least, or the greatest of transgressions, they would be cleansed, and the slate would be clean.

Micah 7:19; Psalm 103 – God is honored by us bringing Him what is in the very bottom of our pockets that no one can see. God says “I will take it, and I will cast it so far from you, it will be in the depths of the sea.”

● The Days of Awe: to give people time to respond to a merciful God. The 10 days were the last chance. Return to God. He is merciful to you. Go home to Him.

●Yom Kippur: to allow a last chance for repentance, to close the gates and the books, and to pass judgment. This was a most sacred day. Based on those 10 Days of Awe, God would decide how their entire year was going to go the next year. “Return to me. Be reasonable. I wait to forgive your sins.” The focal Scripture for this observance was and still is Jonah. It is the book of second chances and returning to God. The book of Jonah represents the second chance God gives to His people.

Present parallels to the Jewish High Holidays

1. The blowing of the horn was John the Baptist. He announced the coming of a new day and was called to prepare the people to respond (Luke 1:67-69; 76-79). The horn (Shofar) was of salvation. John called the people of God to return to God.

2. Rosh Hashanah: the New Year: Christ ushered in the New Year (Luke 4:14-20). Jesus came and said “Happy New Year. I AM on the premises. I AM the Son of God.” It was the call of “Come, let us reason together.”

3. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement: the ultimate Day of Atonement will be the return of Christ to judge the earth (Revelation 20:11-15). This is the last time the books will be left opened for the final Day of Atonement. They will be shut and there will be no more. This is the final ultimate judgment, and it is still before us.

A. The Acceptable Year of the Lord has come.

B. The Day of Atonement stands before us.

C. We are living in the Days of Awe.

4. The Days of Awe: What must we know? (2 Peter 3:1-15)

● (1) Many will doubt His coming (2 Peter 3:4). Not only unbelievers, but believers will doubt His coming as well. We will live lives that will appear that we will doubt His coming. It is a fact that Christ is coming back.

● (2) The future judgment on this earth is as certain as the historical judgment of the flood (2 Peter 3:4-7).

● (3) He waits because He loves. If He keeps you waiting, there is purpose in that (2 Peter 3:9). It is not His will for anyone to perish. It is called “grace.” Unmerited favor.

● (4) The wait will end unexpectedly.

● (5) The day will bring unparalleled judgment. In the New International Version “destruction” is translated from the Greek word “apoleia.” Its definition contains three key words: Realization, Loss, and Waste.

A. Realization – there is coming a time when every single person, who did not receive Christ, will suddenly have the realization, that they are lost. They are going to get in hell, and go “What have I done?”

B. Loss – an awareness of complete loss.

C. Waste – It does not matter how many lofty goals we have done for the good of mankind, if we have missed salvation; everything in our lives, all of the blood, sweat, and tears, will be a waste. What a sobering thought.

● (6) In response we must live holy and godly lives. You must do everything you can to be part of the lost coming to God, and you must do absolutely nothing to hinder them. The most important issue in life is that we pray for the lost.

The victory is in God’s Word!