2990 - Afflict Your Souls by T. E. W.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 11, 1913

2990 — Afflict Your Souls

By T. E. W.

What does it mean to "afflict your souls"? Lev. 16:29. T. E. W.

It simply meant to seek God so earnestly that all sin would be put away, and the soul would be right with God. The Jews fasted and prayed, doubtless confessed their sins. That is all that God asks of His children. To the sensitive soul who feels very keenly, the fasting may not be necessary; but to the one whose heart is hard and who does not recognize the sinfulness of sin, as given in God's Word, it is a good thing to do, to afflict the soul. Let there be fasting; let the mind get cleared up; let the person come to a realization that as without physical food his body would pine and perish, so without the spiritual food from God his soul would perish. But let him do this by faith, and having put away the sin, believe that God forgives.