Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Solemn Day
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Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, a "solemn day" refers to a designated time of festivity and sacred observance, often marked by specific rituals, sacrifices, and communal gatherings. These days are set apart for worship, reflection, and celebration of God's providence and covenant with His people. The term "solemn" underscores the gravity and reverence associated with these occasions, distinguishing them from ordinary days.

Biblical References and Observances

1. Feast of Unleavened Bread: One of the most significant solemn days in the Hebrew calendar is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows Passover. This week-long observance commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their deliverance by God's mighty hand. Leviticus 23:6-8 states, "On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any ordinary work."

2. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): Another profound solemn day is the Day of Atonement, a time for repentance and reconciliation with God. Leviticus 23:27-28 instructs, "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On this day you shall not do any work, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God."

3. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): This feast is a time of rejoicing and remembrance of God's provision during the Israelites' wilderness journey. Leviticus 23:39 describes it: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you are to celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days. The first day is a solemn rest, and the eighth day is also a solemn rest."

Characteristics of Solemn Days

· Sacred Assemblies: Solemn days often involve gathering the community for worship and instruction. These assemblies are times for the people to come together in unity, acknowledging God's sovereignty and expressing communal faith.

· Rest from Labor: Many solemn days require abstention from regular work, allowing individuals to focus entirely on spiritual matters and the observance of the day. This rest is a reminder of God's creation and His command to honor the Sabbath.

· Offerings and Sacrifices: Ritual offerings and sacrifices are central to solemn days, symbolizing atonement, thanksgiving, and dedication to God. These acts serve as tangible expressions of faith and obedience.

· Joy and Celebration: While solemn days are marked by reverence, they are also times of joy and celebration. The community rejoices in God's blessings, faithfulness, and the hope of His promises.

Theological Significance

Solemn days hold deep theological significance as they reinforce the covenant relationship between God and His people. They serve as reminders of God's past deliverance, His ongoing provision, and the future hope of redemption. Through these observances, believers are called to renew their commitment to God, reflect on His laws, and celebrate His unchanging nature.

In the New Testament, the concept of solemn days is fulfilled in Christ, who embodies the ultimate sacrifice and atonement for sin. Colossians 2:16-17 reflects this fulfillment: "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ."
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Numbers 10:10
Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 9:5
What will you do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Christ Suffered at a Suitable Time?
... according to the rite of the Jewish festivity, the solemnity ... the world by His Passion,
at the time of year ... It is then that day grows upon night; because by our ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered at a.htm

Christmas Day.
... It was very necessary, especially at a time when men ... of the most high God with any
earthly merriment, or festivity? ... that a less portion of the next day can be ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xxii christmas day.htm

Chapter xxxi
... of a later date, the event was quite a festivity (cf ... At the same time Jacob charges
Laban with having been ready ... daughters, what can I do to them this day or to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxi.htm

Sermon at the Faribault Celebration of the Centennial of the ...
... A week was spent in festivity. ... It is ours to work and bide our time; so did our fathers,
and so will ... I should wrong my heart and yours to-day, if I forgot the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whipple/five sermons/ii sermon at the faribault.htm

Special Efforts
... laying, an event which by this time had become ... at the recollection of red letter
days in Salvation festivity. ... ring clear, and she closed the day pointing souls ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/vi special efforts.htm

The Thunderbolt Averted
... even begged Hellebichus to stop and partake in their festivity. ... to many of the people
as though that day they too ... a wan smile for the first time flickered over ...
/.../chapter viii the thunderbolt averted.htm

On Mr. Mccabe and a Divine Frivolity
... To-day it hesitates, lightheartedly enough, but every ... of clergymen have from time
to time reproached me ... is a tense and secret festivity " like preparations ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xvi on mr mccabe and.htm

The Invasion of Greece and the Battle of Marathon.
... them, which they celebrated with great festivity and parade ... that his opinion finally
carried the day, and the ... The two armies were at this time encamped in sight ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter xi the invasion of.htm

The Marriage Feast in Cana of Galilee - the Miracle that is a Sign ...
... At the same time it must be borne in mind ... much higher thoughts than merely those
of festivity and merriment. ... the bridal pair on the marriage-day symbolised the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the marriage feast.htm

The Procession of Amen
... Every possible manifestation of festivity had been sought after ... aromatics drifted
up from them throughout the day. ... By this time the intermittent sound of music ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter iv the procession of.htm

Resources
If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.org

What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.org

On what day was Jesus crucified? | GotQuestions.org

Day: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Day

Day and Night

Day Before the Sabbath

Day of Atonement

Day of Christ

Day of Judgment

Day of Rest

Day of the Lord

Day of Yahweh

Day: A Creative Period

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Gladness

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Good Tidings

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day Which the Lord Has Made

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Good Day

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Solemn Day

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Adversity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Anger

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Calamity

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Darkness

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Destruction

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Evil

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Slaughter

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of The Lord

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Trouble

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Vengeance

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Visitation

Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Wrath

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of God's Power

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Redemption

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Salvation

Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Visitation

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Break of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Decline of

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Evening

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Morning

Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Noon

Day: Artificial, the Time of the Sun's Continuance Above The

Day: Day's Journey, Eighteen or Twenty Miles

Day: Divided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Judgment: A Figure of Spiritual Illumination

Day: Judgment: Called the Day of the Lord

Day: Later Subdivided Into Twelve Hours

Day: Made for the Glory of God

Day: Natural, from Evening to Evening

Day: Proclaims the Glory of God

Day: Prophetic

Day: Prophetical, a Year

Day: Sabbath Day's Journey, About Two-Thousand Paces

Day: Six Working Days Ordained

Day: Sometimes Divided Into Four Parts

Day: Spiritual Light

Day: Succession of, Secured by Covenant

Day: Th Sixth Day of the Week Called Preparation Day

Day: The First Day of the Week Called the Lord's Day

Day: The Light First Called

Day: The Path of the Just

Day: The Time for Labour

Day: Time of Judgment

Day: Time of, Ascertained by the Dial

Day: Times of Adversity Called Day of the Lord

Day: Under the Control of God

Day: Wild Beasts Hide During

Related Terms

Birth-day (2 Occurrences)

Holy-day (2 Occurrences)

To-day (208 Occurrences)

Sabbath-day (23 Occurrences)

Day-time (11 Occurrences)

Noon-day (8 Occurrences)

Day-star (2 Occurrences)

Day's (19 Occurrences)

Feast-day (5 Occurrences)

Judgment-day (4 Occurrences)

Mid-day (4 Occurrences)

Good-day (2 Occurrences)

Day-spring (2 Occurrences)

Festival-day (1 Occurrence)

Fast-day (1 Occurrence)

To-day's (1 Occurrence)

Day-break (1 Occurrence)

Preparation-day (1 Occurrence)

Three-day (2 Occurrences)

Seven-day (2 Occurrences)

Lord's-day (1 Occurrence)

Sabbath-day's (1 Occurrence)

Self-same (17 Occurrences)

Selfsame (18 Occurrences)

Servile (13 Occurrences)

Yesterday (13 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

Sepulcher (48 Occurrences)

Susa (20 Occurrences)

Quail (5 Occurrences)

Quenched (22 Occurrences)

Sailed (28 Occurrences)

Xerxes (24 Occurrences)

Sixth (45 Occurrences)

Sunset (18 Occurrences)

Sailing (23 Occurrences)

Spoiling (20 Occurrences)

Shineth (13 Occurrences)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Vows (38 Occurrences)

Sheaf (11 Occurrences)

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)

Sepulchre (57 Occurrences)

Sorry (27 Occurrences)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Quails (4 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Survived (15 Occurrences)

Succeeding (7 Occurrences)

Shadows (11 Occurrences)

Successful (16 Occurrences)

Swordsmen (8 Occurrences)

Saving (37 Occurrences)

Supposed (19 Occurrences)

Swords (50 Occurrences)

Spear (55 Occurrences)

Sang (28 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Shave (19 Occurrences)

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)

Servant's (29 Occurrences)

Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)

Kindle (25 Occurrences)

Sail (32 Occurrences)

Shouldst (61 Occurrences)

Shore (45 Occurrences)

Saveth (36 Occurrences)

Silent (120 Occurrences)

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Serious (31 Occurrences)

Smiting (76 Occurrences)

Sacred (140 Occurrences)

Homes (43 Occurrences)

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Shine (62 Occurrences)

Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Good Day
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