An Ancient Remedy for Isolation and Loneliness

Modern technology is astounding. With the Internet, we can work from home, choose flexible hours and accomplish an astonishing range of tasks—from banking and shopping to entertainment and communication—all without leaving the house.

Need to deposit a check? Pay a bill? Buy a car or even a house? It can all be done online. The convenience is unparalleled.

But there’s a downside.

Despite our hyperconnectivity, people are lonelier than ever. Many suffer from a deep sense of disconnection and isolation. Many hunger for relationships and don’t have a sense of belonging.

Ironically, even the social media tools designed to connect us have contributed to our growing detachment from one another.

The growing epidemic of loneliness

The trend toward isolation has been building in the United States for decades. In 2000, Robert Putnam noted in his book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community that almost all forms of in-person social interaction were diminishing.

The author’s example of bowling alone came from his finding that while the number of people who bowled in the previous 20 years had increased, fewer were doing so in leagues. This mirrored the loss of membership in many civic organizations, churches, parent-teacher associations and labor unions.

Since then, this trend has only worsened.

In a 2023 report titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” the U.S. surgeon general noted, “In recent years, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic cut off so many of us from friends, loved ones, and support systems, exacerbating loneliness and isolation.”

Loneliness is lethal for both the individual and society. Loneliness puts individuals at greater risk for multiple health problems, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and premature death. In fact, the health impact of loneliness is said to be comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It’s ranked as more harmful than obesity or physical inactivity.

On a societal level, isolation leads to fragmentation and polarization. If we fail to increase our social connections, the surgeon general warned, “we will continue to splinter and divide until we can no longer stand as a community or a country. Instead of coming together to take on the great challenges before us, we will further retreat to our corners—angry, sick, and alone.”

This isn’t just an American problem. It’s one that exists worldwide. A 2021 Statista survey found that Brazil had the highest percentage of people in the world who said they are often lonely. Following Brazil was Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia and Italy. Canada was 16th and the U.S. 17th.

A biblical solution for belonging

The Bible offers powerful solutions to this growing problem. For example, God gave the ancient Israelites a series of festivals designed to foster community, worship and belonging.

When God gave these special days to ancient Israel, He explained that these holy days were to be proclaimed “holy convocations” (Leviticus 23:2, 4). The Hebrew word translated “convocations” is miqra, meaning a sacred assembly.

These assemblies occurred on the weekly seventh-day Sabbath and on annual holy days throughout the year. On these days the Israelites were to abstain from their customary work (verses 3, 7, 8, 21, 25, 28, 35, 36) and gather together to worship God.

Great emphasis was placed upon everyone participating. For example, if someone was unable to observe the Passover because he had touched a human corpse and had therefore become ceremonially unclean, that person could observe it a month later (Numbers 9:9-11). However, anyone who could keep the Passover but refused was to be “cut off from among his people” because of “his sin” (verse 13).

The Day of Atonement was to be observed by fasting (abstaining from food and drink for 24 hours). As such, this day was the one people would be most inclined to skip. But it was not simply an optional observance for those who were willing to endure the hardship. Any Israelite who didn’t fast on this day was to be “cut off from his people” (Leviticus 23:29).

The culmination of God’s annual festivals came after the fall harvest had been gathered. For these holy days, people traveled to the place God had selected for their observance. During the times of the kings, this was Jerusalem.

The fall festivals were particularly joyous—the highlight of the year. People saved up a tenth of their incomes to enjoy the festivals, allowing them to assemble, worship and rejoice before the LORD for the blessings they had received (Deuteronomy 14:22-26).

These festivals point toward a future when people will have the opportunity to live in godly communities based on love, harmony, righteous government, righteous living, opportunity and the sense of belonging to the greatest community of all. Again, there was an emphasis on the entire community observing these days and rejoicing together. The Levites, the strangers, the widows and orphans were to be financially provided for so everyone could rejoice together (verse 29).

These assemblies reminded the Israelites of their special relationship with God, His blessings and their shared identity as His people, united in worship and faith.

A spiritual legacy

When the Israelites observed these commanded assemblies, God wanted them to remember His involvement in creation and in their nation’s history.

In connection with not working on the weekly Sabbath, they were to remember that “in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day” (Exodus 20:11). Resting on the seventh day would imitate what the Creator did.

Deuteronomy 5 also adds that in observing this day, the Israelites were to “remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day” (verse 15).

This astounding miracle of deliverance from slavery—under which they most likely did not have a day of rest—was also connected with the observance of the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:12; Leviticus 23:42-43).

Assembling together to observe God’s holy days enabled the ancient Israelites to remember their history—remember how God had delivered them—thus giving them a strong basis for their identity, a sense of belonging and, most importantly, grateful appreciation of their God.

Sadly, the ancient Israelites largely forgot these instructions. They created their own forms of worship, which included the adoption of pagan practices. Rejection of the seventh-day Sabbath led most of the 12 tribes of Israel to lose their identity and their relationship with God.

Only the tribe of Judah, whose people continued to observe the Sabbath, retained its identity.

Similar benefits of community, with even greater spiritual meaning, are offered to New Testament Christians who observe God’s Sabbath and holy days.

The Christian connection to God’s holy days

Many people mistakenly assume that the festivals God gave ancient Israel were merely ceremonial observances unique to that nation. But the biblical record shows that Jesus, the apostles and the first-century Church continued to observe them—now with added spiritual meaning. For example:

• The observance of Passover is linked with Jesus’ giving His life for the forgiveness of our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).
• The Days of Unleavened Bread remind us to live godly lives (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
• Pentecost commemorates the receiving of the Holy Spirit by those called to form the New Testament Church of God (Acts 2:1-4).
• The Feast of Trumpets pictures Jesus Christ returning to rule the earth (Revelation 11:15).
• The Day of Atonement symbolizes the binding of Satan so humans will no longer be deceived by him and the demons (Revelation 20:1-3).
• The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows Christ’s reign on earth, with the assistance of the saints, for 1,000 years (verse 4).
• The Eighth Day pictures the time of judgment, when every human being who has not fully known God’s commands will be given the opportunity to choose His way and receive eternal life (verses 11-12).

These festivals point toward a future when people will have the opportunity to live in godly communities based on love, harmony, righteous government, righteous living, opportunity and the sense of belonging to the greatest community of all.

The meanings of God’s festivals reveal how He is bringing sons and daughters into His family as spirit beings who will live with Him for eternity. This is the ultimate reason Jesus came to earth—to die as payment for the sins of those who will repent of their sinful way of life so they can become part of this spiritual family.

As John noted: “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Expounding upon this principle, Jesus taught that He was the bread of life and that those believing in Him could have eternal life (John 6:35-40).

Eternal community and purpose in the family of God is the ultimate solution to isolation and loneliness—both now and forever.

The Church of God continues to enjoy the benefits of these festivals today. For further study, see From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.