 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Keeping the Sabbath Holy Part 1 |
Let's look at what the Scriptures reveal about the Sabbath. The Hebrew
noun sabbat is rooted in the verb sabat which means to rest, to cease or
be still and is used to denote the action of celebrating the seventh day
Sabbath. The Sabbath day of rest was very important to the L-rd and to
His relationship with His people.
Gen. 2:2 record that G-d rested on the seventh day. Then G-d blessed
the seventh day, setting it apart as a day for one to receive the fullness
of His favor. The Hebrew word gadas means to set apart as holy or set
apart from ordinary use for G-d's unique purposes. On the Sabbath, G-d
intended for us to experience optimum physical and spiritual rest.
The next mention of the Sabbath occurs in Exodus 16:1-30. Here we
have the story of G-d providing the manna every morning. On the sixth
day G-d provided twice as much as on the other days. On the 7th day
there would be no manna. The seventh day was set apart as a day of
rest, not a day for gathering or cooking. It was more than just a day off.
It was a day to focus on the L-rd, trusting Him for provision and
remembering who they are as G-d's people. In the weeks, moths and
years to come, the manna schedule would be a training opportunity for
Israel, each week's provision being a reminder of the Sabbath and the
command to set aside that day to the Lord. Their trust in the L-rd and
His provision was so important that G-d commended them to keep a jar
of manna as a reminder to future generations (Ex. 16:31-35). This manna
was kept in a golden jar in the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle.
The L-rd used several opportunities to get the point across about the
Sabbath. Ex. 16:23. He instructed the Israelites before they came to
Mt. Sinai. At Mt. Sinai Ex. 20:8-11 G-d gives the fourth commandment.
In Ex. 31:12-17 the Sabbath is given as a sign of the covenant. Ex. 23:12
points out the need for rest and refreshment for any and all. G-d wants
clear understanding about this unique day for everyone. Ex. 20's
commandment literally reads keep on remembering the Sabbath. It was
to be a day of no work whatsoever by anyone; no family member, no
servant, no traveler or stranger residing with a family. Even the animals
were to rest. This was life G-'ds way and it was meant to bless and
enhance the life journey with G-d.
Forty years at Mount Sinai, Moses repeats the ten commandments to the
generation about to go into the Promised Land. Deut 5:12-15. There is
a slight change in the command. Now instead of using remember, Moses
calls them to observe the Sabbath day. He tells them to remember their
days of servitude and treat others in light of that. Sabbath was a
continual sign of the covenant with G-d. It was a weekly reminder to
the children of G-d that they were a people set apart from all other
nations. To violate the sabbath was directly insulting to G-d. It is a
statement of mistrust in the L-rd as provider. We owe our lives and
existence to G-d just as the Israelites did. Because the L-rd saw
violating the Sabbath as breaking the covenant and thus as an act against
Him personally, it meant death.
Num. 15:32-36 describes a violation of the Sabbath command. A man
gathered firewood on the Sabbath day. They brought him to Moses,
Aaron and the congregation, who then put him in custody. The L-rd
declared to Moses that the man should be executed by stoning. In
obedience, the people took the man outside of camp and carried out
the sentence. This may sound harsh until we understand the nature of
the sin. This man knew the command and its consequence, yet he made
a brazen choice to openly disobey G-d, in public, for anyone to see.
The penalty for such a treasonous attitude and action against the L-rd
and the covenant was death. This man displayed a proud, arrogant
disdain for the law and for G-d. In his rebellious actions, he was
despising the word of the L-rd and blaspheming the L-rd. These sins are
worthy of death in the covenant of Mt. Sinai. In Isa. 58:13-14 we see
that Israel had fallen away from honor of the Sabbath. G-d uses Isaiah to
call the people back. The people were doing their own pleasures on the
Sabbath. They were living for themselves. This included following
their own ways (going against or ignoring G-d's ways), seeking their own
pleasures on the Sabbath. They were living for themselves. This
included following their own ways (going against or ignoring G-d's ways),
seeking their own pleasure (doing what pleased them and not what was
pleasing to G-d), and speaking their own word (engaging in empty talk,
conversation void of G-d and His will that was not beneficial to them or
a blessing to G-d). Everything; direction, desire, deeds and words were
self centered, self focused, and self pleasing rather than G-d centered.
G-d instructs them to turn their feet; meaning to do an about face and
begin to make the Sabbath a day of delight in the L-rd, worshiping Him
in holiness and seeking to honor Him. If they would do this G-d
promised to make them "ride on the heights of the earth" as victors and
to fee d them "with the heritage of Jacob." This meant that all the
promises made to Jacob would be theirs. G-d never intended for the
Sabbath to be a day of gloom, but a day of rejoicing in Him.
G-d also called Jeremiah about a 100 years later to speak to the people
because they had fallen away again. Jeremiah 17:19-27 the people
were working on the Sabbath just as they would on any other day.
Carrying loads between the fields and the city and even buying and
selling in Jerusalem. The L-rd warned them to guard their ways and stop
the work. They did not listen or show any interest. In fact, they
stubbornly turned away from listening to the L-rd and would not correct
their behavior. The L-rd again promised that if they would obey and
cease working on the Sabbath, He would bless them. He would bless
their businesses with prosperity and their lives would be marked by
joyful worship of G-d. If they would not listen destruction awaited
them.
Because of their sin and rebellion Judah went into captivity in Babylon.
Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. After 70 years a remnant
returned to Jerusalem with Nehemiah. The Sabbath continued to be an
issue. Nehemiah 13:15-22, Nehemiah sees the people working in the
fields, the wine presses and the market places. They were buying and
selling on the Sabbath. Nehemiah rebuked the leaders for profaning the
Sabbath. Nehemiah took control, commanding that the gates of
Jerusalem be closed from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.
His servants stood guard. He also commanded the Levites to act as the
gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day.
The Jews measured their days from sundown to sundown, rather from
dawn to dawn, or midnight to midnight; the Sabbath began at sundown
on Friday. To signal its beginning, a priest stood on the corner of the
Temple wall and blew a trumpet. The Mishnah records in Sukkah 5:5
that he would blow three blasts to signal the end of the work day
Friday, and then another three to move from the ordinary day into the
sacred Sabbath. The priest would also blow a trumpet to signal the end
of the Sabbath Saturday at sundown. Then fires could be lit and meals
cooked, because the new week had begun.
The Sabbath principle of resting one day out of the week has several
benefits. It is for enhancing relationships with G-d, with others, and for
intensifying reverence for G-d and His Word. It aids focused reflection
on our relationship with G-d, on the meaning and application of His
Word. It gives us time to evaluate and gain perspective on the past 6
days as well as think ahead to the next 6 days. We need a break
physically, to refresh us spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Where we have strayed from G-d's plans and priorities, it provides a
time to return, to adjust our attitudes and our actions, and to attune our
schedules and our lifestyles with what He wants.
noun sabbat is rooted in the verb sabat which means to rest, to cease or
be still and is used to denote the action of celebrating the seventh day
Sabbath. The Sabbath day of rest was very important to the L-rd and to
His relationship with His people.
Gen. 2:2 record that G-d rested on the seventh day. Then G-d blessed
the seventh day, setting it apart as a day for one to receive the fullness
of His favor. The Hebrew word gadas means to set apart as holy or set
apart from ordinary use for G-d's unique purposes. On the Sabbath, G-d
intended for us to experience optimum physical and spiritual rest.
The next mention of the Sabbath occurs in Exodus 16:1-30. Here we
have the story of G-d providing the manna every morning. On the sixth
day G-d provided twice as much as on the other days. On the 7th day
there would be no manna. The seventh day was set apart as a day of
rest, not a day for gathering or cooking. It was more than just a day off.
It was a day to focus on the L-rd, trusting Him for provision and
remembering who they are as G-d's people. In the weeks, moths and
years to come, the manna schedule would be a training opportunity for
Israel, each week's provision being a reminder of the Sabbath and the
command to set aside that day to the Lord. Their trust in the L-rd and
His provision was so important that G-d commended them to keep a jar
of manna as a reminder to future generations (Ex. 16:31-35). This manna
was kept in a golden jar in the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle.
The L-rd used several opportunities to get the point across about the
Sabbath. Ex. 16:23. He instructed the Israelites before they came to
Mt. Sinai. At Mt. Sinai Ex. 20:8-11 G-d gives the fourth commandment.
In Ex. 31:12-17 the Sabbath is given as a sign of the covenant. Ex. 23:12
points out the need for rest and refreshment for any and all. G-d wants
clear understanding about this unique day for everyone. Ex. 20's
commandment literally reads keep on remembering the Sabbath. It was
to be a day of no work whatsoever by anyone; no family member, no
servant, no traveler or stranger residing with a family. Even the animals
were to rest. This was life G-'ds way and it was meant to bless and
enhance the life journey with G-d.
Forty years at Mount Sinai, Moses repeats the ten commandments to the
generation about to go into the Promised Land. Deut 5:12-15. There is
a slight change in the command. Now instead of using remember, Moses
calls them to observe the Sabbath day. He tells them to remember their
days of servitude and treat others in light of that. Sabbath was a
continual sign of the covenant with G-d. It was a weekly reminder to
the children of G-d that they were a people set apart from all other
nations. To violate the sabbath was directly insulting to G-d. It is a
statement of mistrust in the L-rd as provider. We owe our lives and
existence to G-d just as the Israelites did. Because the L-rd saw
violating the Sabbath as breaking the covenant and thus as an act against
Him personally, it meant death.
Num. 15:32-36 describes a violation of the Sabbath command. A man
gathered firewood on the Sabbath day. They brought him to Moses,
Aaron and the congregation, who then put him in custody. The L-rd
declared to Moses that the man should be executed by stoning. In
obedience, the people took the man outside of camp and carried out
the sentence. This may sound harsh until we understand the nature of
the sin. This man knew the command and its consequence, yet he made
a brazen choice to openly disobey G-d, in public, for anyone to see.
The penalty for such a treasonous attitude and action against the L-rd
and the covenant was death. This man displayed a proud, arrogant
disdain for the law and for G-d. In his rebellious actions, he was
despising the word of the L-rd and blaspheming the L-rd. These sins are
worthy of death in the covenant of Mt. Sinai. In Isa. 58:13-14 we see
that Israel had fallen away from honor of the Sabbath. G-d uses Isaiah to
call the people back. The people were doing their own pleasures on the
Sabbath. They were living for themselves. This included following
their own ways (going against or ignoring G-d's ways), seeking their own
pleasures on the Sabbath. They were living for themselves. This
included following their own ways (going against or ignoring G-d's ways),
seeking their own pleasure (doing what pleased them and not what was
pleasing to G-d), and speaking their own word (engaging in empty talk,
conversation void of G-d and His will that was not beneficial to them or
a blessing to G-d). Everything; direction, desire, deeds and words were
self centered, self focused, and self pleasing rather than G-d centered.
G-d instructs them to turn their feet; meaning to do an about face and
begin to make the Sabbath a day of delight in the L-rd, worshiping Him
in holiness and seeking to honor Him. If they would do this G-d
promised to make them "ride on the heights of the earth" as victors and
to fee d them "with the heritage of Jacob." This meant that all the
promises made to Jacob would be theirs. G-d never intended for the
Sabbath to be a day of gloom, but a day of rejoicing in Him.
G-d also called Jeremiah about a 100 years later to speak to the people
because they had fallen away again. Jeremiah 17:19-27 the people
were working on the Sabbath just as they would on any other day.
Carrying loads between the fields and the city and even buying and
selling in Jerusalem. The L-rd warned them to guard their ways and stop
the work. They did not listen or show any interest. In fact, they
stubbornly turned away from listening to the L-rd and would not correct
their behavior. The L-rd again promised that if they would obey and
cease working on the Sabbath, He would bless them. He would bless
their businesses with prosperity and their lives would be marked by
joyful worship of G-d. If they would not listen destruction awaited
them.
Because of their sin and rebellion Judah went into captivity in Babylon.
Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. After 70 years a remnant
returned to Jerusalem with Nehemiah. The Sabbath continued to be an
issue. Nehemiah 13:15-22, Nehemiah sees the people working in the
fields, the wine presses and the market places. They were buying and
selling on the Sabbath. Nehemiah rebuked the leaders for profaning the
Sabbath. Nehemiah took control, commanding that the gates of
Jerusalem be closed from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.
His servants stood guard. He also commanded the Levites to act as the
gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day.
The Jews measured their days from sundown to sundown, rather from
dawn to dawn, or midnight to midnight; the Sabbath began at sundown
on Friday. To signal its beginning, a priest stood on the corner of the
Temple wall and blew a trumpet. The Mishnah records in Sukkah 5:5
that he would blow three blasts to signal the end of the work day
Friday, and then another three to move from the ordinary day into the
sacred Sabbath. The priest would also blow a trumpet to signal the end
of the Sabbath Saturday at sundown. Then fires could be lit and meals
cooked, because the new week had begun.
The Sabbath principle of resting one day out of the week has several
benefits. It is for enhancing relationships with G-d, with others, and for
intensifying reverence for G-d and His Word. It aids focused reflection
on our relationship with G-d, on the meaning and application of His
Word. It gives us time to evaluate and gain perspective on the past 6
days as well as think ahead to the next 6 days. We need a break
physically, to refresh us spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Where we have strayed from G-d's plans and priorities, it provides a
time to return, to adjust our attitudes and our actions, and to attune our
schedules and our lifestyles with what He wants.
Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007