A couple of months ago, it amazed me that the Lord would place such importance on the observance of the Sabbath day, that it is one of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11)! I understood that the Lord wanted us to rest physically on the 7th day, and consider it holy. As I took time to think through, and with reference to what Jesus said in Mark 2:27, 28, that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, I began to see that the focus was not man but on the Lord, that we are to find our rest in the Lord. In Isaiah 58:13,14, we are told that it is the Lord's holy day that He has chosen for us to honor Him, and not for our own pleasure and ways. It is important to the Lord, so it must be important to us too!
"Sabbath" comes from the Hebrew word shabbâth, meaning, intermission, the day of rest. For most Christians, it is a time to go to church on Sundays, and spending some time in the presence of the Lord. I find it so much more meaningful for the Jews, who observe the Sabbath from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. It was both a remembrance of creation and a remembrance of the nation's deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. The Israelites were also to follow God's example of resting on the 7th day of the creation week. No work was done, nor were there fasting. In fact, it was to be a day of joy, and meals were also more elaborate. It was so wonderful to see families gathering together for the Shabbath meal, and praising and focusing on God!
Though it meant that man is to rest from his labour, it was the attitude in observing the Sabbath - the focus on who God is - that we can trust Him, and set aside a day for quiet worship (Leviticus 23:3). I would truly like to observe the Sabbath as the Jews do - one day set aside to rest and honour the Lord, but then to continue in that attitude of trust and resting in Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, every other day!
No comments:
Post a Comment