Sabbath For You?

Prayer – Lord, once again I’m looking forward to the Sabbath Day. When? Where? What? These are all good questions. Please give me wisdom and understanding. 

"Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don't pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD's holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don't follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the LORD will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the LORD, have spoken!" Isaiah 58:13-14

 

Meditate. Consider what the Sabbath is to you.

 

Sunset to sunset 

When do you recognize the Sabbath? The Jews celebrate Shabbat beginning on Friday at sunset and ending at sunset on Saturday. It is their day of rest—just as God declared after six days of creation. He rested. One of the Ten Commandments is to keep the Sabbath.

Remember to observe The Sabbath by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated. To the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh the day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy Exodus 20:8-11

Most Christians regard Sunday as the Sabbath since that was the day Jesus rose from the dead. But what about those whose jobs require them to work on Saturday or Sunday? The pastors at the church I attend celebrate their Sabbath on other days…Monday and Fridays. A friend of mine is very dedicated to observing her Sabbath on Thursday—a total day of REST beginning at sunset on Wednesday and ending at sunset on Thursday. Counting those hours is the same as the Jewish tradition of noting time—just as God did when He began Creation with the creation of light. See Genesis 1:5–evening passed and morning came marking the first day. My friend turns off her phone—no electronics—she rests, prays, and focuses on God and His Word. Another friend declared her Sabbath with no work—no play only solemn rest, and Bible study in devotion to God. Yet another acquaintance was all about honoring God on her Sabbath with no work and all play, rest, relax, annd rejoice in God’s creation. Each honored God in their own way. 

Personally, I observe the Sabbath on Sunday and I do no “work” —like housework, laundry, or strenuous exercise—but a good nap, reading a book by a Christian author, and enjoying God’s creation with a nice walk or family time is time well spent towards honoring our creator and my Savior. That provides a refreshing day—just like God. See Exodus 31:13-17.  Still I wonder if I’m keeping God’s Sabbath the way He intended. In that passage the punishment for working on the Sabbath would be to be put to he individual to death. Is that a spiritual death resulting in eternal separation from God? God is a spiritual being and works in the spiritual realm. We can only trust Him…and obey. So—what is your choice. Will you observe the Sabbath this week…and if so, how and when?

Verse of Salvation ~ This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. so remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and putting on the armor of drift living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for small to see. Don’t participate in the darkness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:11-14.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Are you my supper?
Goat is acceptable kosher food. 

What food were the Jews to eat or not eat? Moses gave God’s dietary instructions for the children of Israel long after the creation of pure animals and after the time of Noah. In his book What Would Jesus Eat? Don Colbert, M.D. suggests that by the time of the Exodus the disease levels from bacteria, parasites, viruses and toxins to man had risen to a dangerous level. God gave Moses the dietary laws to protect His people…and mankind. Those laws are recorded for us in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

 

To keep a kosher diet, we may eat beef or oxen, sheep, goats, deer, antelope, llamas, alpacas and buffalo—land animals with split hooves which chew their cud. Aquatic animals may be eaten if they have fins and scales. By God’s law given through Moses, His people are not to eat lizard type animals, swine, rabbits, camel, rock badgers, marine animals without scales or fins (no eels), vultures and numerous other birds, most winged insects, and animals that walk on all fours. 

Of course, Jesus declared all foods acceptable when He said that it is not what goes into a person but what comes out of them that defiles a person. 

It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart. Mark 7:15

Have you ever eaten goat meat? My husband recently had a goat meat entree at a local Indian restrautant, Love Curry. It was very tasty. Of course, it is all in the seasoning of the meat using mostly curry ingredients like ginger, turmeric, chilis, fennel, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, garlic, pepper, and cashews. Garnished with cilantro. Served with plain rice, yogurt, and naan bread. A wonderful meal. A true feast with the King.

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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