Prayer
– Lord God, I’ve been confused over the years about celebrating the Sabbath.
Some people say that Christians don’t have to observe Your commandment about
keeping the Sabbath on Saturday—as declared in the Ten Commandments, while
others say that Sunday is the Sabbath since that was the day that Jesus was
raised from the dead. Please give me insight into not only when to observe the
Sabbath, but how to observe it. I certainly don’t want to “work” on Your
Sabbath day…and be put to death for that!
"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, havespoken!" Isaiah
58:13-14Synagogue at Capernaum
Israel
Meditate.
Consider God’s command about the Sabbath.
From where
does celebrating the Sabbath originate? In the beginning, after God created
everything, He rested. He took a break from His work. Resting is an important
part of the Sabbath Day. God declared that day—the seventh day—holy.
So the creation of the heavens and
the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had
finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed
the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested
from all his work of creation. Genesis
2:1-3
The first
time we see an actual Sabbath Day declared is when the children of Israel on
their Exodus pilgrimage complained because they were hungry. God supplied their
needs with manna and quail for six days with twice as much on that sixth day to
last them through the seventh day—the Sabbath.
Then the LORD said to Moses,
"Look, I'm going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the
people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will
test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. On
the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be
twice as much as usual." ... He told them, "This is what the LORD
commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set
apart for the LORD. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside
what is left for tomorrow." So they put some aside until morning, just as
Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and
good, without maggots or odor. Moses said, "Eat this food today, for today
is a Sabbath day dedicated to the LORD. There will be no food on the ground
today. You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the
Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day." Some of the people
went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. The LORD asked
Moses, "How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and
instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath is the LORD's gift to you.
That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be
enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do
not go out to pick up food on the seventh day." So the people did not
gather any food on the seventh day. The Israelites called the food manna. It
was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers. - Exodus
16:4-5, 23-31 NLT
Then God
gave Moses the Ten Commandments which specifically dedicated the seventh day as
the Sabbath.
Remember to observe the Sabbath day
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 day he rested. That is why the
LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Exodus 20:8-11
God was
very specific about His people observing the sabbath and what would happen to
them if they ignored His command. He gave these instructions to the Hebrew
people through Moses at the time that He inscribed the Ten Commandments onto
the sacred stones.
"Tell the people of Israel:
'Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant
between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know
that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. You must keep the Sabbath day, for it
is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone
who works on that day will be cut off from the community. You have six days
each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of
complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on the
Sabbath must be put to death. The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by
observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for
all time. It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For
in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped
working and was refreshed.'" Exodus
31:13-17
Death for
not observing the Sabbath?! That seems pretty serious. Can we assume that God still
holds us to that expectation? On which day are Christians to observe the
Sabbath? Saturday or Sunday? Is another day that is appropriate? We’ll look at
this again soon. In the meantime, pray about it and ask for God’s wisdom,
understanding, and mercy as you contemplate the Sabbath. The decision is your
own as to what you do to observe God’s Day and what day of the week is for your
Sabbath.
Verse
of Salvation ~ Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, "It
was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you
have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer
it to the Gentiles. For the Lord gave us this command when he said, 'I have
made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest
corners of the earth.'" When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad
and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life
became believers. Acts
13:46-48 (Underlined for emphasis.)
© 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.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
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