Banquet With The King: How to Observe the Sabbath.

Prayer – Lord, You commanded that Your followers observe a Sabbath Day. What day should that be…Saturday, as the seventh day…or Sunday in respect to Your resurrection? Give us wisdom, understanding, and commitment to keeping Your commandments.

The Ten Commandments
Love God...Love Others

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

Meditate. Contemplate your own Sabbath commitment.

How do we observe the Sabbath?

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

Then God gave Moses the Ten Commandments which specifically dedicated the seventh day as the Sabbath.

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? Pray about it and ask for God’s wisdom, understanding, and mercy as you contemplate the Sabbath.

What do you do to observe the Sabbath Day? Isaiah notes that we are to “enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day.”

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. Isaiah 58:13

By observing the Sabbath on Sunday and attending a church service—whether on-line or in person—is a way to focus on the Lord and honoring Him in a holy worship. Some people use the Sabbath to spend the day just reading Scripture and other religious books. No work. No entertainment, like TV or movies. To some people one day is like any other—they work, play and enjoy leisure activities on any days of the week. Others enjoy the Sabbath, after a time of worshipping the Lord, they spend time with family and friends—and that may include watching TV and movies, playing games like baseball, basketball or tennis, swimming or boating in the summertime, or skiing in the winter, and eating good food.

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 the 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, obey, and honor Him.

No matter what day you observe as Sabbath—Shabbat, as a Hebrew custom, is to honor God. The Jewish calendar observes Shabbat from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. They serve a special meal that is all prepared in advance, because they do NO work on Shabbat. Even lighting candles is considered work so those must be lit before sundown. Jews may also attend a religious service in their synagogue and spend special time with family and friends. Studying the Torah and singing Jewish songs are traditional activities for those observing Shabbat. If someone wants to honor God and keep His commandments, then they will observe a Sabbath day.

As you observe the Sabbath, are you honoring God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and your relationship with Him? 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. The important thing may just be to observe God’s commandment.

Verse of Salvation ~ When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

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

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Saturday, January 4, 2025

How to Observe the Sabbath.

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