A Sabbath of rest to YHWH

gadar perets

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Shabbat shalom all! I just came across something as I was studying Exodus 35:2 that I had not considered before.

Exo 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to YHWH (laYHWH): whosoever does work therein shall be put to death.
I used to think "to YHWH" meant in His honor or something similar. I searched for "sabbath of rest" in eSword and noticed Leviticus 25:4.

Lev 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land (laaretz), a sabbath for YHWH (laYHWH): you shall neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
If the phrase "a sabbath of rest uno the land" means the land gets to rest, wouldn't the phrase "a Sabbath of rest to YHWH" mean YHWH gets to rest? If so, does our working on the weekly Sabbath or Sabbatical year cause YHWH to not rest?
 

Messerve

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I guess the question would be, what work is YHWH doing that relates to our jobs during the week? I'm not sure how to answer that...

The land resting is obvious. We aren't walking on it, plowing it, building buildings or driving all over. So it gets a chance to recuperate in a sense. However, YHWH resting is much more mysterious. When we plow, build, drive, walk, etc are we requiring something of YHWH or putting demands on YHWH somehow? Or is it the lack of YHWH-focused worship during the week which requires mercy shown to us and from which YHWH gets a break when we set aside a day especially for that purpose and make that our prime focus?
 
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DennisTate

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On one level if we will attempt to observe the Sabbath Messiah Yeshua - Jesus will be able to teach us many things that will give the Father joy...... because we will be given wisdom to know how to lead people to our Creator.... which will give God joy.

On the other hand if we break the Sabbath and miss the opportunity to learn how to mentor and teach others...... we actually cause some grief to our Creator who would so love to use us to assist others.


Isaiah 63:9
In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.


Psa 95:10

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:


Mar 3:5
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched itout: and his hand was restored whole as the other.


Hebrews 3:10
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.


Heb 3:17
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
 
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chunkofcoal

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Shabbat shalom all! I just came across something as I was studying Exodus 35:2 that I had not considered before.

Exo 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to YHWH (laYHWH): whosoever does work therein shall be put to death.
I used to think "to YHWH" meant in His honor or something similar. I searched for "sabbath of rest" in eSword and noticed Leviticus 25:4.

Lev 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land (laaretz), a sabbath for YHWH (laYHWH): you shall neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
If the phrase "a sabbath of rest uno the land" means the land gets to rest, wouldn't the phrase "a Sabbath of rest to YHWH" mean YHWH gets to rest? If so, does our working on the weekly Sabbath or Sabbatical year cause YHWH to not rest?
It makes me think about these verses where their fasting was not to the LORD:
Zec 7:5-6 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? (6) And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
Also:
Isa 58:3-7 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. (4) Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. (5) Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? (6) Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? (7) Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?


If their fasting was not to the LORD, then could ones sabbath of rest also not be to the LORD?
 
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gadar perets

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If their fasting was not to the LORD, then could ones sabbath of rest also not be to the LORD?
There is no doubt about it. The same holds true for many works done "to YHWH" if done through hypocrisy or for the wrong reason.

Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Even prayers and giving offerings to YHWH can be 'not unto YHWH' when done for the wrong reason.

Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.​

Mark 12:40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Anything done unto YHWH should not be done unto men so that we receive their praise rather than YHWH's.

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;​
 
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gadar perets

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When we plow, build, drive, walk, etc are we requiring something of YHWH or putting demands on YHWH somehow?
That is the heart of my question. I would think He works to keep us safe when we are working, but if we are resting, He can rest as well. Perhaps He must work in other ways as well.
 
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Messerve

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I would imagine that a greater spiritual battle is being fought during our working hours as we interact with the world, also, as opposed to when we are with other believers or at home with our families. Not that a spiritual battle doesn't happen there, too...
 
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Mercy74

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That is the heart of my question. I would think He works to keep us safe when we are working, but if we are resting, He can rest as well. Perhaps He must work in other ways as well.
We should "remember" the Sabbath and keep it holy. We know anything we remember, we know the day has already occurred. We know the Creator rested since the begining when He completed all of His work, YHWH rested on the seventh day. On the 8th day after the Sabbath, a boy child that is born must be circumcised. Much in the same way, we have only six days to finish all of our work. Israel had a six day war with her enemies in 1967.
 
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chunkofcoal

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That is the heart of my question. I would think He works to keep us safe when we are working, but if we are resting, He can rest as well. Perhaps He must work in other ways as well.
Does God need to rest? To me that idea puts limits on His ability.

But there are two different kinds of "rest" - the Sabbath rest, and the "rest" like in this verse -
Psa 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest (menuchah).
 
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gadar perets

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Does God need to rest? To me that idea puts limits on His ability.
He certainly does not need a physical rest since He is not a physical being, but perhaps there is a different kind of rest that spiritual beings can enter. Not only did YHWH "rest" on the seventh day, but He was "refreshed" (Exodus 31:17). Perhaps He did not "need" it, but He certainly took it and seemed to enjoy it.

But there are two different kinds of "rest" - the Sabbath rest, and the "rest" like in this verse -
Psa 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest (menuchah).
We are told He "rested" on the Sabbath. It was a Sabbath rest that He kept. The "rest" of Psalm 95:11 is the ultimate Sabbath rest of Hebrews 4:9 which is called a "sabbatismos" in Greek.
 
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Dave-W

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On the 8th day after the Sabbath, a boy child that is born must be circumcised.
NO. It is the 8th day after the birth.

John 7:22
For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man
 
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Francis Drake

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If the phrase "a sabbath of rest uno the land" means the land gets to rest, wouldn't the phrase "a Sabbath of rest to YHWH" mean YHWH gets to rest? If so, does our working on the weekly Sabbath or Sabbatical year cause YHWH to not rest?
Surely God has no need of rest.
Psalm121v4Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
 
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gadar perets

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Surely God has no need of rest.
Psalm121v4Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
Sleeping is not what the Sabbath rest is all about. It is about ceasing from work.
 
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gadar perets

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Sabbath rest to YHVH
Sabbath rest for man

For indicates who benefits, to indicates the focus.
Who/what is benefiting in Lev 25:4? The land is benefiting from the rest and "to" is used.

But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land (laaretz), a sabbath to YHWH (laYHWH): you shall neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
Can you show me a verse where "for" or "for man" is used in the OT showing man is the beneficiary of the Sabbath? There may very well be one, but I can't find it. Without one your statement cannot be true.
 
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Mercy74

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Are you saying all boys should be circumcised on the first day of the week?
Every boy must be circumcised on the 8th day after birth, as the scriptures say. Of course the Sabbath has already occurred on the seventh day after creation. So circumcision occurs after YHWH rested since the beginning.
 
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Mercy74

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Does God need to rest? To me that idea puts limits on His ability.

But there are two different kinds of "rest" - the Sabbath rest, and the "rest" like in this verse -
Psa 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest (menuchah).
There is a place of rest (Hebrews 3:11).
 
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Mercy74

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Who/what is benefiting in Lev 25:4? The land is benefiting from the rest and "to" is used.

But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land (laaretz), a sabbath to YHWH (laYHWH): you shall neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
Can you show me a verse where "for" or "for man" is used in the OT showing man is the beneficiary of the Sabbath? There may very well be one, but I can't find it. Without one your statement cannot be true.
The Sabbath was made after man was created, man was not created after Sabbath.
 
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