- Apr 14, 2003
- 7,183
- 1,229
- 71
- Faith
- Protestant
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Democrat
Here is a problem for SDA and others who believe that Saturday worship is laid down in the Ten Commandments and reinforced by the first books of the Old Testament.
The Sabbath Commandment, or the Fourth Commandment, as some Protestants call it, is labor law. The goal is to give everyone a day off. It says nothing about worship, either at home or anywhere else.
There is no doubt that the Levitical priests, sons of Aaron, were commanded to teach the Israelites about God. At the same time, no passage in the OT says anything about this happening at worship services held on Saturday. Or any other day of the week.
8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.”
Leviticus 10:8-11 NIV
9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict. 10 You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the Lord will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do. 11 Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.
Deuteronomy 17: 9-11 NIV
In Deuteronomy 33, as Moses blesses the tribes of Israel:
8 About Levi he said:
“Your Thummim and Urim belong
to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah;
you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
9 He said of his father and mother,
‘I have no regard for them.’
He did not recognize his brothers
or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
and guarded your covenant.
10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob
and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
Deuteronomy 33: 8-10 NIV
There are several references to the Levites, descendants of Aaron, being charged to teach the Israelites. I have not found any passage that says anything about a Sabbath worship service that involves teaching. I haven't seen any passage that says that the Levite priests specifically taught on a Sabbath. They seem to have taught whenever it was convenient to do so.
The Sabbath Commandment, or the Fourth Commandment, as some Protestants call it, is labor law. The goal is to give everyone a day off. It says nothing about worship, either at home or anywhere else.
There is no doubt that the Levitical priests, sons of Aaron, were commanded to teach the Israelites about God. At the same time, no passage in the OT says anything about this happening at worship services held on Saturday. Or any other day of the week.
8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.”
Leviticus 10:8-11 NIV
9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict. 10 You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the Lord will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do. 11 Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.
Deuteronomy 17: 9-11 NIV
In Deuteronomy 33, as Moses blesses the tribes of Israel:
8 About Levi he said:
“Your Thummim and Urim belong
to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah;
you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
9 He said of his father and mother,
‘I have no regard for them.’
He did not recognize his brothers
or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
and guarded your covenant.
10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob
and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
Deuteronomy 33: 8-10 NIV
There are several references to the Levites, descendants of Aaron, being charged to teach the Israelites. I have not found any passage that says anything about a Sabbath worship service that involves teaching. I haven't seen any passage that says that the Levite priests specifically taught on a Sabbath. They seem to have taught whenever it was convenient to do so.
