Shadow Of The Sabbath

The Shadow Of The Sabbath
Colossians 2:16, 17. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbath, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body of Christ.

Comprehending how the Sabbath is a shadow of things to come requires a perfect comprehension of the Sabbath itself. Many are locked in to the idea that the Sabbath is the one day of the week for cessation of work. If that were true, there would only be nine commandments during the other six days of the week. Look closely at how the command is stated:

Exodus 20:8. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

To remember-zakar- the Sabbath to keep it holy is a daily activity. For example, you are a contractor who is constantly bidding on work, managing on going projects and maintaining schedules. To keep the Sabbath holy requires you to remember every day that the Sabbath must be considered as you accomplish your daily planning. Completion dates are critical to avoid penalties, and if you truly keep the Sabbath holy, you cannot expect hired workers to be on projects while you rest.

Exodus 20:10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

For this reason the Sabbath becomes the day that fills all days, that daily occupies the thoughts and ‘forward thinking’ of the observant. Furthermore, zakar means much more than simply to remember. The correct comprehension is *‘to perpetuate the memory of’, and therefore includes carrying forward the memory and passing your love for the Sabbath to others, and the next generation.

With the full comprehension of the Sabbath, the shadow of the Sabbath is easily understood. What the Sabbath foreshadows is obviously that day when time is no more, when we enter into the Lord’s rest perpetually. When there is no more death, no night, no sun or new moon.

Just the Presence of our Holy God, and His Berit Shalom Shabbat.

Finally, it is noteworthy that there is no mention of Sabbath in the book of Revelation. Not in the promises to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3. Not in the final visions of the consummation of the age and the new world to come in chapters 21 and 22.

Let the coming Day of the Lord fill your thoughts, every day in Him.

Revelation 22:21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Minister Monardo said:

Exodus 20:8. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

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To Remember>zakar>means to "perpetuate the memory of".

Der Alter said:

Matthew 11:28-29
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.Sounds like Shabbat to me.

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I agree that the Sabbaths foreshadow the finished work of Messiah. These verses in context convey a bit more:
Matthew 11:
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.
26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
In context, Messiah's words convey the priority of "election".
Again, not to disagree, but to expound on the scriptures more perfectly.

A Covenant with the land:
Leviticus 26:43. The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

Genesis 9:13. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant
between me and the earth.

Isaiah 56:
1 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come,
and my mercy to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man that does these things, and the man that holds by them,
and keeps the sabbaths from profaning them, and keeps his hands from doing unrighteousness.
3 Let not the stranger who attaches himself to the Lord, say, Surely the Lord will separate me
from his people: and let not the eunuch say, I am a dry tree.
4 Thus saith the Lord to the eunuchs, as many as shall keep my sabbaths,
and choose the things which I take pleasure in, and take hold of my covenant;
5 I will give to them in my house and within my walls an honourable place, better than sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, and it shall not fail.
6 And I will give it to the strangers that attach themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be to him servants and handmaids; and as for all that keep my sabbaths from profaning them, and that take hold of my covenant;
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain, and gladden them in my house of prayer: their whole-burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations,
8 saith the Lord that gathers the dispersed of Israel; for I will gather to him a congregation.