Ellen White on the Sabbath

[MoreCoffee]

The Sabbath was hallowed at the creation. As ordained for man, it had its origin when "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Job 38:7. Peace brooded over the world; for earth was in harmony with heaven. "God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good;" and He rested in the joy of His completed work. Gen. 1:31. (THE DESIRE OF AGES, Chapter 29, page 281)​

Wonder a little, do you, what these bible passages say - the ones that Ellen White references and associates with the 7th day rest (sabbath)? I got to wondering if her explanations were based on sound exegesis and if she understood the principles of christian hermeneutics; namely, reading the old testament in the light of Christ. So let's start.

Then the LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:

Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers!

Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it? Into what were its pedestals sunk, and who laid the cornerstone, While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the sons of God shouted for joy? And who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands? When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door, And said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled!​

​

(Job 38:1-11)​

The bold text is what Ellen White quotes, but she leaves the impression that it is a statement rather than part of a question and she implies that it is related to the 7th day rest (sabbath) when it is not. It's a little bit misleading; a little bit of error. As the rest of the chapter is developed similar misleading associations are made. I'll post the other paragraphs from the chapter as time permits.

 

[MamaZ]

What most seem to not understand is that now the law has been fulfilled and we rest in Him.

 

[MoreCoffee]

What most seem to not understand is that now the law has been fulfilled and we rest in Him.

Yes, that does seem to be missing from Ellen White's Sabbath chapter in the book from which I am quoting for this thread. She does not appear to equate Christ with the rest (sabbath) from all God's works and all of our own works, be they sinful or be they obedience to the Law.

 

[MamaZ]

and He rested in the joy of His completed work.

So we rest in Christ completed work. This is how we enter His rest.

 

[MoreCoffee]

So we rest in Christ completed work. This is how we enter His rest.

Yes, though we rest in union within him rather than merely as companions resting with him. We are united to Christ in Christ's great rest (sabbath). So we need no 7th day to point to a rest we have already entered in principle and shall enter fully at his return and our resurrection.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Because He had rested upon the Sabbath, "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it,"--set it apart to a holy use. He gave it to Adam as a day of rest. It was a memorial of the work of creation, and thus a sign of God's power and His love. The Scripture says, "He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered." "The things that are made," declare "the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world," "even His everlasting power and divinity." Gen. 2:3; Ps. 111:4; Rom. 1:20, R. V. (THE DESIRE OF AGES, Chapter 29, page 281)​

The bible passages in the above quote are presented disjointedly, which is a little odd but not misleading in itself. However it is worth looking at each passage in context.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:1-3)

Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psalms 111:1-10)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:18-25)​

The bold portions are the parts of verses that Ellen White quotes in her book's chapter, second paragraph. She is correct in associating genesis 2:3 with the 7th day rest (sabbath) however the connection to the 7th day rest is not present in psalm 111:4 or in Romans 1:20. The way that fragments of verses are woven into her story is a little bit misleading, it has a little bit of slight of hand about it. I am beginning to feel like I am being sold something, that a spin is being given to convince me to buy into this 7th day rest (sabbath) thing.

 

[pshun2404]

Also note that in the text of Deuteronomy 5 where the Sabbath keeping is explained, it is specified for the children of Israel that God brought out of Egypt that had covenanted with Him at Horeb.

Secondly, this Sabbath keeping has absolutely nothing to do with salvation. The agreement was that if they kept this observance (in all its ramifications which included observing it at home) they would live and prosper and remain in the land He was about to bring them into. We who are in Christ have no part in that covenant and are not given to dwell in the land of Israel so our livig and prospering therein is irrelevant but this is what He promised for observing it.

Paul

 

[Elder 111]

So we rest in Christ completed work. This is how we enter His rest.

Is the rest not a command? Was there a time limit in observing that rest set? Is not the rest in observance of God creating the earth? Did He not sanctify the day hallowed it and blessed it? When was the sacredness of the day removed? and by whom? Did Jesus say that the Sabbath is no longer sanctified? Are we at liberty not to observe that which God has made holy?
Is that which is made holy only holy for a time or always?
Why is it that we say Jesus fulfilled the law and it is still not christian to steal, lie murder or covet but in the same law it is Ok to put aside that which He has made Holy? If all the other are to be kept by the spirit by not the sabbath?

 

[bugkiller]

When has it ever been right or permissible to do evil?

Evil was present before the law.

The law was added because of evil, not to identify it.

So why is it the prolaw people insist not being obligated to the law is an obligation to evil?

Do they not read the promise in Jeremiah 31? Why do they not accept Jesus' testimony that this is the new testament (covenant) in My blood.

bugkiller

 

[bugkiller]

One must be obligated to the sabbath to not observe it.

So it is assumed that every one is obligated to observe the sabbath. There is no proof of such for any one except the Isrealite. Christians are not Isrealites either physically or spiritually.

bugkiller

 

[MoreCoffee]

All things were created by the Son of God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. . . . All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1: 1-3. And since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation, it is a token of the love and power of Christ. (THE DESIRE OF AGES, Chapter 29, page 281)​

The 7th day rest (sabbath) was a memorial of the completion of creation and God's rest at the completion of creation. The above quote seems to imply that the 7th day is a memorial of the work of creation, and that is, of course, not the case.

The Sabbath calls our thoughts to nature, and brings us into communion with the Creator. In the song of the bird, the sighing of the trees, and the music of the sea, we still may hear His voice who talked with Adam in Eden in the cool of the day. And as we behold His power in nature we find comfort, for the word that created all things is that which speaks life to the soul. He "who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Cor. 4:6.

It was this thought that awoke the song,--

"Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work;
I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.
O Lord, how great are Thy works!
And Thy thoughts are very deep."
Ps. 92:4,5. (THE DESIRE OF AGES, Chapter 29, page 281, 282)​

Reading the above quote one gets the impression that there is some connection between the 7th day rest (sabbath) of God and the creation of light on the first day of creation. One also gets the impression that 2 Corinthians 4:6 is related to Psalm 92:4,5 but this is not the case. Neither passage is related to the 7th day rest and neither passage as any obvious connection to the other.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)

A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: (Psalms 92:1-7)​

Again, after reading the passages and comparing them to what Ellen White wrote about them I feel like somebody is trying to sell me a belief without adequate documentation to back it up. It is like being asked to buy a used car without knowing how many miles it's driven or if it has had any serious accidents.

 

[Elder 111]

When has it ever been right or permissible to do evil?

Evil was present before the law.

The law was added because of evil, not to identify it.

So why is it the prolaw people insist not being obligated to the law is an obligation to evil?

Do they not read the promise in Jeremiah 31? Why do they not accept Jesus' testimony that this is the new testament (covenant) in My blood.

bugkiller

Jesus said that satan was a murderer and liar from the beginning. Does that mean that he was a liar and a murderer before or after the law? If before how was that possible? John 8: 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Jesus said that satan was a murderer and liar from the beginning. Does that mean that he was a liar and a murderer before or after the law? If before how was that possible? John 8: 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Murder is the act of deliberately killing another person, I do not think it is necessary to have a law against murder for murder to exist. But for the sake of clarity observe these facts:

• Cain murdered Able before any laws were given at Mt Ninai.
• Noah was given a law about executing a murderer before the Law was given at Mt Sinai.
• Satan is called a "man-slayer' in the new testament and a liar too, both appellations appear to refer to Satan's actions prior to (and following) the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai.
• Satan is an angelic being and the Law given at Mt Sinai was given to human beings (Israelites specifically). We have no information in scripture (to my knowledge) about any law given to angels.

 

[Elder 111]

Murder is the act of deliberately killing another person, I do not think it is necessary to have a law against murder for murder to exist. But for the sake of clarity observe these facts:

• Cain murdered Able before any laws were given at Mt Ninai.
• Noah was given a law about executing a murderer before the Law was given at Mt Sinai.
• Satan is called a "man-slayer' in the new testament and a liar too, both appellations appear to refer to Satan's actions prior to (and following) the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai.
• Satan is an angelic being and the Law given at Mt Sinai was given to human beings (Israelites specifically). We have no information in scripture (to my knowledge) about any law given to angels.

It has been accepted that the Ten commandments is a transcript of God's character. As such it always existed. This is based on Rom. 7:7-14 where we will find Paul declaring that the law is holy just good and spiritual. The scriptures also describes God the same way.

 

[MamaZ]

Is the rest not a command? Was there a time limit in observing that rest set?

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word [a]they heard did not profit them, because [b]it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“As I swore in My wrath,
They shall not enter My rest,”

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying [c]through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
“Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if [d]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Is not the rest in observance of God creating the earth? Did He not sanctify the day hallowed it and blessed it?

Shown above.

When was the sacredness of the day removed? and by whom? Did Jesus say that the Sabbath is no longer sanctified? Are we at liberty not to observe that which God has made holy?

Yes it was. For the sacredness of the sabbath day was for Isreal. Now our rest is not in a day. For trying to rest in a day is trying to work actually. For that is a work to try and observe a day. We now rest from our works as God did. This is the sabbath of Gods people.



Is that which is made holy only holy for a time or always?
Why is it that we say Jesus fulfilled the law and it is still not christian to steal, lie murder or covet but in the same law it is Ok to put aside that which He has made Holy? If all the other are to be kept by the spirit by not the sabbath?

I may not steal from by neighbor. But do I love him? We are to love our neighbors.. If you love them as God loves them then you would not only not steal from them but give them what they need if you have it to give.

 

[mmksparbud]

All things were created by the Son of God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. . . . All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1: 1-3. And since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation, it is a token of the love and power of Christ. (THE DESIRE OF AGES, Chapter 29, page 281)​

The 7th day rest (sabbath) was a memorial of the completion of creation and God's rest at the completion of creation. The above quote seems to imply that the 7th day is a memorial of the work of creation, and that is, of course, not the case.


Not the case????----Gen 20:11--"For in 6 days the Lord made heaven and earth,the sea and all that in them is and rested the 7th day: wherefore the Lord blessed the 7th day and hallowed it."

"wherefore"--because of, it very much was set aside as a memorial to creation--seems like you're trying to sell something that isn't there.

The Sabbath calls our thoughts to nature, and brings us into communion with the Creator. In the song of the bird, the sighing of the trees, and the music of the sea, we still may hear His voice who talked with Adam in Eden in the cool of the day. And as we behold His power in nature we find comfort, for the word that created all things is that which speaks life to the soul. He "who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Cor. 4:6.

It was this thought that awoke the song,--

"Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work;
I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.
O Lord, how great are Thy works!
And Thy thoughts are very deep."
Ps. 92:4,5. (THE DESIRE OF AGES, Chapter 29, page 281, 282)​

Reading the above quote one gets the impression that there is some connection between the 7th day rest (sabbath) of God and the creation of light on the first day of creation. One also gets the impression that 2 Corinthians 4:6 is related to Psalm 92:4,5 but this is not the case. Neither passage is related to the 7th day rest and neither passage as any obvious connection to the other.


Reading the above quote makes one appreciate all the more the works of God. All creation speaks of God. The connection of the light God created on the first day to the sabbath is that after God finished creating, He rested on the sabbath day--Creation speaks of God and leads to the fact that God rested on the 7th day in memorial of creation and for the sake (health and well-being) of man. The impression of 2 Cor 4:6 is that the same God that created light has also created the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)

A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: (Psalms 92:1-7)​

Again, after reading the passages and comparing them to what Ellen White wrote about them I feel like somebody is trying to sell me a belief without adequate documentation to back it up. It is like being asked to buy a used car without knowing how many miles it's driven or if it has had any serious accidents.

For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of they hands. O, Lord, how great art thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep."
And after all those works He rested the 7th day.--however,

"A brutish man knoweth not, neither does a fool understand this."

If God has given me a car, I do not ask Him how many miles it has or if it's been in any accidents---It's His car, and wether it is a Model T or a 2013 Hummer---it will do the job God intends for me to do. And anybody who tries to dissuade me from getting it is not working for Him.

 

[MamaZ]

The law is Good. Only to the unlawful people who are not in Christ. For they will be judged by the law and their works. Those in Christ have been declared not guilty through the cross and ressurection.. For Christ has taken our penalty. He has declared us righteous.. By His work not by ours by trying to obey the law.

 

[Elder 111]

I may not steal from by neighbor. But do I love him? We are to love our neighbors.. If you love them as God loves them then you would not only not steal from them but give them what they need if you have it to give.

1. Heb. 4 that you have quoted is actually stating that the Sabbath still is if not Jesus would have given another day. The name is Jesus and not Joshua. It is interesting that the same word is translated Jesus 934 other times in the NT as Jesus and now you want to accept that it means Joshua this one time? 1 out of 935? You kidding me, right?
2. Jesus sanctified the day and gave no other.
3. God at no time gave a directive to remove Sabbath observance. In fact it is the work of the antichrist. Dan. 7:25 Thinking to change time and law. The Sabbath is a combination of both, time as in the day and law as the law of God. It was not sanctified for Israel but for man or Jesus is a liar. It was not sanctified at Sinai but at Eden.
4. What good is it to love my neighbor and hate God’s Sabbath? Am I not also to love God enough to obey Him?
5. The excuse that the Sabbath was given to the Jews or anything else for that matter is totally invalid. Even Jesus was given to the Jews. Jesus said that salvation was of the Jews. John 4: 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Murder is the act of deliberately killing another person, I do not think it is necessary to have a law against murder for murder to exist. But for the sake of clarity observe these facts:

• Cain murdered Able before any laws were given at Mt Ninai.
• Noah was given a law about executing a murderer before the Law was given at Mt Sinai.
• Satan is called a "man-slayer' in the new testament and a liar too, both appellations appear to refer to Satan's actions prior to (and following) the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai.
• Satan is an angelic being and the Law given at Mt Sinai was given to human beings (Israelites specifically). We have no information in scripture (to my knowledge) about any law given to angels.

It has been accepted that the Ten commandments is a transcript of God's character. As such it always existed. This is based on Rom. 7:7-14 where we will find Paul declaring that the law is holy just good and spiritual. The scriptures also describes God the same way.

I am not sure how "you shall not commit adultery" is a part of God's eternal character, perhaps you can explain how it is. I have a similar doubt about "you shall honour your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land that I promise". "You shall not covet your neighbour's goods" and "you shall not covet your neighbour's wife" both seem unlikely candidates for God's unchanging eternal character. And how is it God's character to "have no other gods" and "to make no carved images"? And then there's "remember the rest (sabbath) day to keep it holy"; how is that God's eternal and unchanging character?

 

[MoreCoffee]

mmksparbudThanks for your questions.

Answer #1: The 3rd commandment read thus in my bible,

'Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath for Yahweh your God. You shall do no work that day, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your servants, men or women, nor your animals nor the alien living with you. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens, earth and sea and all that these contain, but on the seventh day he rested; that is why Yahweh has blessed the Sabbath day and made it sacred. (Exodus 20:8-11)
Footnote:

Keep it holy: i.e., to set it apart from the other days of the week, in part, as the following verse explains, by not doing work that is ordinarily done in the course of a week. The special importance of this command can be seen in the fact that, together with vv. 9–11, it represents the longest of the Decalogue’s precepts.​

Obviously the command is about God's 7th day rest and it is a commemoration of that 7th day rest, which explains why the rest applies only to the 7th day and the other six days are not set aside as a commemoration.

Answer #2: I'll be glad to see you show exactly what relates 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 & Psalms 92:1-7 to one another, aside from both being in the sacred scriptures.

Answer #3: The sales person I referred to was Ellen White. God does not sell me used cars. The purpose of the analogy is to show how an unconvincing argument strung together with verses and fragments from verses leaves an impression of a trick intended to snare an unwary person.

I do admit to reading Ellen White's words with a pre-formed impression about SDA quote use but I base the impression on how some SDA people mishandle scripture and quotes.