Sabbath

[IKTCA]

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy Sabbath of solemn rest to the Lord. (Exodus 35:2)

Sabbath is the Day of Rest. Of the two words, Day and Rest, the essence is in Rest.

So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:3)

God did not arbitrarily hallow the 7th day. It was blessed because he rested. Essence of Sabbath is Rest. So Israel observed the 7th day to their best.

Their best rest was “not working,” a physical rest. Their rest did not reach the “solemn rest to the Lord.” (Exodus 35:2) But it was not their fault because Jesus did not come to them yet.

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Finally, Jesus came to Israel. He came to give the Sabbath Rest, the Solemn Rest to the Lord. But this blessed word of Jesus was not only for Israel; it was also for the Gentiles.

I, a Gentile, grew up knowing nothing about the Sabbath. But I found this word of Jesus as sweet as honey. I put all my burdens on him and found my rest. I gave all my sin and guilt burdens on him and found joy and peace, not just one day of the week, but every day of the week, and every hour of the day.

I only obeyed this command of Jesus on Sabbath Rest. But through this command Jesus fulfilled all God’s commandments on Sabbath for me.

God worked on the 6 days. To me these 6 days are holier than the 7th day since God’s “sweat” is spilt on the 6 days. But God’s way is higher than my way. He proclaimed the 7th day holy because it belonged to his Son Jesus.

So the Son of Man is the lord even of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:28)

God considered his 6 days of work as nothing, and hallowed the 7th day for his Son. By doing so, God glorified his Son. His Son gives Sabbath Rest to all his children. Through this the Son glorifies the Father. I obey Jesus’ Sabbath Rest commandment with all my heart. By doing so, I give glory to the Son and the Father. Amen.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (John 14:27)

Peace is a gift from Jesus, an outward appearance of those who found the Sabbath Rest in Jesus. This peace does not stay with them just one day of the week. It stays every day of the week, every hour of the day.

I see this peace in many friends of this forum. So I know they found the Sabbath in Jesus. I thank the Father and the Son for giving us the rest. Amen.

 

[Trish1947]

Iktca, wonderful post!

 

[LynneClomina]

iktca, are you saying what i think it is you are saying (i think your saying what i believe/feel, but i'm not sure) - that we dont have to follow the sabbath in the traditional sense - that one day is God's day - because we are "in" the sabbath ever since Christ came? we have finally got rest from works?

i think your post is beautiful.

Lynne

 

[Andyman_1970]

Look at the context in which the Sabbath was given. The Jews had been "brink making machines" for 400 years. 7 days a week, 365 days a year, they made bricks. They were slaves to the Egyptian's to make bricks for them. Now God brings them out of bondage and He gives them this command to take a day set it aside for Me. Why? To remind them that they are not "brick making machines" they are His children.

I agree that Jesus gives us a Sabbath from "works", He has completed everything we need to have fellowship with God.

Look at how Jesus ministered to people. In Mark 1:32 after Jesus healed the sick and demon possesed. Look what Jesus do in v35, Jesus got up early to go pray by Himself. Jesus had just had this draining day of healing people and casting out demons, and the writer here wants you to know that Jesus doesn't get up the next day and go back to healing and casting out demons. Jesus knows there is this rhythm of heavy work, and serving and then He steps out of it all alone.

Now go to Mark 6:30-31, the disiples have been out working and traveling. Jesus says to them to rest after they worked. Was there more work to do? I'm sure there was, what does Jesus say, "slowdown and rest for a while". He doesn't say, let's go we have more to do.

Luke 5:15-16, after the crowds came to Him to be healed Jesus withdrew to rest. Notice the pattern here, and how much time Jesus spent alone. This is again shown in Matthew 14:12-13 after He gets word of His cousin John the Baptist being beheaded.

Jesus knows when He need to rest when He needs to be alone. Jesus even walks away from a whole villiage that begged Him to stay and take care of them, why? To rest.

Jesus' ministry was only 3 years long. Notice how often He disengages and rests. If this was important to Jesus, how much more important should it be to us?

God did not give us the Sabbath commandment to be a "party pooper" and to spoil our fun. He did it so we would understand that there is a rhythm to life and that we are not to be "machines" we are His children. Notice the rhythm God gives us, work 6 days and rest 1 day (6 and 1), this is the rhythm God created us to live in. Not 7 and 0.

Now is that day of rest a day where you do nothing? No. Think about the context of the Sabbath, the Jews were slaves. What are we slaves to today? Time is about the first thing that comes to my mind. We rush and rush and rush all week every day to make sure we get more stuff done. I have heard some Rabbi's (this is a Hebrew concept you know) describe Sabbath as a day where nothing is urgent. I know one guy who doesn't wear a watch or answer the phone that day to further reinforce that fact that nothing is urgent (like our "normal" lives have become).

I believe Jesus is our Sabbath rest from the Law, but I also think that God has given us a rhythm to live by. No where do we see Jesus rushing around trying to get more done. Jesus should be our model for how we live our lives.

 

[LynneClomina]

so its a principle, not a requirement, right? not something we have to do, but if we want to be healthy and rested so we can do what we are called to do, we would be smart to follow that pattern? we dont need to get guilty if we have to work on a sunday, yes?......

 

[IKTCA]

Lynne C.

Finding this rest in Jesus and his grace is the beginning. Some set a day of the week apart for fasting and praying. This is the more excellent way of Sabbath Rest. Some others set a day of the week and stop all business activities, and focus on God. When they are called to work, though they cannot focus on God, they dedicate a part of income from the day to the poor brothers in Christ. This is another excellent way. There is no limit on the more excellent way. The grace of the Lord will guide individual believers in the more excellent way.

You had a question. I do not know if it is about you or someone else. From your other posts, I know you are in fellowship with the Lord. If the question is about you, I am certain that the Lord will let you know the answer unequivocally.

If the question is about someone who just became a believer, I tend to think that the guilt is the result of the Sabbath legalism. How I hate legalism! It robs a believer of the little patch of freedom that grace gave him.

 

[LynneClomina]

hi iktca!

it was a question for nobody in particular; more for my general knowledge about how i might explain it to anybody that needs it in the future...

my worries about things like that are usually for me to learn so i can minister better in the future.

thanks for your thoughtful answer.
be blessed!
Lynne

 

[Andyman_1970]

so its a principle, not a requirement, right? not something we have to do, but if we want to be healthy and rested so we can do what we are called to do, we would be smart to follow that pattern? we dont need to get guilty if we have to work on a sunday, yes?......

I would say for the Christian it is not a "requirement" (of the Law for us) as such, but it is a good rule of thumb.

For me and my wife, our Sabbath is on Saturday (by coinsodence, not in trying to be "keepers of the Law"). Sundays are so busy for me. I teach the Men's Sunday School class and am usually in church from about 7:15 am to about almost noon. I also teach the Men's Discipleship class on Sunday afternoons before worship, so I'm usually there at around 3:30 to 7:30. That's almost 8+ hours doing stuff, and doesn't leave much time to "decompress" on Sunday.

So we make Saturday our Sabbath, a day in which nothing is urgent, we don't answer the phone (unless it's someone we want to talk to), and we take the day to do things that are relaxing to us (work on the lawn, wash the cars, ride my bike, take the dog to the park, etc).

With as busy as I am at work during the week, and then also on Sunday's, if I didn't take a Sabbath it would not be long before I burnt out.

Anyway, sorry to ramble, hope that was helpful.

 

[LynneClomina]

boy andyman, i sure could take a cue form you... my sundays, while not as packed as yours, never seems restful. i used to take mondays off, but now its busy as all get out too. i have so much church stuff to do that when i'm not doing important stuff i am busy with church stuff. so i dont know which day to take as a day off. i wont call it a sabbath, i will call it something like my day of rest (ie: "sabbath rest").

 

[marc]

Andyman_1970]Look at the context in which the Sabbath was given. The Jews had been "brink making machines" for 400 years. 7 days a week, 365 days a year, they made bricks. They were slaves to the Egyptian's to make bricks for them. Now God brings them out of bondage and He gives them this command to take a day set it aside for Me. Why? To remind them that they are not "brick making machines" they are His children.

Hey, first it was brink makers and now brick makers? Is this some kind of trick? Are you trying to deceive us?

 

[Wreck n Sow]

Hi all
Well i was raised catholic,then went to a baptist church for a year or so. After i was married and the children born i stayed home and raised the kids and my wife went to work. I began to read the bible quite a bit, over and over again. To make a longer story shorter i came to the conclusion that we are to keep the sabbath. The 7th day. Just as was told to the children of Israel and told to the jews.When asked what denomination i was on entering the board i wrote mess. jew but ive never been to their meetings. Im not sure what i am.

 

[BrightCandle]

In regards to the question: Is the 7th day Sabbath a principle or a command? Check out Exodus 20:2-17, where the Godhead wrote the Ten Commandments in stone, and note that the 7th day Sabbath is number four of the ten. If we are consistent in our practise of God's commands we will honor all of the ten (including the 7th day Sabbath), by letting the Holy Spirit write His moral law on our hearts, and not do what we want to do, but do exactly what Jesus said to do, because if you love him you will keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. Paul understood this, that is why he said, under inspiration, in Hebrews 4:9, "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God."

Brooks

 

[LynneClomina]

In regards to the question: Is the 7th day Sabbath a principle or a command? Check out Exodus 20:2-17, where the Godhead wrote the Ten Commandments in stone, and note that the 7th day Sabbath is number four of the ten. If we are consistent in our practise of God's commands we will honor all of the ten (including the 7th day Sabbath), by letting the Holy Spirit write His moral law on our hearts, and not do what we want to do, but do exactly what Jesus said to do, because if you love him you will keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. Paul understood this, that is why he said, under inspiration, in Hebrews 4:9, "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God."

Brooks

i keep the sabbath, but not on the 7th day. i keep it all 7 days. becuase now that we have rest from "works", we have entered into the sabbath rest in Christ. "IT IS FINISHED". the work was finished at the cross. now we are in it. we rest in Christ. yay!

 

[Wreck n Sow]

i keep the sabbath, but not on the 7th day. i keep it all 7 days. becuase now that we have rest from "works", we have entered into the sabbath rest in Christ. "IT IS FINISHED". the work was finished at the cross. now we are in it. we rest in Christ. yay!

Hi LynneClomina,
According to the scriptures you might be jumping the gun a little on yor rest with Jesus. If there are any scriptures that say this rest has already begun id like to see them. Thanks Lynne.

2 THES.1 [7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,[8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

When will the rest with Jesus begin? According to scripture its when he returns.

REVELATIONS 20 [4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

This rest with Jesus begins with the 1000 yr period of rest spoken of in Revelations.

ISAIAH 66 [22] For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.[23] And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.[24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

And according to the WORD of GOD, his people will still be keeping the sabbath during that 1000 yr period.

PSALMS 132 [8] Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.[9] Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.[10] For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.[11] The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.[12] If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.[13] For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.[14] This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Arise into thy rest - This is my rest for ever. And the children of God will also enter this rest IF they keep his covenant (law) and his testimony. Not one or the other as many who have come in his name profess.

ISAIAH 14 [3] And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear,and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,[4] That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased![5] The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.[6] He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.[7] The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet:

Above scripture says it all. It shall come to pass in that day (verse 3) the LORD shall give thee rest. Verse 7 says at that time the whole world is at rest. Look around you or just listen to the 6 oclock news. The whole world is not at rest. If someone is trying to tell you that you dont have to keep GODS sabbath because they are resting in Jesus, maybe, as a friend you should show them these scriptures. The rest with Jesus will not begin until he returns and sets up his kingdom. The land he promised as an inheritance.

DEUT.12 [9] For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.[10] But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;

Again Lynne if there are any scriptures that say this rest has already began, let me know. I just wanna get it right.

 

[TheScottsMen]

Hi all
Just as was told to the children of Israel and told to the jews.

I'm neither Jew nor from the nation of Israel. Let what belonged to OT Israel belong to OT Israel, let what belongs to the NT Church belong to the NT Church.

TSM

 

[Wreck n Sow]

I'm neither Jew nor from the nation of Israel. Let what belonged to OT Israel belong to OT Israel, let what belongs to the NT Church belong to the NT Church.

TSM

Hello ScottsMen
Im Irish myself, probably the "son of a stranger". Howdy neighbor. In the new testament you will find a scripture that states the old testament scriptures will make you wise unto salvation. Ive found theres actually really nothing in the new that wasnt said or prophecied in the old.

ROMANS 11
[1] I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
[7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
[17] And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
[19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
[20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
[23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
[26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
[27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

The tribe of Judah (the Jews) and the 10 scattered tribes of the house of Israel will be saved. The gentiles which are grafted into THEIR tree will also be saved. ScottsMan, Jesus is the same today, yesterday and forever.

 

[TheScottsMen]

.

 

[TheScottsMen]

Hello ScottsMen

The tribe of Judah (the Jews) and the 10 scattered tribes of the house of Israel will be saved. The gentiles which are grafted into THEIR tree will also be saved. ScottsMan, Jesus is the same today, yesterday and forever.

That sounds a bit like British Israelism. The nation of Israel is Jewish. If you need 20-30 scriptures where the nation of israel is called Jewish or Jew I'll be happy to post them when I get home. I also hope you do not think that that USA and England have something to do with prophecy of the Sons of Joseph Anyways, if need be, I'll find my post that was 2 pages long stating that we do not worship on Saturday if you wish. I'm at work right now and have not the time.

TSM

 

[Trish1947]

Aren't we trying to work the reverse here on what God is doing? He's not trying to fit Jesus into different races, tribes, ethnic groups so we can maintain our idenity, customs or traditions. Isn't the opposite true? That He is making one new people by accepting different races, tribes, ethnic groups, making one new man?

"For you are a Holy Nation, a royal Preisthood." (which consists of all ethnic groups.)


Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;

Eph 2:16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Eph 2:18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];
Eph 2:21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

 

[Andyman_1970]

I'm neither Jew nor from the nation of Israel. Let what belonged to OT Israel belong to OT Israel, let what belongs to the NT Church belong to the NT Church.

TSM

I hate to break it to you, but the OT and NT are not mutually exclusive. The NT is the OT revealed. To fully understand you have to look at it in light of the OT, IMO.

Jesus' teachings were basically commentary on the OT. Notice in Matthew 11 when Jesus says "my yoke is easy", yoke in the context of the 1st century Hebrews was a rabbi's (Jesus was a rabbi) interpretation of the Torah (the Jewish Law).

In Galatians Paul tells us (he too was a rabbi) that as followers of Jesus Gentiles are every bit children of Abraham spiritually as Jews were physically.