Shepherds Prove OT Sabbath was Flexible

[Dale]

Sabbatarians keep saying that the Old Testament Sabbath is a Divine command. It cannot be ignored or altered in any way. Yet we know that there had to be flexibility for practical reasons.

Shepherds play a significant role in the Bible. It was a common occupation in Old Testament times and in New Testament times. David was from a family of shepherds. Perhaps this is why he says that we are “the sheep of His [God's] pasture” in the Psalms.

Shepherds, or people from shepherding families, undoubtedly went to synagogue. Yet we also know that they did not abandon their sheep on the Sabbath, either because it was a day of rest or because they were at synagogue. In Biblical times, sheep were not fenced in. If they were abandoned for a day, they would have wandered off and gotten lost. Predators were around which have since been exterminated or kept under control. There is also the possibility that sheep which weren't being watched would be taken by thieves. Sheep had to be watched, protected, shepherded constantly. Otherwise they would get lost, fall into ditches and break their legs. They would be attacked and eaten by predators and probably stolen by thieves. No matter how devout a family of shepherds may have been, we know that they did not abandon their sheep for 24 hours every week. If they did they wouldn't have any sheep left. At least one member of a shepherding family had to be in the field with the sheep at all times.


Does the Bible condemn shepherds for not keeping the Sabbath more consistently? Nope. On the contrary, the Bible tells us that angels summoned shepherds to the birth of Jesus. Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

 

[BobRyan]

Sabbatarians keep saying that the Old Testament Sabbath is a Divine command. It cannot be ignored

Is this the part where you call God Himself a "Sabbatarian" because of the language HE uses in the Ten Commandments??

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Let us know how that goes.

Shepherds, or people from shepherding families, undoubtedly went to synagogue. Yet we also know that they did not abandon their sheep on the Sabbath

The Word of God commanded not only obedience to the TEN Commandments but also the directive to relieve animal suffering -


If you see your fellow Israelite's ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it. If you see your fellow Israelite's donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet. (Deut. 22:1-4 NIV ©2011)

If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. (Exod. 23:4-5 NIV ©2011)

 

[BobRyan]

Does the Bible condemn shepherds for not keeping the Sabbath more consistently? Nope. On the contrary, the Bible tells us that angels summoned shepherds to the birth of Jesus. Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus points out that the priests work harder on Sabbath than on any other day - and are considered innocent by God - not because God loves to trash His own Word - but because His Sabbath is a blessing to mankind and includes kindness to animals and to humans and also ministering on behalf of the church in worship.

Obviously.

But a more narrow 'any ol excuse will do" theology will take any aspect of the law and seek to bend-it-against the remainder of God's Law as if that is what God intended.

I think we can all agree on that point.