Over 100 years before Jesus was born, Israel experienced a terrible tragedy. Syrian persecution of the Jewish faith drove one thousand men, women and children from Jerusalem to caves outside of the city. When Syrian scouts discovered their hideaway, they offered amnesty if the Jews would come out and surrender their weapons.
It was Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, and the refugees agreed that walking out of the cave was “work”. Resisting the Syrians was also work, which was prohibited. On that day, one thousand Jews, refusing to accept amnesty, and refusing to fight, refused life itself, and were slaughtered to the last soul.
In 320 BC, Ptolemy Lagos captured Jerusalem while able-bodied men stood by because they refused to fight on the Sabbath.
In 63 BC, the Romans captured Jerusalem. While the Jews would now fight to defend themselves on the Sabbath, they would not resist the building of a huge mound outside the city. General Pompey and his troops used Saturdays to build a hill close to the high wall that would allow him to later bombard the inner part of the city![1]
All of this occurred because of one of ten commandments given to Moses on Mt Sinai
Nearly everyone, Christian or not, has heard of the Ten Commandments... They can be found inscribed on courthouse walls. Many claim to live by them, even though they cannot list all ten
Who here tries hard to live by the Ten Commandments?
Even this one? Are we expected to live by it? Many Christians feel that they remember the Sabbath by going to church on Sunday. But this is not remembering the Sabbath, as we will see.
A brief history of the Sabbath
As we have seen, it was a commandment by God given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The first mention of the Sabbath is in Exodus 16:23
No-one should work on the seventh day of the week (Exodus 20:9-10)
This concept of resting in the seventh period went beyond the days of the week. In Lev 25:1-20, the Sabbatical year is described. Every seventh year, they were not to plant or harvest. In the same passage, we find a description of the year of Jubilee. After seven seven-year periods, a special year was described. This was a year of letting slaves go free, releasing debts, returning property.
Initially, the Sabbath day was not a day to congregate and worship. We find that it was only a day to rest. The use of the Sabbath as a day of worship began during the exile, in conjunction with the building of synagogues[2]. Driven from their land, and separated from their temple, they began to build synagogues as a substitute house of worship. Because they were slaves, the only day available for them to congregate was the Sabbath, the day that they absolutely refused to work!
But God’s original intent for the Sabbath was REST
Information about the Sabbath Day
The Precedent - In Gen 2:1-3, God rested on the seventh day, after the completion of the creation of man.
(joke) Someone once said that God created man, and rested. He then created woman, and neither God nor man has rested since!
It does mention that God blessed the seventh day. It does not say that God blessed every seventh day before Moses, but that seventh day. Now, we know that God does not rest every seventh day. He illustrated a principle, though… that of the importance of a rest and a refreshing
Special Providence on the Sabbath
In Ex 16, we find the story of God giving manna. They could not gather more than one day’s worth, because it would be worm-infested and foul-smelling by morning – except on Friday, when they were to gather enough for the Sabbath. This was a miracle!
In the case of the Sabbatical year, God promised to provide three years’ worth of harvest in the sixth year! (Lev 25:21-22). They would have enough to eat in the seventh year, a year of rest. They would have enough to eat in the eighth year, when they began planting again, and on into the ninth year, when they would finally reap the harvest again.
The Sabbath only make sense in the light of these promises from God
Other Promises to those who kept the Sabbath
In Leviticus 26:2-12, God gives special promises to those who keep the Sabbath, as well as His other commandments. Among these promises:
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Give rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase
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There would be peace and safety in the land
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They would put to flight all their enemies (1 chase 100, and 100 chase 10,000)
There were severe Penalties for breaking the Sabbath
Ex 31:15 says that the penalty for breaking the Sabbath was death!
God said that he would exact the Sabbatical year if they did not honor it.
Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. Lev 26:34-35 (KJV)
It is interesting to note, that when Israel got a king (Saul), they quit honoring the sabbatical year. (Around 1100 BC). Judah was finally carried away into captivity in 610 BC, 490 years later… after missing 70 sabbatical years. God kept them in captivity for exactly 70 years, and the land got her rest!
The Purpose of the Sabbath
It was a sign between God and the children of Israel. When you consider the promises of God, what a privilege! This rest was not available to others, but only to Israel!
It was to benefit man.
And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Mark 2:27 (KJV)
The Pharisees had twisted its whole purpose, and made man a slave to the Sabbath
They had divided the restrictions of the Sabbath into 39 categories. These were divided into thousands of sub-categories[3]
Plowing was a major category, digging was a sub-category. Digging had to be defined, so...
- Dragging a chair was forbidden, because it might make a rut
- Spitting on the ground was forbidden, because you might rub it in the dirt, which would be digging. However, spitting on the pavement was allowed!
Carrying certain objects was also forbidden. If your house was on fire, it was forbidden to carry water to extinguish it. You were provided with a list, however, of things that you could carry OUT. Fortunately, one of these items was a small child. But you could be in trouble if the child was holding unlisted items!
The Pharisees had made it so impossible, that they even found loopholes. 3000 feet was a Sabbath Day’s journey. I've heard that by placing personal property outside in strategic locations, they could travel as far as they wished, and still not be more than 3000 feet from "their own property"!
And so even the Jews had sadly strayed from God’s intent for this commandment!
The tremendous Importance of the Sabbath
As we have seen, God prescribed severe penalties for those who did not remember the Sabbath, and great reward for those who did!
I find it interesting to note God’s last words to Moses before he left the mount. After 40 days in God’s presence, God left him with a final word… One would think this would be an incredibly important point, one that God wanted to make sure Moses remembered!
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ex 31:12-13 (KJV)
I believe that the crowning evidence of their faith would be willing participation in Sabbath! Also, the refreshing of the Sabbath would give them the wherewithal to perform the other 10 commandments. Yes - it was that important...
Are we then to remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy?
Are we to refrain from murder? Theft? Adultery? Yes! But adhering to these specific commandments is no longer required...
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col 2:16-17 (KJV)
Did I just contradict myself? Absolutely not! There is a much better, and yet more demanding law under the new covenant! The New Covenant demands that we abide in the spirit of the law, and not just according to the rules.
Jesus discusses these commandments at one point (Mat 5)
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It has been said, “Don’t murder”... I say, “Don’t hate!”
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It has been said, “Don’t commit adultery”... I say, “Don’t even think about it!”
May I add to the list?
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It has been said, “Remember the Sabbath”...
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I say, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.” Matt 11:28-29 (KJV)
In Christ, we have a much better thing than the Law!
The law is a schoolmaster, to bring us to Christ (Gal 2:4) Jesus did not destroy the law, but He fulfilled it!
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matt 5:17-18 (KJV)
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The law said “Don’t have any other gods”... Jesus was God manifest in the flesh
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The law forbids graven images... Jesus is the express image of the person of God
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The law forbids taking the name of the Lord in vain... At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow…
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The law said honor your father and mother... Jesus is the perfect Son of God and Son of Mary, and he subjected himself to both
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The law says don’t kill... Jesus came that we might have life, and more abundantly
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The law said don’t commit adultery... Jesus is looking for a spotless bride
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The law forbade stealing... Jesus said, If someone asks for your coat give him your cloak as well
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The law said don’t lie... Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life
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The law said don’t covet... Jesus said give, and it shall be given unto you
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The law said remember the Sabbath Day... Jesus says, Come unto me, and rest
Is there a better Sabbath in the New Covenant?
Paul speaks of a better rest in Hebrews chapter 4
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Heb 4:8-11 (KJV)
Jesus here should be translated Joshua (same name). If Joshua had given them rest...
There remaineth therefore a rest (Gr - sabbatismos)... He also hath ceased from his own works…
In the new covenant, the works of the flesh will not justify
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9 (KJV)
But this concept goes far beyond salvation!
His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9)
This does not mean that we have no work...
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest… (Heb 4:11)
We must act in faith
They did not enter into rest because of unbelief... (Heb 4:11)
We cannot earn our own salvation, or the solution to our problems. That does not mean that we are to be lazy!
What a tremendous opportunity is afforded us in this day
Isaiah spoke of it in chapter 28.
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:11-12 (KJV)
The Holy Ghost is our Sabbath – it is our rest!
As the Sabbath may have been one of the most important of the commandments… The Holy Ghost is the crowning evidence of our walk of faith. Its refreshing give us the ability to walk in all of the commandments of the Lord. Because it is not our work! It is His work in our lives!
Do you remember the Sabbath in your life?
Who’s running things?
Are you allowing for the providence of God, or do you feel compelled to work everything out yourself?
[1] The Incredible Christ Bill Counts pg 51, Ó 1975 Harvest House Publishers
[2] Hebrews: Better Things Daniel Segraves pg 110 Ó1996 Word Aflame Press
[3] The Incredible Christ pg 52 |
