The Sabbath Principle
Opening Prayer
Lord God, I know how important the Sabbath is. Teach me more about it today, I pray.
Read EXODUS 31:12-18
[12] Then the LORD said to Moses, [13] “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. [14] “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. [15] For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. [16] The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. [17] It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'” [18] When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Why was the Sabbath to be so important to these folks?The “Sabbath” was the seventh day of the week, our Saturday. Now it is Sunday—the day of resurrection, the day of the Spirit’s coming—that Christians usually set aside as a special day for rest and worship. Jesus himself was criticized for his interpretation of the Sabbath rules and his actions on the Sabbath (Mark 2:24; 3:6; see v. 15). So, how do the commandments here fit into our New Testament and twenty-first-century worlds?
There are two things to think about here. First, the Sabbath was to be a sign of the special relationship between God and his people. They were holy, different, set aside (13). Second, God’s people were to be like him (17).
For the Israelites the Sabbath was a blessing from God, not an onerous duty. For us, the Sabbath principle is not intended to be legalistically imposed or self-righteously interpreted (see Col. 2:16). Setting aside specific time to be with God and his people, and for rest, are important, of course. But relationship with God, being different and following him are to be the constant markers of our lives.
Apply
How is “the Sabbath principle” worked out in your life? Are there changes that should be made based on this reading?
Closing prayer
Lord, thank You for Your provision of the Sabbath. Help me to live it out in a way that honors You.
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