Sabbath: Sabbath Rest
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 1.26-27; Genesis 9:6; 2 Peter 2:19; Romans 6:1-7; Exodus 19:6; John 5:7-16.
Memory Text: “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings” (Leviticus 23:3).
We hear all sorts of arguments against keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, don’t we? We hear everything from Jesus changed the Sabbath to Sunday, or that Jesus abolished the Sabbath, or that Paul did, or that the apostles replaced the seventh-day Sabbath with Sunday in honor of the resurrection, and so forth. In recent years, some of the arguments have become more sophisticated, claiming, for instance, that Jesus is our Sabbath rest, and therefore, we don’t need to a keep the day or any day holy. And, of course, there will always be the argument, strange as it is, that by resting on the seventh-day we are somehow seeking to work our way to heaven.
On the other hand, some Christians have become more interested in the idea of rest, of a day of rest, and though they argue that the day is Sunday or that it doesn’t matter, they have picked up on the biblical notion of rest and why it is important.
Of course, as Seventh-day Adventists we understand the perpetuity of God’s moral law and that obedience to the fourth commandment, as it reads, is no more working our way to heaven than would be obedience to the fifth, sixth, first, or any other commandment.
This week we will look more at the rest God has given us in the Sabbath commandment and why it’s important.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 4.
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I think most readers of Sabbath School Net could give a theological rationale for keeping Sabbath. Most of us can recite at least some of the history of changing the day from the 7th day to the 1st day. But, can we describe the joy of Sabbath-keeping? Or is it just theoretical theology?
I have mentioned several times in this forum of experiencing an accidental contact with a Jewish family on Friday night in a hotel in Florence, Italy. They were opening Sabbath and is was full-on singing and story-telling and celebrating. They were welcoming the Queen of the Week. And nobody in our group of travellers complained - it was an unexpected cultural encounter that enriched us all. Our group asked one another what they were doing and we were able to tell them that they were welcoming the Sabbath.
When we worship/rest on Sabbath do we hide away in a private place, fearful that someone might ridicule us, or do we have a shareable experience that others will enjoy as well.
It is 6:30am on Sabbath morning here in eastern Australia. The sun is just rising above the horizon and while I am typing I am having my special Sabbath breakfast treat; raisin toast and marmalade. Then I will go for my early morning walk by myself today as we are under lockdown at the moment. I consider myself lucky that I can do my allowed exercise close to home in the bush surrounded by nature. Usually, on Sabbath morning, I meet up with half a dozen others, some not church-goers, and we walk, talk, and wait for the birds to appear. This morning I might meet some folk and we will talk at a safe distance and I have visiting cards with links to my slideshows where I share more of God's handiwork. It is just a little shared experience that provides God with the opportunity to talk in his still small voice.
What is your shareable Sabbath rest experience?
This morning I have open-ended time to enter God's Word: presently exploring and unpacking the experience of Daniel and his intercessory prayer in chapter 9. After that I will go for a walk/wander while I reflect upon things with God (no time pressure) and then after that I will meet with a group of people (via online under present circumstances) for a few hours of bible study, sharing and prayer (no time pressure). For one day I will be free of this world's pressures and commitments.
Got up at 5:30am, did my morning devotions, then took my scooter to the park that is around our natural round lake that is 3 blocks from my house. Enjoy God's beautiful nature, the Canadian Geese, the Mallard Ducks, the White Domestic Ducks & the Muscovy Ducks. The squirrels must have been sleeping in as I didn't see any of them. I left a copy of the "Steps to Christ" in the little covered sitting area. Had breakfast with the hummingbirds, chickadees, cardinals & Mockingbirds. I am so thankful for God's beautiful nature and the great Sabbath that He gave us so we could spend time with Him!
Humans like to complicate things when they do not want to accept what is simple! (We all do that). The Law is straight and easy, "keep the seventh-day, the sabbath, as holy"... Some like to write a whole thesis on that! The Word is plain, 10 Commandments only! Humans like to write a Constitution of more than 900 acts... Advocating this is modern! God will never contradict Himself! He would never make a Law and then change His mind because men want Him to.
None of the arguments against the Sabbath commandment are worth our time to argue or debate. We need only to have a “thus saith the Lord” to know and obey His will. If we keep to the affirmative in our belief and practice, those who would seek to oppose the truth will be rebuked by our teaching and steadfast example of obedience. Did Noah need to argue with the unbelieving or did he just continue to obey the command of the Lord by build the ark and warning the world?
Robert, I believe the LORD shared with Noah how the flood would happen and that Noah told the people as well.
Why do I believe that - because throughout the Word of the LORD from Adam & Eve onwards we see the LORD explaining in detail His plans for humanity. There are many examples like Isaiah 1:1-20 where He says - Come let us reason together, - He always gives sufficient information for people to make an informed decision.