During World War II, England was expecting an imminent invasion by the German army. Preparations were made to defend the island home as much as possible. Extra fortifications were installed along the beaches. Roads, of course, would offer the enemy the fastest routes to their objectives, and consequently, blockades were installed at strategic points. English … Continue reading –>
In the New Testament world, the religious leaders had Sabbath keeping down to a fine art. There were dozens of prohibitions and rules established to help keep the Sabbath holy. This included a prohibition against tying or untying anything, separating two threads, extinguishing a fire, transporting an object between a private domain and the public … Continue reading –>
Read Exodus 19:6. What does this text tell us about the status of ancient Israel? (See also 1 Peter 2:9.) Israel had been called out of Egypt to be God’s covenant people, the nation through whom, had they stayed faithful, the gospel would have been spread to the world. No question, they were the object of God’s special … Continue reading –>
As we saw earlier, the Sabbath points to more than just the days of creation. The second time we hear the Ten Commandments, Moses is reviewing Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness. This time, the sentence introducing the reason for keeping the Sabbath holy is not about creation but rather about liberation from slavery and … Continue reading –>
Of all the Ten Commandments, only the fourth begins with the verb “Remember.” It’s not, “Remember, you shall not steal,” or “Remember, you shall not covet.” There is only “Remember the Sabbath day. …” The idea of “remembering” presupposes history, presupposes that something happened in the past that we need to, well, remember. When we … Continue reading –>
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 … Continue reading –>
Power of a Smile By Dale Wolcott The Chinle Seventh-day Adventist Church isn’t exactly located in the best neighborhood on the Navajo Reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona. As the pastor, I live in a trailer beside the church building. Several well-respected neighbors, including a Navajo Nation police officer, live in nearby trailers. But … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “God gave to men the memorial of His creative power, that they might discern Him in the works of His hand. The Sabbath bids us behold in His created works the glory of the Creator. … On the holy rest day, above all other days, we should study the messages that God has … Continue reading –>
God commands His people to keep the Sabbath day. Right along with not murdering and not stealing is the command to remember the Sabbath, even though the Bible doesn’t give us specifics on exactly how we are to keep it. What should be the atmosphere we create and promote on Sabbath? See Psalm 92 and Isaiah 58:13. … Continue reading –>
Israel is camped on the eastern side of the Jordan. They had taken possession of the lands of the king of Bashan and two kings of the Amorites. Once again, at this crucial moment, Moses calls Israel together and reminds them that the covenant made at Sinai was not just for their parents but for … Continue reading –>
