Wednesday: Waiting in God’s Sabbath Rest
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 27th of March 2024
Read Psalms 92:1-15. What two aspects of the Sabbath day are highlighted in this song for the Sabbath day?
The praise of God for the great works of His hands (Psalms 92:4-5) and the Eden-like portrayal of the righteous (Psalms 92:12-14) clearly point to Creation, the first aspect that the Sabbath commemorates. The psalm also magnifies the Lord for His victory over enemies as the God of justice (Psalms 92:7-15) and so reinforces the second Sabbath theme—redemption from evil (Deuteronomy 5:12-15). Thus, Psalms 92:1-15 extols God for His past Creation and present sustaining of the world, and it points to the end-time hope in eternal divine peace and order.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
The people can enjoy Sabbath rest because God is the “Most High” (Psalms 92:1, NKJV); His superior position on the high places gives Him an unparalleled advantage over their enemies.
Yet, although He is the Most High, the Lord readily reaches down to rescue those who call on Him. The Lord’s work of creation and especially redemption of that creation should inspire people to worship God and love Him. After all, living in a fallen creation, without the hope of redemption, isn’t anything to be particularly thrilled about. We love, we suffer, we die—and do so without any hope. Hence, we praise the Lord, not only as our Creator but as our Redeemer, as well.
“Fresh oil” conveys the psalmist’s renewed devotion to serve God as His reconsecrated servant (Psalms 92:10). The anointing with oil was done for consecration of chosen people such as priests and kings (Exodus 40:15, 1 Samuel 10:1). Yet, the psalmist chose an unusual Hebrew word, balal, to describe his anointing that does not typically depict anointing of God’s servants but denotes “mixing” of oil with other parts of the sacrifice (Exodus 29:2, NKJV; Leviticus 2:4-5). The psalmist’s unique use of balal implies that the psalmist wishes to present himself as a living sacrifice to the Lord and to consecrate his whole self to God (Romans 12:1).
It is not surprising to find thoughts about consecration in a psalm that is dedicated to the Sabbath because the Sabbath is the sign that the Lord sanctifies His people (Exodus 31:13). The images of palm trees and cedars of Lebanon portray God’s people growing in faith and true appreciation of God’s wonderful purposes and love. The Sabbath is the sign of the Lord’s eternal covenant with His people (Ezekiel 20:20). Thus, the Sabbath rest is essential to God’s people because it empowers them to trustingly wait upon the Lord to fulfill all His covenantal promises (Hebrews 4:1-10).
Read through Psalms 92:1-15 again. What great hope is offered to us there, and how can we, even right now, take comfort in what it says?
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When I was a school kid we attended a public school where we were the only Seventh-day Adventists. I remember being scared spitless that I would run into some of my school mates on Sabbath. We were dressed up in our Sabbath clothes. We had shirts with starched collars, a tie, a suit with short pants (until I was 13), long socks and black shiny shoes that had been polished on Friday night. My mates would be out playing Footy (Rugby Union) on Saturday, while we were attending Sabbath School, Church and JMVs. We felt isolated because we looked so different to the rest on the Sabbath. Church was not something we would even think about inviting our Footy-playing friends to. We were, to be quite honest, embarrassed by our religion. For us children being a Seventh-day Adventist was at times a big burden. It stood out like a sore thumb in the week.
I have come to love the Sabbath – that is a long story – and part of that love has developed in breaking down the walls of isolation between others and us. There are activities that I take part in that both in harmony with the spirit of Sabbath-keeping and eminently shareable with my secular friends. I am, of course, referring to my birdwatching. Watching nature is both peaceful and at the same time provides an opportunity to witness God’s creativity. My secular friends of course replace “God” with “Nature”, but even that has a creator sense beyond us.
Now I am not saying that everyone goes birdwatching on Sabbath. But we may benefit from thinking about the shareability of our Sabbath experiences. My secular friends would not in their wildest imagination sit with me for a Bible study on the nature of the Godhead, or the Sanctuary service. But sharing in a passion for creatures that delight and inspire is something we can share for hours.
Jesus said:
Read the context. Jesus is redefining the Jewish view of sacredness.
God gave us the Sabbath as a special gift and it is a gift that multiplies as we share it with others.
And just in case you think I only watch birds here is my lastest nature video for Sabbath viewing. (By the way if you watch this video and want to ask questions about the content and techniques, leave a question in Youtube under the video. I read and answer the comments.)
Thank you for those beautiful breathtaking detailed photographs; although l am totally clueless re the technical jargon and know how. In a way it reminds me a little of how we relate to GOD. We know next to nothing of the working and works of GOD in nature and in our lives but oh boy how we appreciate waking up in the morning to a fresh bounty of blessings. To be able to see, hear and breathe, move. Those of us who may be afflicted either mentally or physically have the hope of complete restoration. Thank you again for sharing with us the often unnoticed, unappreciated marvels of GOD’s creation.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
God's ways are much higher than mine. But as limited as I am, sometimes I stubbornly stick to my ideas and try to walk my path. God is unique and left His Word so I could see where to go. I insist on developing my theories. The Bible is clear about what pleases God, but unfortunately, I deviate and try to offer what I think is best.
Love may be expressed differently, so God had to renew His covenant with humanity. Jesus' sacrifice did not replace but confirmed God's commandments and the Sabbath is just one of them.
Today’s lesson title: “Waiting in God’s Sabbath Rest” means to me that this ‘Rest’ implies faith and trust in that God’s Plan to redeem the earth and mankind is at work in me - my life. If we truly have faith in Him, we express this through His Spirit which works in us.
Isaiah 30:15 - ”In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”, has become my favorite bible verse as it sheds heaven's Light on what Salvation and Rest mean. To me, it does not mean to be busy finding ways to make Sabbath meaningful; it means that, as a living soul, I am to 'rest' – to be content with believing that I am my heavenly Father’s child who is loved and guided by Him.
All that God asks of us is to love Him with all our heart. Then He will manifest in us the mystery of our born-again nature which is 'contained' in our love for Him. As we 'rest in Him', we become an active part of His ongoing Plan of redemption of our earth and mankind.
The fruit of His Spirit working in and through us, reaching out to those we come in contact with, produce love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – Gal. 5:22-23. I believe these qualities is what He desires for us to express to our fellow man as He leads us to rest in His Spirit.
Amen,thank You Lord of the Sabbath
The Sabbath! What a blessing it has been to me all through my nearly nine decades of life! Of course, my early years were all about the "don'ts. Instead of being burdensome to me, they provided a clear path which helped me to stand firmly for Jesus in one of the most wicked cities-Las Vegas. It took many years for me to understand Grace. Yet, even today I catch myself judging others. Miracles, in my case, are still needed.
Don’t follow Satan, this terrible fiend
He will fight for each soul until his bitter end
He was cast out of heaven with his bag of tricks
A spurious Sabbath. Not the first of his picks.
A now burning hell. An immortal soul.
Praying to Mary to make one whole.
And billions have willingly flocked to his side
Forgetting whose the conductor of this hellbent ride.
“The Lord’s Day is Sunday” trumpets the Pope
And Christians have followed in a run, not a lope
Ignoring truth found in God’s Holy Word
Joyfully journeying with that soon to lost herd.
The nine commandments will keep, but that fourth “no way”
Because didn’t Jesus arise on a Sunday?
No, God set the day we must worship upon
And He sealed that day by sending His Son
Who kept the seventh day holy, each day of His life
As did His disciples thru pain and deep strife.
God said “I am the same yesterday, today and forever”.
His law will endure. He wrote it with his finger
Not on tablets of paper or in the sand
But on stone which means they will eternally stand
Throughout endless ages. No man’s hand can change them
Though he’s certainly tried
And they were not done away with on the day Jesus died.
So. Open your Bibles. Don’t depend on another
Not even a friend, a preacher or a brother.
For you will stand alone before your Lord and King
Among the lost or the eternally living.
His Commandments, all ten, not just the remaining nine
But the fourth said “Remember” and there is still time
To keep the Sabbath Day holy-the last day of Creation
He gave to all peoples and to every nation.
To honor Him. A special time to remember and speak
Of all the blessings He has given throughout the past week.
Rest He has offered but most call it legalism
But Sunday is nothing more than mere symbolism.
It was never made holy by God or His Son
Turn! Turn! Stop worshipping the Sun.
For the seventh day was made holy at the birth of this earth
And it will last through the ages when it receives its new birth.