Thursday: The Sign That We Belong to God
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 authorities then did something strange. In order to slow down and confuse the enemy, railway signs were removed and road signs were taken down. Engraved markers on stone or on buildings couldn’t be taken down, but they were covered with cement.
Signs are significant. They serve as markers and guides. In the pre-GPS era, we all had maps and watched for signs.
What is the Sabbath a sign of? Read Exodus 31:13, Exodus 31.16-17. In what ways can we apply what is said here to ourselves, today, people who believe in the perpetuity of God’s law?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Though these words were spoken specifically for ancient Israel, we who are Christ’s are “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29), and the Sabbath today remains a sign between God and His people. Exodus 31 points out that the Sabbath is a sign of God’s perpetual (or eternal) covenant ( Exodus 31.16-17). This sign helps us to “know” our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sanctifier. It’s like a flag that gets raised every seven days and functions as something to help us remember, since we tend to forget.
God’s Sabbath is a constant reminder of our origins, our liberation, our destiny, and our responsibility to the outcasts and the marginalized. In fact, the Sabbath is so important that instead of our coming to it, it comes to us, every week and without exception, a perpetual reminder of who we are, who made us, what He is doing for us, and what He will ultimately do for us when He makes new heavens and a new earth.
A holy God invites His human covenant partners to consider the rhythm that governs what really counts — the saving relationship between the Creator and Redeemer and His wayward creation. Every week, and with the force and authority that comes from God, we are commanded to enter into the rest that we have been freely given in Christ Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).
How can you learn to have a deeper experience with God during the Sabbath?
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I have enjoyed reading excerpts from The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Heschel was a leading Jewish Rabbi in the USA from approximately the early 1950s until his death in 1972. He was born in Poland and worked in Germany as a Rabbi until he was arrested by the Gestapo and deported back to Poland. From there he fled to London just before the invasion of Poland and moved to the USA where he became involved in Rabbinical schools and Colleges. He was very active in the civil rights movement. He wrote several books on Jewish thought and philosophy, that are highly regarded both inside and outside Judaism. His Book “Sabbath” is a classic, and although we may differ in some of the theology, it is quite illuminating to read how he interprets Sabbath. I am including several quotes here because his ideas are worthy of challenging our thinking.
Oh my, what a beautiful rendition, an exquisite explanation of the Sabbath. It was like music for the soul. Thank you for including it.
Thank you!!! God Bless; I love this interpretation. I have heard of this Rabbi in the Arise classes that I am taking on-line and I have heard of this book. I think it is worth getting to read and reference on my journey of change and getting to know Christ.
I really enjoyed your contribution thanks Maurice:
To add to this here is another book on the sabbath which is most refreshing:
“Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting”
author: Marva Dawn
This refreshing book invites the reader to experience the wholeness and joy that come from observing God’s order for life—a rhythm of working six days and setting apart one day for rest, worship, festivity, and relationships. Dawn develops a four-part pattern for keeping the Sabbath:
(1)Ceasing—not only from work but also from productivity, anxiety, worry, possessiveness, and so on;
(2) Resting— of the body as well as the mind, emotions, and spirit—a wholistic rest;
(3) Embracing—deliberately taking hold of Christian values, of our calling in life, of the wholeness God offers us;
(4) Feasting—celebrating God and his goodness in individual and corporate worship as well as feasting with beauty, music, food, affection, and social interaction.
One could add one more to this: Immersing - spending time in nature connecting with God’s handiwork
Well, I usually study two days at a time, so I’m already here on Thursday. The very last question is a really important one for me. How to have a deeper experience with God on Sabbath. I’m sure we’ve all been to different events, whether it was camp meeting, week of prayer or even our weekly church service. When they are done well, you know that there was much preparation for it. They didn’t just gather and throw something together that morning. Sadly, I have been to quite a few events that did appear to be done that way, and the point of the service is completely missed by the audience or congregation. The feeling that is put out there is that this was not important enough to the presenters to plan for, and that has been the takeaway for most of those that attended.
Preparation for Sabbath should be no different. Preparation should not just include my “Sabbath chores” on Friday, it should include me, being in scripture all week, every day, gaining a clearer understanding of the God I will be going to worship, in church or wherever you worship. Psalms 95:1-7 really says it well and puts into perspective, who this amazing God is. By spending time each day, contemplating this God, our lives are bound to be a blessing to those who are around us, seeking the peace and rest this God can give.
Sabbath used to be the worst and most 'restrictive' day of the week when I was younger. Now Sabbath freedom is the highlight of my week.
What has brought about this change? Ongoing growth in my understanding of God and the realities of life under His Kingdom compared with those of the Kingdom of Darkness. I now know there is no life apart from God and the ways of His Kingdom - and that life within His Kingdom is the only viable option and that it is truly abundant (John 10:10).
Maurice onceagain again lad, I'm inspired as a result of the contributions you makes to this forum. Thank you. Plz, provide an email address becauseI'd certainly want a copy of this book thank you.
I now have a deeper meaning and understanding of the Sabbath now more than ever. Have kept the Sabbath from birth but never had that feeling of the true meaning of that SACRED day. The only difference it has with other days is we go to church and that's all.
God bless the writers of this quarterly and all the contributors on this platform, you all have in one way or the other enlightened me more on Gods word especially (Sir Maurice). I pray the Holy Spirit guide us and aid us on total obedience to His word. Amen
The Sabbath is a sign that we belong to God IF in fact we do belong to God. Being a Sabbath “keeper” is only one aspect of being a servant of the Lord. The men who condemned and crucified Jesus were Sabbath “keepers”, and were so devoted to the Sabbath that they insisted that the victims on Calvary should not be left on their crosses over the sacred Sabbath hours.
Anyone who truly observes the 7th day Sabbath is demonstrating their acceptance of the sovereignty of Jehovah, and His claim that He created this world, with a day of Rest that all will be blessed to observe. The Lord also states that the Sabbath will be a sign that He has sanctified His obedient people. This means that those who have found the Rest in God's grace are being sanctified daily. Attending church services is not this Rest, since anyone can come to church in nice clothes while still being restless in their soul.
Having a "deeper experience" comes with the surrender of our will to the will of God. Can one get any "deeper" than entire surrender?
Reading Exodus31:13KJV - "..., 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."
Yes, the keeping of the Sabbaths was and still is God's way to point to His relationship with us for the purpose of sanctification; knowing who it is that sanctifies us and that He engages us in the process of sanctification by faith. Though for what purpose beyond knowing that it is He who does this mighty work?
If I understand the focus of this verse to be on who sanctifies, then I know that it is universally applicable; offered to all who believe that God is present and that He offers sanctification. Once I believe this, what then remains?
As the believers' lives change fundamentally because of who we have believed, what are the consequences?
2Tim 1:8-12KJV - v.12"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed [or, trusted], and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
Yes, Sabbath keeping is one of the outward signs that we belong to God; through our ever deepening relationship with Him He enables us to share with others that HE is the LORD who sanctifies man, giving our spiritual relationship with the Father a practical expression.
As Rabbi Herschel points out, the Creator God has offered to submerge, to 'weave man again into the cosmic tapestry through the spiritual power vested in the 'idea of the Sabbath''; He sanctifies the entire living soul to enable man to fully experience and celebrate His Sabbaths!
Thank you Brigitte for bringing to our attention 2Tim 1:12, it is a practical example of having faith in Jesus. While I was looking it up in the online Bible Hub I noticed this verse in the Amplified Bible version which really expanded my understanding of faith.
Bible Hub
2Tim 1:12-14
12 ... I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until that day [when I stand before Him]. 13Keep and follow the pattern of sound teaching (doctrine) which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Shirley - the Amplified Bible Version reaches deeper into the spiritual aspect of the Scripture, making it more readily appreciated by the quick reader. I chew on the words of the Scripture slowly and enjoy the KJV's script. The Holy Spirit brings up that which I can digest when 'eating' of the Bread of Life; this is how I avoid indigestion.
Thanks for adding the remaining verses, they very well complete the picture of the practical application of the Faith of Christ.