Tuesday: Covenant Sign
“The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 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 rested and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:16-17).
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Four times in Scripture the Sabbath is designated as a “sign” (Exodus 31:13, Exodus 31:17; Ezekiel 20:12, Ezekiel 20:20). A “sign” is not a “symbol” in the sense of a thing that naturally typifies, represents, or recalls something else, because both share similar qualities (for example, a symbol of a fist often denotes “might” or “power”). In the Bible, the Sabbath as a “sign” functioned as an outward mark or object or condition intended to convey a distinctive message. Nothing in the sign itself particularly linked it to the covenant. The Sabbath was a covenant sign “between me and you throughout your generations” (Exodus 31:13, RSV) only because God said it was.
Why would the Lord use the Sabbath as a covenant sign? What is it about the Sabbath that would make it so appropriate a symbol of the saving relationship with God? Remembering that a crucial aspect of the covenant is that we are saved by grace, that works cannot save us, what is it about the Sabbath itself that makes it such a good symbol of that relationship? (See Genesis 2:3, Hebrews 4:1-4.)
What is fascinating about the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant of grace is that for centuries the Jews have understood the Sabbath to be the sign of Messianic redemption. They saw in the Sabbath a foretaste of salvation in the Messiah. Because we understand redemption as coming only from grace, and because we understand the covenant to be a covenant of grace, the link between the Sabbath, Redemption, and the covenant is made clear (see Deuteronomy 5:13-15). Thus, contrary to common opinion, the Sabbath is a sign of God’s saving grace; it’s not a sign of salvation by works.
| How do you understand what it means to “rest” on the Sabbath? How do you rest on the Sabbath? What do you do differently on that day that makes it a “sign”? Could someone who knows you look at your life and see that the Sabbath really is a special day for you? |
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When I was a kid, I was scared spitless that I would see some of my school mates on Sabbath and that they would start talking about the footy match they had been playing. I would be breaking the Sabbath. In fact keeping ourselves separate on Sabbath seemed pretty much the norm and it wasn't just confined to us kids. Looking back now, I can see why our friends in other churches regarded our Sabbath keeping as legalistic. On Sabbath, in particular, we were exclusive.
Reading the lesson this week, one could easily jump to the conclusion that we have surrounded the Sabbath with a fence of exclusiveness. Consequently I think it would help us if we reviewed the language and the traditions (did I just say a bad word) we have surrounded the Sabbath with, and started to think of the Sabbath as a shareable experience.
In our church we have what are called life-groups. They are small groups that share activities together. One such group meets early on Sabbath morning and goes for a run. Typically they meet, have a quick worship together and then set off on an easy relaxing jog through the bush. They stop and have a chat at the end then head off for a quick shower and get ready for church. The interesting thing is that secular friends of these folk heard about the run and wanted to come too. Now there are about 50 folk running on a Sabbath morning, enjoying the fresh air and waking their bodies and minds up for the day. I know about this because at this hour on a Sabbath morning, I am usually out with a few mates photographing birds. When the runners go past the birds fly off and within a few seconds the birds are back again. And if we are very quiet, the birds think we have run off with the runners and are no longer there. So we don't really mind the runners going past. I should add that although our birding group is not one of the church life-groups, we often meet other bird photographers on the tracks on Sabbath morning and once again informally share the experience of the Sabbath in a casual and an inviting way.
I mention these activities because I believe that the Sabbath was never meant to be an exclusive (read that as selfish) experience. It is something to be shared with others, and we honour God best when we share the experience with others.
I think it is a great idea for sharing the Sabbath.
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isa 58:1
Covenant Sign
There is a difference between a sanctified and an unsanctified mind.
As in the time of Jesus, the Israelites were trying to guard the sabbath by making laws to guard the laws. People have taken the sabbath to great lengths. Many have taken it to the far left as legalist, many have taken it to the far right as conservatism. Many blamed and bombarded Jesus as being legalist because he did good on the sabbath. I believe many will or can do almost anything in the name of 'goodness' on the sabbath. We can go and cook our neighbor food every sabbath, or does the shopping or clean the steps on the sabbath and call it a good thing/gesture. We can send out kids to the school closing prom or dance and said it is a once in a life time. Better yet, we are having our church board/business meetings and graduations on sabbaths. Dont forget, we can go and have a nice time on the beaches on sabbath. Oh, we can have an open air vegan/vege cook out and share out tracts and steps to Christ as a new age enlightment on the sabbath. We can go on and on in the name of 'goodness' on the sabbath. What does Exod 20:8-11. Isa 58:13-14 says? If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure, 'thy pleasure'. What is our pleasure? Is it Jesus pleasure?
Some of our Sabbath keeping habits or principles ( from my experience here in Germany and Austria) may shed a wrong light on our secular friends. Many would make comments on the restrictions forbidding us to enjoy life on that day. Their deduction comes from the notion, that just because we do not go to restaurants or do shopping, visit theatre etc. This is in a way negative exclusiveness, so often I find myself trying to defend that point and explain the real meaning of the Sabbath and what the Lord had intended for us by the 4th commandment. Have any of you similar experience?
My co-workers know since the university days of my Sabbath keeping habits. This has kept me with this "sign" for 25 years, and either they got used to or simply forgot about it. Lately, basically my church practices have become virtual, but the most cherished moments are the ones spent with friends in the Sabbath School class! Sometimes we are only 4-5 people (10-12 is the most, although the class has around 40 people enrolled), but what a joy when we get together (virtually) to discuss what we have studied during the week! Since I'm an university teacher I'm always on-line with students, but this is totally different, here we are all teachers and students! And we all feel free and anxious to share our week's experiences and God's actions over every individual life! To me, besides doing and thinking on different things (I also go to nature when possible), the perfect Sabbath keeping is when I attend the Sabbath School Class! That's the high point of my whole week!
My love for this activity probably recalls some awesome and great children experiences I've had, which I'll probably never forget! But I do have friends that did not have these experiences as a child, and still cherish the Sabbath School Class!
When we go to the dictionary and look out for the word WORSHIP, we find:
"a. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
b. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed..."
Thank you!
Amina- I have a lot of friends who are not SDA. On invited me to go shopping with her recently. I told her I cant go. Later I explained to her about the sabbath. She said to me Saturday or Sunday to her does not matter as long as you/we all serve the same Lord. I know many SDA go to places forbidden on sabbath. I personally told my children if anyone decides to get married on the sabbath I will not attend and I meant it. I did not go to my college/uni graduation on sabbath. When it was their turn to graduate some had it on the sabbath which I did not attend, they did. 'Not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, not speaking thine own words- anything that leads us to do there are against our Holy Father on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not our day, six belongs to us and one to him. Keep speaking out, that is not negative exclusiveness. We use the bible to speak about blessing and curse. We honor Jesus on the sabbath we will be bless, we disobey him, we will be curse.
I pray that at some point we will begin to focus less on what we cannot do on the Sabbath and more on what we can. Our presentation of the Sabbath makes appear less of a blessing and more like a burden. I love the Sabbath for what it brings to my life.
I have similar experiences and find it a pleasure to point persons to the intent of the sabbath. The reception is not always welcoming and can become a defensive discussion. However, discussing God's purpose for the sabbath in a gentle, timely and non-threatening manner can enlighten and enrich the lives of others. They too will gain the blessings and appreciate it's purpose.
The LORD says the Sabbath is a sign that He created us and that He saves us from slavery to sin, that He re-creates us, transforms our character to be like His.
So is this Sabbath-sign for us to remember or to show the world we are different?
How often when asked how different our beliefs are to other Christians the first thing some say is we keep the Sabbath as if it is a badge of honour or the only difference. I believe the difference is what we believe/understand about the character of the LORD and our relationship with Him.
If we read the texts in today's guide the LORD says the Sabbath is a sign between you and Me of our covenant, our relationship commitment to each other, a day of complete rest, a day dedicated to the LORD. I ask myself how is the Sabbath different to the other days for me, how is it special? Do I spend the time getting closer to the LORD?
Just before COVID shutdown and online church my church decided to distribute tracts during lesson study time. The set study time was increasingly diminished by other departmental activities/announcements or Urgent Conference programs. If worship is to edify the body could we not do the tract distribution during the other six week days? Class members had little other opportunity for questions. What are your thoughts?
One church I attended engaged in this activity on scheduled Sabbaths. A 'general' lesson study was held on that day, so that those who did not wish to go out, or those that could not go out had 'class'.
Another church went out with tracts on Sabbath afternoon after lunch. The Personal ministries department would spearhead such ventures and provide material for members to do the same in their areas during the week.
Yet another church followed the model of friendship evangelism and did not pass out tracts any day of the week.
As history on this fallen world proves, the 7th day Sabbath has been a very specific and highly contested sign of faith in God. Many have been and will be persecuted for their obedience to this commandment of the LORD. I have personally lost my job 4 times because of my belief and observance of the Sabbath. In all but one case, I received a better position within the week. The last one did not result in a “better” employment position, but in looking back, God blessed more than I could have imagined.
I should also add that my employment was preserved by what could have only been divine intervention when told on two different occasions that I could not leave until the job was completed, both times on Friday afternoon. Both times, the math told me that someone was not going to be very happy when the time for me to leave would come, but in both cases, I left even earlier than usual and no one was upset.
God does bless us more than we can imagine. When my wife and I first started keeping The Sabbath together, I had the opportunity to apply for a position with the government as an aircraft electrician. When I got to the "hours available" section of the application, I filled in my Sabbath conviction along with the Bible reference. I was hired, and on occasion became known as the "Sunday go to guy" when they required a Sunday person. I retired after 43 years, 4 months, and 7 days and God provided me all of those Sabbaths off. I now work part-time in the garden department of a national chain store. My schedule has me working on Sundays, with Friday afternoons and Sabbaths off.
Witness up front about the Sabbath when applying for a position and leave the outcome up to God!
Maurice, I have been puzzled for some time on how SDA treat with federal elections in your country. My understanding is that these elections are always held on Saturdays, voting is mandatory and that eligible electors who do not vote are fined. I am aware that many other countries have elections on Saturdays, but knowing the diverse views on voting in the SDA church, much less voting on Sabbath, how is it viewed in Australia?
It is not a problem. All elections, federal, state, and local, offer postal voting and pre-polling to those who cannot attend on the day. You have to give a reason for voting by one of these methods, but the number of acceptable reasons are quite broad and include religious observance.
We got into trouble once because we were travelling before the candidates were declared for a local election. We could not get to a prepolling booth and we had no way of applying for a postal vote either. We were given a hefty fine but we just submitted a statuary declaration that we were interstate at the time and were let off.
Mr Ashton I would like to know what you think about attending a funeral service on the Sabbath.
The lesson states that the Sabbath is a "sign of God's saving grace,but the bible states that the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant. Why have we added that it is ...God's saving grace? When I look at the lives of the children of Israel,they kept the Sabbath "the sign" but many were lost. When I consider the world and God's children many will be saved who did not keep the Sabbath.Are we as a Church putting the wrong emphasis on the"sign"? What has this sign to do with saving grace?
If there is one subject that is a 'hot topic'it is 'HOW to keep the Sabbath. However, we can surely avoid exclusivism. Exclusivism extends in all directions. While the activities on Sabbath are sometimes traditional and cultural exclusivism covers all areas. Whether it's potluck or fasting, others should know they are welcome. There are certain activities with which we will never be comfortable due to our beliefs, but we can always include others unless our belief is that we are to spend the Sabbath hours alone.
The sabbath is a sign between God and his people so that we know that He is our God !!
We should be very careful as to how we observe the sabbath,becareful of doing thy own things on sabbath but do that which glorifies God,let us do the works of mercy and evangelise,read the word,pray and worship the Lord on sabbath. There is no room for self gratification on God's Holy day.Let us read carefully Exod 20 vs 8-11,Exod 16 and hear what God wants us to do on the sabbath and not to do...read also Early Writing chp 3, the vision of EGW when she was show those that once kept the sabbath but gave up or trodded it underfoot...Help us God !!!
I think sometimes we make the sabbath a list of to-do's or not todos! I think we forget that it is a time where we are to enjoy the time with our creator. And by making a list of things we can and cannot do we become too legalistic, like the Pharisees!!