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The Sabbath: A Day Of Rest Exodus 31:12-18
rebel against God and the Law of God revealed through Moses.
When we read the Bible, we are reading the words of God spoken to and through His mes- sengers, and the Bible gives us enough evidence to believe what is written in the Bible and to act accordingly. Every word spoken by anyone who claims to be a messenger from God should be tested by what the Bible teaches, because God will never contra- dict Himself or His words in the Bible.
Three times in our text (vv. 13, 14, and 16) the Lord com- manded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath. This word is used 468 times in the Old Testament and means “keep,” “heed,” “guard,” “watch,” or “preserve.” Four reasons underline this im- perative. First, it was a sign. It indicated that Israel and God were in a binding agreement with one another. Second, it was wrapped up in the Lord’s iden- tity (so you may also know that I am the Lord) who works salvifi- cally to make his people holy.
Third, the day itself was sa- cred (holy, the normal word for set apart for God’s use). Fourth, it followed the Lord’s own exam- ple (v. 17). On the seventh day God rested and was refreshed. God does not get tired, but “re- freshed” is a form of the word
“spirit.” It means to “take a breath.” It is a holy pause.
Break It?—No Exodus 31:14b, 15
Again, God is dead serious about the Sabbath (vv. 14, 15). The punishment for desecrating (the word means to “pollute,” or “profane,” or “defile”) this com- mandment was death. Consider Numbers 15:32-36 for an ac- tual time when this was carried out. God’s commandment was to be taken seriously.
God set apart the Sabbath for us, for our benefit, for our phys- ical and spiritual benefit. The LORD forbids desecrating work on the Sabbath. God forbids work that insults Him, defiles a believer, or harms others or one- self by sins of commission or omission. God does not forbid deeds of kindness and mercy on the Sabbath. Jesus said: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sab- bath” (Mark 2:27-28).
What Christians are forbid- den and permitted to do on the Sabbath is best illustrated by what Jesus did and taught, for Jesus healed on the Sabbath and He went to synagogues and the temple on the Sabbath to bless others with His miracles and His teachings.
Celebrate It?—Yes
Exodus 31:16-18
Observance of the Sabbath was to be a lasting covenant be- cause there would never be a time when God’s people would not need rest and spiritual re- newal upon the earth. The ob- servance of the Sabbath is doing what God says we need because we trust that He knows what we need.
Israel was not only to cease from their 24/6 labor on the Sabbath. Israel was also to cele- brate the Sabbath.
This celebration (or “doing” Sabbath) allowed Israel to make their offerings in worship to the Lord and gave them time to as- semble (Numbers 28:9, 10; Leviticus 23:3). While Chris- tians must be careful of turning Sabbath commands into imper- atives for Sunday, there is some- thing to be said for pausing for corporate worship. It is good to celebrate corporately by bring- ing a sacrifice of praise to the Lord (Hebrews 13:15). That being said, Jesus taught that he was the Lord of the Sabbath, and that the Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27, 28). Since it is a gift from God and made for us, it should be celebrated.
The Sabbath observance might not be the command of God for us, but it is the Word of God for us.
God is dead serious about rest. He did it (Genesis 2:2). He commanded his people to do it (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-17). He gave it to the land and animals (v. 14; Leviticus 25:1-7). He gives it to his followers now (Matthew 11:28-30) and eter- nally (Hebrews 4:9, 10). Heaven is a rest of sorts (Reve- lation 14:13). Rest has several nuances in the Bible.
One sure way to know if you were an Israelite (besides your diet, your law, and circumcision) was whether or not you rested every seven days.
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
God uses messengers to speak to His people. The LORD spoke to Moses, and God used signs and wonders to confirm His words before and after He led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt through Moses.
Moses wrote for the Israelites what God had revealed (even in- scribed) to him on the mountain
(Exodus 31:18). God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage (1-4), which he did through a series of plagues (5-11). God redeemed Israel from Egypt and began leading the nation through the wilderness (12-17). God pre- pared Israel for the giving of his law (18-20) and even gave his own commentary on that law (21-24). God gave specific in- structions to Moses about the nature of the priesthood and the building of the tabernacle (25- 31:11). One item remained for Moses before he went down the mountain and found the Is- raelites involved in idolatrous worship (Exodus 32). That item concerned the importance of the Sabbath observance. Exodus 31:12-14a
God gave the Hebrews enough evidence to believe everything Moses said as a mes- senger of God, and to disbelieve Moses and refuse to act rightly according to the words of God spoken through Moses was to
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