The Sabbath

What is the sabbath?

Genesis 2:1–2 NIV

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

First -

Sabbath is NOT just a day off

We have a vacation mentality with work - work work work work work and then take 2 weeks off to recuperate.

INSTEAD:

Sabbath teaches us that we are human beings

Deuteronomy 5:15 NIV

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

So Moses is saying - the Lord SAVED you from slavery, by his power. And as a result of that, he commanded…a rest?

We talked a while ago about how we’re all a slave to something. We all DO, in some fashion. And we can’t help but escape the idea that we are STILL defined by our DOINGS.

What’s a question that often come up when you meet omebod? ‘What do you do for a living?’

With the Sabbath, God wanted to remind us that we’re his - and we’re built to take a break and just be with Him. That one of the things that God asks of us specifically takes us off that endless treadmill of doing, and forces us to just sit back and…be.

Sabbath is about denying the self part of our nature, and embracing God’s part in our lives

We often act like the world will stop working if we do. But we’re not God.

Secondly,

Sabbath is NOT a legalistic burden

The jews of Jesus’ day had heavy sets of rules for observing the sabbath. To them, the sabbath was a weighty command from God, and they had to jump through hundreds of hoops to avoid accidentally breaking it. They saw sabbath as a bar set to punish people with.

Sabbath is a time of reconnection with God, and the joy of what He’s done

Psalm 92 is a psalm meant to be sung on the Sabbath day. And the first bit goes like this:

Psalm 92:1–5 NIV

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!

That is a reflection of the heart of the Sabbath. And Paul taught us something very interesting about the sabbath:

Colossians 2:16–17 NIV

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

So Paul says, the sabbath is a shadow of a reality that we have in Christ. So when we look at the form and nature of the sabbath - we’re seeing a rough outline of Christ. And in Christ - we don’t face endless sets of legalistic rules and expectations. We are given a free seat at the table, with a wonderful buffet set out before us.

Focus on and build up your relationship with Jeus through the sabbath

Don’t just take a day to sit on the couch. Listen to worship music. Pray. Read your bible. If you want to go out for a walk, spend some of that time praying and thanking God for the wonder of nature. But make it a conscious effort to not just set aside a day FROM work - but to set aside a day TO Christ.

Lastly,

Sabbath is NOT a recommendation

We act like God is all wishy-washy about this idea. ‘Hey guys, I want ou to take a day of holy rest once a week - if you feel like it - and if it fits into your long term work schedule, your retirement plans, etc etc etc’.

Sabbath is a necessary part of our spiritual walk with God

Leviticus 16:31 NIV

It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.

Moses here is saying - this is something God has created for all of us, for all time.

Exodus 34:21 NIV

“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

For farmers, plowing season and harvest season is the time of HUGE amounts of work.

Make sabbath a priority in your life

This will mean sacrifice. It will mean giving up opportunities to do more for yourself. And trust me - this applies no matter how busy you are.

The Sabbath is a shadow of our life with Jesus

Matthew 11:28–29 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.