Gimme a Break
Notes
Transcript
There are many who have misunderstood the sabbath, even though the Bible explains it to us.
The Sabbath is traditionally recognized as the last day of the week (based on Genesis 2:2).
With Sunday being the first day, that would make Saturday the sabbath.
However, the Bible never specifically commands us to rest on Saturday. It tells us to work for six days and rest on the last day.
Thus, your starting point could be any day of the week.
The Hebrew word shabbat is found 108 times in the Old Testament.
The basic meaning is “intermission” or “break" or rest. The term never means “Saturday” or “seven.”
The point is that we all need periods of rest, and God (who created us knows it).
Babies and young children spend about half their life in sleep.
A strong, healthy man in his prime needs from 1/4 to 1/3 of his life in sleep.
As we grow older, we begin to need more sleep again.
Like a car, we can only run for so long before we run out of gas. The faster you run it, the faster it runs out of gas.
A car also needs occasional down time for maintenance and/or repair.
Humans also need rest and relaxation to keep running smoothly.
The pattern of resting every seventh day-night cycle was established by God at creation.
The pattern of resting every seventh day-night cycle was established by God at creation.
Genesis 2:1-3
Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Exodus 20:11
Exodus 20:11
God created (worked) for six days and rested and ended His work on the seventh day.
God blessed and sanctified the day of rest in order to commemorate this work and rest cycle for us.
There is no other basis for this pattern.
God gave us a literal model on which to base our weeks, and this gives us a definite example of how to balance our work, rest and worship.
As with most everything else in Scripture, this has been turned into a point of controversy.
The very meaning of the word day has been disputed, so lets look at it.
The Hebrew word “yom” is essentially no different than the english word day.
As with the english word, it can carry different meanings based on context and usage.
If I say “back in my day” the word day is not a literal day. It is referring to an indefinite period of time.
If I say “one day I’m going to travel the world”, it’s the same thing.
If I say “On the second day of our cruise, we will dock at Nassau”, I’m speaking of a specific and literal day.
If I say that a day consists of 24 hours, I’m speaking of a literal day.
Meaning of “day” (yom)
A. assigned a number
B. defined by evening and morning
C. Model for work week:
Everything about the context and syntax points to standard 24 hour days.
Everything about the context and syntax points to standard 24 hour days.
Exodus 20:11
Exodus 20:11
Exodus 31:17
Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”
Long days argument?
Some people point to Psalm 90:3-4 and 2 Peter 3:8 and say that the days refer to an indefinite period of time.
You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.” For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Neither of these passages are speaking of creation, and both indicate that time is meaningless to God.
Time began with creation for man’s benefit.
In fact, it only benefits man, not even the animals have any use of the recognition of time.
Just as the earth was created to be inhabited and used by man for man’s benefit, so is time a creation to benefit man.
Time would not have existed before the creation, as God lives outside of time. He is eternal.
Exodus 20:11 & Exodus 31:17 clearly speak of ordinary days.
The creation days were absolutely literal days, and they provide a literal example for us.
There is no relationship for the seven-day week in any astronomical clock reference: solar, stellar, or lunar.
In fact, the Lord Jesus clearly told us that He made the sabbath for humanity.
Jesus clearly tells us that the sabbath was created for man.
Jesus clearly tells us that the sabbath was created for man.
Mark 2:27
Mark 2:27
And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
It was created for our benefit so that we can rest and recharge as needed.
Apart from God’s specific design, we would have no reason to observe the seven-day week, which is common to all cultures.
All humanity observes the seven-day cycle from both a practical and physical need.
Christians; however, should acknowledge that the sabbath was dedicated by God at creation to be a day of not just rest, but also sanctification.
While we need physical rest, we also need spiritual rest.
Our greatest rest is found in the Lord.
Our greatest rest is found in the Lord.
Psalm 46:10
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 37:7
Psalm 37:7
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Exodus 33:14
Exodus 33:14
And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
You can only find rest in the Lord once you’ve accepted Him as your Lord and Savior.
Once you’ve professed your faith, you can find rest.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
This commandment is the only command listed with a specific reason. We should do it because the Lord did it.
God’s people should follow the pattern He set (Genesis 2:1-3) and recognize the wonder and majesty of the creation (Exodus 20:11).
We should cease from our own profitable employment (Exodus 20:9-10) and, more importantly, concentrate on the worship of our Creator.
