God Gives Rest

Lord of the Sabbath

sets precedent

1 Samuel 21:1 “1 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech came trembling to meet David and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?””

1 Samuel 21:6 “6 So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before Yahweh, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.”

David also took Goliaths sword from there

Pharisees are again upset when extrabiblical tradition is desecrated and dishonored, revealing what matters most to them. The grace of God is never present in their theology. They have a hard time knowing God because they only see the world as black and white.

Mark 2:27 LSB

27 And Jesus was saying to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Whats the Sabbath?

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Sabbath

A day of complete rest from secular work following six days of labor. Established and modeled by God

Mark 2:28 LSB

28 “Consequently the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

The New Testament presents the Sabbath as fundamentally reoriented around Christ’s person and work rather than as a binding legal obligation. Jesus taught that the Sabbath existed for human benefit, not the reverse (Mark 2:23–3:6), challenging the restrictive interpretations his contemporaries enforced. He claimed authority over the Sabbath itself—positioning himself as Lord of it—which implied an authority exceeding even the Mosaic law and suggested he would ultimately fulfill the Sabbath’s blessings.

Therefore, Jesus establishes Himself as the law-giver which thus means He is the law interpreter, and by His own proclamation and life, the law fulfiller.

Following this announcement, He heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, driving home the explanation of the Sabbath that doing good never takes a day off.

IN other words, for the past 3 months, you have been doing good to me on my extended Sabbath rest. You gave me what i needed, you did it with a heart for the work of God, and He was trusted and honored in that way.

It was not normal or traditional and yet you did it anyway. The Bible does not say you have to provide that extended period of rest, but you decided it was good and pleasing to the Lord so you did it. You have also now set precedent. Do not kick the can down the road, make sure this story is remembered and referred back to in the future.

Sabbath Testimony

your witness to the brothers and sisters out there- northwest, kc metro, alaska, florida, etc.

my need for it - i hid a debilitating and intense battle with anxiety and depression

my world got too loud - i needed time to hear from the Lord again

i had to find out what was friendly and what was detrimental in my life

I had to consistently walk away from those things and walk with the Lord so i was hearing Him more than other things

i needed clarity and surety in the changes that needed to be made - nothing changes if nothing changes

Why a Sabbatical

how did we decide that a sabbatical was the answer?

1. God Establishes Rest in Creation

From the very beginning, God models rest for His people. After six days of creative work, “God rested on the seventh day” and blessed it as holy (Genesis 2:2–3). This establishes rest as a creational pattern woven into the fabric of human life. Ministry, like all work, requires rhythms of exertion and renewal.

2. God Commands Rhythms of Rest for His People

The Sabbath command (Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15) calls God’s people to cease from labor weekly. This rest is grounded both in creation and in redemption. God also commanded rest for the land, servants, animals, and the entire community (Exodus 23:10–12; Leviticus 25). These patterns demonstrate that rest is not optional but essential for sustained faithfulness.

3. God Provides Rest for the Weary

Throughout Scripture, God meets His servants in their exhaustion. Elijah, overwhelmed and depleted, is given sleep, nourishment, and time away before being restored to ministry (1 Kings 19). David speaks of God making him “lie down” and restoring his soul (Psalm 23:1–3). Rest is one of the means by which God renews His people for continued service.

4. Jesus Models Withdrawal and Renewal

Jesus frequently withdrew from the crowds and even from His disciples to pray, rest, and be alone with the Father (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). After intense ministry, He commanded His disciples, “Come away by yourselves… and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). If the Lord Himself practiced intentional rhythms of rest, His undershepherds should do the same.

5. Jesus Invites His People Into Rest

Jesus’ invitation—“Come to me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28–30)—reveals His heart for the weary. Ministry often places pastors in prolonged seasons of emotional and spiritual strain. A sabbatical provides space to respond to Christ’s invitation and receive the rest He promises.

6. The New Testament Envisions Ongoing Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 3–4 teaches that a “Sabbath rest” remains for the people of God. This rest is both a present spiritual reality and a future hope. Pastors, who labor in preaching, teaching, shepherding, and spiritual oversight, need seasons to enter more deeply into this rest so they can continue leading others toward it.