Sabbath Day

A few days after Christmas, I took my kids to Hobby Lobby to let them spend their Christmas money. I wanted my kids to pick out a new hobby or find something that interests them in making for themselves and others. Cutler picked out a small battery operated motor for his connect-like pieces so he could create things that move. I think he has mind of an engineer. Savanna loves coloring and painting and has already used most off what she picked out. I also purchased a few things. My personal goal is to spend time painting and creating things that will help me spiritually. Some of the best times I have spend on retreats has been when I was creating something that I could use as a prayer guide, like prayer beads. Or, when I was painting or drawing as I was talking to God.

Some in our congregation use various arts and crafts, or other type of hobbies to spend alone time with God or simply to be by themselves and reflect on God’s creation, think through life’s issues, or to build connection. I hope you have a hobby, something that you do or create that helps you connect with God and with yourself.

Pray and Read Psalm 92:1-15

Psalm 92:1–15 NRSV

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! The dullard cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this: though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever, but you, O Lord, are on high forever. For your enemies, O Lord, for your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

We notice that the Psalmist is talking about two things. With a surface read of our text we see words that reference God’s creation. The psalm begins by praising God for His works with our speech, song, and music. God’s mind must be deep. The evildoers are compared to grass. Grass is a weed. Weeds may grow in abundance but they are destroyed quick by the sun or by man. Therefore the lesson is that God will destroy the evildoer. The good, those who are found in the Lord are lifted high and brought to the presence God. The righteous is compared to a palm tree. We don’t have any palm trees here in McMinnville, Tennessee. The palm trees of Ancient Israel looked similar to the ones we find today in warmer climates near large bodies of water. If you have ever traveled to a tropical area, then you can kind of guess what they looked like. They were tall, very tall, like the ones we see today. But they were also more thick with more palm growing out of them. The cedar trees of Ancient Israel is also similar to the ones that grow today. Both of these trees are very tall with full branches and leaves. I like how the Psalmist says that the righteous produce fruit even in their old age. Not only do they consistently produce fruit, but they are green and full of sap. For example, the palm trees produced figs which is a fruit that gets referenced quite frequently in the Bible. We are to be like these trees, as in we are always like new and have abundance when we are found in the Lord. Only the righteous are found in the Lord.

A deeper reading of the Psalm we see the true definition of Sabbath. Did you know that if you count the references to God in this passage, it is seven? Well, we know that it was on the seventh day that God rested when He created the world, right? From what we know about Psalms being a form of poetry, we can safely assume that this is not a coincidence. This psalm is about Praising God for His creation and His vindication of all that is His. The psalmist praises God for giving His people peace and security while their enemies face doom. God gives blessings to those who are found in Him while those who rely on themselves act out of foolishness.

But even more so then this, there will be a time when God’s people will be in complete and eternal peace. All evildoers will perish. This gives us a reason to rejoice, to find joy. Evil will come to an end someday and we will still be alive, flourishing in the presence of God. When there is peace and security, the people rest easy. So imagine the Sabbath rest that is to come. That is what Heaven will be like, an eternal Sabbath. Many times when we think about Heaven, we think about our resting and the beauty of it all.

But heaven is described also as hearing all that are there singing praises to God, declaring His glory. So when we are praising God, we are also practicing Sabbath. God must be a part of our Sabbath or it is just resting. We do need to rest, we need time to sleep and not worry about anything. But our sleeping, vegging, or chilling, what ever you want to call it is not true Sabbath unless God is involved. Since we should be praying without ceasing, and since we understand that God is always with us, it becomes easier to put God into our rest.

So, ways we can enjoy Sabbath is by resting. Find time to reflect on the blessings of God. Spend time doing something that God has given you the talent and ability to do. Find a space where you can read God’s word without interruption. Sit back and listen to your favorite worship and praise music and sing along. If you spend time each time doing these things, your life will be more peaceful and joyful. It doesn’t have to be just on Sunday’s, although it is a good time and it is a designated time for Sabbath. But if you just try to spend an small amount of time each day, or a block of time each week, you will get the benefits of Sabbath rest.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.