Both men and the Church have interpreted the Sabbath, and in doing so, have separated themselves from the blessed concept and truth of God. Generally, it is considered a day of rest and perhaps, relaxation. However, the rest into which God invites us is more powerful than that understanding implies. The observance of the Sabbath is so vital that it is one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God:
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thy labour and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days, the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore, the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20:8-11
The sabbath is first mentioned earlier as the children of Israel murmured about their lack in the wilderness, and felt resentment towards Moses and Aaron for their condition. The LORD heard their murmurs and tested Israel in their faith in His word, and in His provision for them. In the evenings, the LORD promised that He would provide flesh (quail) for them to eat, and in the mornings, He would "rain bread from heaven" for them encompassed in the dew. As the dew evaporated, the bread was left behind. It would be "bread to the full", that would well satisfy their need for the day. Each day for six days, they could collect an omer portion per person of the bread (manna: "What is it?"). If they collected more or less than the omer commanded, when they went to measure it, it measured to be an omer anyway. If they tried to keep part of that omer portion for the next day, not believing God's promise of new provision, the bread would become wormy. On the sixth day only, they could collect a double portion to have on hand for the seventh day, when there would be no bread provided for their collection on the sabbath (Ex. 16:1-26):
"Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?" Ex. 16:26-28
The symbolic power of the miraculous provision of the manna, and its incorporation into the sabbath blessing, was so important to God's people, that an omer of the manna was collected to be placed in the ark of the covenant. It represented covenant provision, and covenant rest in faith.
The sabbath also played a crucial role in the blessings of the Feasts of the LORD. The Day of Atonement created a sabbath, for example. "It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever." (Lev. 16:31). The Day of Atonement is a prophetic foreshadow of the atonement work of Christ on the cross, and written this way:
"And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments..." v. 32
The priest made the atonement for the holy sanctuary, the tabernacle, the altar, the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. This was to be an everlasting statute (v. 33-34).
The Book of Hebrews tells us that Christ is our High Priest who makes the atonement for us with His own blood. This created and fulfilled a sabbath for us, as the Day of Atonement did for Israel.
Psalm 92 was written as a song for the sabbath day. In it, the psalmist thanks and praises God for all of His works: "For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands." v. 4. The works of the LORD for which the psalmist remembers and praises Him on the sabbath day, includes a personal and eternal work in the soul of the individual: "I shall be anointed with fresh oil...The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him." v. 10,12-15
This is the sabbath blessing for us: the completion of God's wonderful work for us and in us, as well as in all creation. This is what makes the sabbath a holy thing in God's sight, and in ours. The prophets told us that faithfully honoring the LORD's Sabbath would complete a wonderful work in us. Isaiah wrote that we would be called "The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." (Isa. 58:12). We would be caused to ride upon the high places of the earth, and be fed with the heritage of Jacob, our father (v. 14). Honoring the Sabbath is not about relaxing in our leisure and entertainment for the day, finding our own pleasure and going our own way. Honoring the Sabbath is about understanding the honor due His Word, and calling His sabbath a delight (oneg-exquisite delight, delicate life, to be soft and pampered) (v, 13).
Jeremiah connects the honoring of the sabbath directly to the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah:
"Then there shall enter into the gates of this city (Jerusalem) kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. And they shall come...bringing sacrifices of praise into the house of the LORD." Jer. 17:25-26
Although religious legalists would interpret the keeping of the Sabbath in a burdensome manner, Jesus taught that this was not the intention of God for this day. The sabbath celebrates the holiness and completion of God's work, and Jesus did just this. He made it a point to heal on the sabbath. Though the religious leaders sought to persecute and even kill Jesus for "working" on the sabbath, Jesus answered: "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." (Jn. 5:16-17). The true meaning and holiness of the sabbath encapsulates the Lordship of Jesus Christ: "For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day." (Mt. 12:8). We see Jesus elaborate on this connection: The benefit of the observance of the sabbath in Spirit and in truth, as Jesus taught, which included His Lordship as a completed work of God, was meant as a benefit to man, rather than a benefit to God: "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." (Mk. 2:27-28).
The sabbath rest is a benefit for the land, and for man, according to the word of God. We miss our sabbath blessing when we fail to honor it as the holy day of completion of all of God's wonderful works.
*The above is based upon the 6/23/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.
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This is the sabbath blessing for us: the completion of God's wonderful work for us and in us, as well as in all creation. This is what makes the sabbath a holy thing in God's sight, and in ours. The prophets told us that faithfully honoring the LORD's Sabbath would complete a wonderful work in us. Isaiah wrote that we would be called "The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." (Isa. 58:12). We would be caused to ride upon the high places of the earth, and be fed with the heritage of Jacob, our father (v. 14). Honoring the Sabbath is not about relaxing in our leisure and entertainment for the day, finding our own pleasure and going our own way. Honoring the Sabbath is about understanding the honor due His Word, and calling His sabbath a delight (oneg-exquisite delight, delicate life, to be soft and pampered) (v, 13).
Jeremiah connects the honoring of the sabbath directly to the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah:
"Then there shall enter into the gates of this city (Jerusalem) kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. And they shall come...bringing sacrifices of praise into the house of the LORD." Jer. 17:25-26
Although religious legalists would interpret the keeping of the Sabbath in a burdensome manner, Jesus taught that this was not the intention of God for this day. The sabbath celebrates the holiness and completion of God's work, and Jesus did just this. He made it a point to heal on the sabbath. Though the religious leaders sought to persecute and even kill Jesus for "working" on the sabbath, Jesus answered: "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." (Jn. 5:16-17). The true meaning and holiness of the sabbath encapsulates the Lordship of Jesus Christ: "For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day." (Mt. 12:8). We see Jesus elaborate on this connection: The benefit of the observance of the sabbath in Spirit and in truth, as Jesus taught, which included His Lordship as a completed work of God, was meant as a benefit to man, rather than a benefit to God: "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." (Mk. 2:27-28).
The sabbath rest is a benefit for the land, and for man, according to the word of God. We miss our sabbath blessing when we fail to honor it as the holy day of completion of all of God's wonderful works.
*The above is based upon the 6/23/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
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