Jeremiah 1:4-10 or Isaiah 58:9b-14
Psalm 71:1-6 or Psalm 103:1-8
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17
The origins of the seven day week and the Sabbath day tradition began in Genesis 2: "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which He had created and made."
The importance of this seventh day of rest (Hebrew shabbot, meaning to cease, desist, and rest) elevated it to one of the ten commandments brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy..." (Exodus 20:8-11) It became a foundational piece in Judaic culture, playing an important part in many other books of Hebrew scripture. It even played a central role in the Gospels and the growth of the new Christian church.
Like many of God's early guideposts given to help a youthful nation to mature, the Sabbath gradually became encrusted with specific rituals and laws about what could and couldn't be done on the Sabbath. It even got to the point that the death penalty could be exercised in the event of infractions to these rules.
The path to God was thought to be very strict obedience to specific rules. (We see this yet today in some social and religious groups.) Over time, the reasons for having the Sabbath in the first place became obscured – lost in a maze of these rituals and regulations.
But Jesus reminded us, "The Sabbath was made for people, and not the people for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27) God created the Sabbath for mankind's benefit – not for His own.
So what are we suppose to gain from it?
We live in a busy world; our lives are full of busy-ness, largely about things of this world. The busier we are, the easier it can be to lose track of who we really are, where we came from, and where we're ultimately headed in the long run. We get disconnected from God as we get immersed in worldly things. As a result, we forget who we truly are, and our quality of life slips away.
God knew this could happen, and He knew how to keep us connected with Him. One day each week, we are to set aside pursuing our worldly interests and spend time getting reacquainted with our Maker and Redeemer. It is part of the universal rhythm of activity and rest so that we can recharge our spiritual batteries, reset our moral compass, and reaffirm God's love for each of us.
How do we "remember the Sabbath to keep it holy"? To know God, we have to be with Him. We can do this by attending worship services, take walks in nature, be with family and friends in a loving manner, spend time helping someone else, read about Him, pray with Him, and thank Him. Psalm 103 reminds us to think about all His benefits to us – He forgives, He heals, He redeems, He loves, He vindicates, He sustains.
In his book, Sabbath: Remembering the Sacred Rhythm of Rest and Delight, (1999), Wayne Muller suggested that because we do not rest, we lose our way. The Sabbath is a day when we partake of the wisdom, peace and delight through play, refreshment and renewal. He suggested trying some of these activities in addition to those mentioned above to help make the Sabbath what it should be:
· Light a candle during a family meal, or for meditation and prayer
· Practice thanksgiving throughout the day
· Bless your children and parents – let them hear your prayers for their peace and happiness
· Invite a Sabbath pause – choose a common act that is repeated several times throughout the day, like touching a door handle – when it occurs, pause and take several silent, mindful breaths
· Take a nap
· Create a Sabbath box – put your to-do list, wallet, car keys, and a list of your worries into the box. Just for now, let them go
· Turn off the telephone, computer, and television. The outside world will be there when you return
· Prepare a special Sabbath meal – or a Sabbath cup of tea
· Spend time with a special friend, but don't talk business
Soon this day will become something you look forward to all week. And maybe, just maybe, some of these things will begin to make their way into your other six days as well!
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