“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 58:13-14
The Sabbath is not heard from the pulpits as much as it probably should be. It is a major concept in the Old Testament and finds numerous comments in the New Testament, including a whole chapter ostensibly devoted to it in Hebrews chapter four. At its root, it means “rest”. To participate in the Sabbath means you are not only ceasing from what is conventionally seen as “work” or expending physical energy, but it carries with it a cessation from “striving”. That is why the Hebrew writer, I believe, was inspired to use the word, “rest”. Physical rest, for example, is needed. It is vital. It is a part of the human health system. Our bodies and immune systems will break down and be susceptible to disease and viruses, if we don’t maintain a proper rest schedule. There are certain things which will never be addressed correctly in our bodies if we do not choose to rest. This doesn’t mean we are lazy or avoid work. Those concepts are addressed in the Bible too as important. What it does mean is that there is an appropriate emphasis and “balance” on both work and rest in order for us to function at optimum abilities as human beings. Too much of either can be an issue, but a practice of both can be powerful.
I might put it this way (He who hath ears let him hear…)
Just as a tithe off the 100% will enable the 90% to go further and do more…
So will a Sabbath rest enable a person to accomplish more and be more effective than if they had never stopped striving.
Sabbath transcends simple physical rest. It is God’s precept for us to maintain our spirit, soul, and body in optimum form and function. The Sabbath was to cause a pause to natural (and even needful) activities in order to reflect, refuel, and replenish our spiritual strength and needs. The Old Testament spoke of Sabbath in the concept of both the people’s cessation of certain activities, as well as the earth (land) being at rest. Of course, like most Old Testament precepts, religious commentary, opinions, and applications through Jewish history created numerous “man-made” laws which were yokes upon the people. The Sabbath was never destroyed by the Cross for we find it in the New Testament. The Sabbath was, however, refined by the Cross to bring it to us in a more full and complete way.
Why am I thinking about all of this?
A case could be made that the entire globe, and America in particular, has been placed in a forced “rest” mode in most areas and for many people. I’m wondering if it is possible that when we as a nation (or individuals) refuse to take seriously God’s precepts, if He might choose to use this moment to “cause” good (Romans 8:28) by enforcing a potential Sabbath? One of the remarkable by-products of this extended stay-at-home period is that individuals and the “land” are at a rest. I’m not trying to diminish the concerns of a stopped economy or championing the climate change theories, but simply reflecting on the thought that perhaps an important ancillary point might be at work. I am told that our natural resources are renewing as there is less traffic on roads and access to waters. People who were burning the candle at both ends are finding time to catch up on their sleep and reconnect with family. Could these be emphases that the Lord might want us to take to heart?
I also realize that there are people in extreme economic hardship and significant emotional and psychological trauma over this pandemic. I certainly “get” that there may be two groups processing this whole event in two totally different ways. However, isn’t the point of a Sabbath to recalibrate our perspective and evaluate our priorities? Sabbath was meant to cease our striving and acknowledge our need for God and His power. Isn’t that one of the repercussions of this moment?
I certainly appreciate a roaring economy as much as the next person, but could it be that somehow there is a divine reminder impressed upon this moment? Deuteronomy 8:18, tells us, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
I believe people will bounce back and resources will start to flow again here in America soon. But let’s not forget the Sabbath when we are finally loosed from our homes. Let’s implement this rest God has provided for His people.
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