We are currently covering a series on Biblical practices largely neglected in modern life. Last week, we covered the topic of fasting. Today, we will talk about the practice of keeping the Sabbath. And as it is a little ambiguous in today’s world, we will lay out a nifty how-to guide on Christian Sabbath.
Why Do We Remember the Sabbath?
The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word “Shabbat,” which means to stop. How interesting is that? This is the day to stop working, stop striving, stop hustling. God created the heavens and the earth (and everything in them) in six days; on the seventh day, He stopped.
The fourth of the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11).
Deuteronomy describes the Ten Commandments a second time and gives even more context for the reason behind the Sabbath day rest:
“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:15).
After several hundred years of backbreaking slavery, what an amazing blessing the Lord gave to the people of Israel! Note that it was the first time a rest-day or any labor law was implemented into a governmental system in human history. Now this is seen as a basic human right throughout much of the world. Servants, animals, and foreigners were also able to rest from their work, replenish their strength, and enjoy the better parts of life.
What Should I do on the Sabbath?
Remember the Sabbath: So remember to rest. Just like holidays and festivals serve as reminders of God’s faithfulness, the Sabbath is a weekly remembrance, a sign (Exodus 31:12-13) of creation and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. As modern culture obsesses over productivity, busyness, and gain, this command is an incredible opportunity to rest. How can I rest on the Sabbath?
- Take a nap!
- Read a good book.
- Enjoy a nature hike.
- Savor delicious food.
- The list goes on!
And Keep it Holy: Holy means “set apart,” so making this day special and set it apart “to the Lord your God.” Many people attend a church service on this day, but if the Sabbath day that you choose is different than your church service morning, there are many other ways to keep it holy. This is a time to reflect on all that the Lord has taught you this week and His faithfulness. Enjoy His creation and don’t forget to dive into His word!
Nor your servant, nor you animals…: You must protect the Sabbath day rest for everyone within your household or organization. Everyone deserves this time of replenishment—even working animals! How beautiful is that? Take some time on the Sabbath day to spend time with your loved ones and reconnect at a slower pace.
“If you call the Sabbath a delight…will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” (Isaiah 58:13-14). Isaiah 58 gives us even more context about the Sabbath. The Sabbath should be a delight, where you find your joy in the Lord! It is also a day of blessing, as God “blessed” it in the beginning (Genesis 2:3), and Isaiah 58 shows the blessing that comes with obeying the Sabbath.
What Shouldn’t I DO on the Sabbath?
The key is to cease from labor for one day per week. The thing that makes following this command a little difficult, is that we often think that it is all in our hands. Culture tells us that if we don’t grind non-stop, we will live impoverished lives. The concept of the Sabbath rest is acknowledging that we trust in God as our Provider: Jehovah Jireh. If He says that we must rest one day a week, then we can have faith that our needs will be provided for just as much (and more) than if we worked all seven days. Further, it is an actionable sign of humility that our wealth and success are not results of our own hands, but from God’s power alone (Zechariah 4:6).
While the Jewish rabbits had a long list of no-no’s on the Sabbath (they tried to admonish Jesus for healing on the Sabbath!! (Matthew 12:10)), we know that legalism is not the answer, and in fact nullifies the point. As Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27). Some people have rules for themselves like no checking email, no shopping, or no travelling that day. This is highly personal and will be between you and God! He will help you discern what is beneficial and what is too much.
Jesus said that “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). Is there a hobby that you have a passion for but never seem to find the time to dedicate to it? The Sabbath is your chance to play golf, rollerblade, knit, paint, collect lawn ornaments, whatever makes your heart overflow with joy!
A good question to ask yourself is “Does this activity feel like rest?” Some people would be exhausted by an hour-long run in the rain. Others are replenished and renewed by that same experience. Some people look forward to the weekend for a chance to flex their muscles in the kitchen, trying out new recipes. Others slave away in the kitchen all week and would look forward to a Sabbath-day break from cooking.
Is the Sabbath on Saturday or SUnday?
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.” (Exodus 20:9-10). The Bible doesn’t specify what day that the Sabbath must fall on. Of course, the nation of Israel obeyed this command together, so their Sabbath was designated on Saturday. Some Christians today also fall into this camp for the sake of consistency. Mainstream Christianity tends to practice the Sabbath day on Sunday. This began in the 4th century AD, sadly a result of pagan influences and antisemitism. However, regardless of the day, if you are taking a complete day for Sabbath, you will be following this command.
How to Prepare for The Sabbath:
Once again, Sabbath is personal. Some may require no preparation and others may need to plan ahead to truly honor the day. In Exodus, the Israelites gathered twice as much manna the day before the Sabbath so that they would not have to gather on the Sabbath day. The Lord also commanded that they bake and boil twice the number of quail the day before the Sabbath. It took the Israelites a couple of tries to trust God’s provision and obey this command (Exodus 16).
In our own lives, the last thing we want is an important task to be burdening our minds while we are attempting to rest! The day prior to the Sabbath, you could consider preparing by:
- Grocery shopping
- Cleaning and completing key chores
- Errand running
- Meal Prepping
The kickoff for Shabbat in Jewish households typically begins on Friday evening with a meal and sometimes synagogue services. This sets the tone for the Sabbath day rest. As a Christian, you could consider a similar evening-before kickoff to prepare your heart and mind for the holy day.
What if I have to Work on the Sabbath?
“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
“He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:1-8)
The Pharisees added many more restrictions onto the Sabbath day concept—completely missing the point that it is supposed to be a blessing. This was one of the main ways that they attempted to accuse Jesus during His ministry. Jesus took this opportunity to educate us on the Sabbath rest and made it clear that we need to consider the full context of the situation. God loves us, and He wants good for us. Sometimes we have to do things on the Sabbath. But our goal should be to enact a Sabbath day rest as soon as we are able.
I hope you enjoyed learning this Christian how-to guide to the Sabbath rest. Keep reading this week as I continue the series researching Biblical practices largely neglected in modern times. Next up, I will be covering the practice of blowing the shofar.
