Working for a Jewish boss, I have often admired his family’s devout observance of the Shabbat, the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, and have at times pondered the concept of what this means.
As Christians, we tend to believe that the Sabbath commandment only applies to Jewish followers, as a law to be strictly adhered to, and that it is not necessary for the rest of us. Having recently heard an insightful sermon on the Sabbath, I have had a change of heart and am intrigued what it could mean for all Christiams.
It is the fourth commandment in the Old Testament, and even though many Christians interpret Hebrews 4 as Jesus becoming our rest, I am also seeing a purpose and a need for setting aside one day a week to recharge ourselves physically, and to reconnect with God, to refresh and strengthen us spiritually.
There are many verses in the Bible that urge us not to work on the Sabbath or do anything in pursuit of our own interests. (See Isaiah 58:13-14) Yet, instead of seeing this as a legalistic law, we need to realise that rest is not meant to be a reward or a luxury, but a necessity of life, something we tend not to allow ourselves enough of, without feeling guilty.
We’ve chosen to ignore the need to rest, choosing instead to be fearful of not getting everything done, or running out of time to finish all the tasks on our to-do list. Yet, God promises us that a Sabbath rest is a fruitful time and that when we observe it with a willing, holy attitude, He will provide provision in place of it, like He did with the manna for the Israelite's.
We should not see it as an obligation to NOT do ANY work, but rather as an opportunity to seek God and find rest in the process. When we change our perspective of it, the Sabbath becomes the Lord’s gift to us and is no longer a law or a burden, but an invitation to be blessed with a much needed rest.
When we spend time resting in God’s presence, the fruits and blessings we receive are peace and joy, which is a great inventory to start a new week with - Not to mention the increased productivity and creativity it will produce in our lives.
The Sabbath is not about resting perfectly, but resting in the one who is perfect! It’s not about not doing chores or work, or things we must be doing on the day, it’s merely about being consciously in His presence. The Sabbath is not some meaningless ritual or restriction. God created it for our benefit as a gift and a blessing.
We need to see the Sabbath, our Sunday, as Christians, as our weekly date with God, and become eager and willing to sacrifice OUR time to give Him our undivided attention to help deepen our relationship with Him.
If this has struck a chord with you, I urge you to study God’s word further on this subject.
