Exodus 31:12-13
God spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites, ‘Above all, keep my Sabbaths, the sign between me and you, generation after generation, to keep the knowledge alive that I am the God who makes you holy.
This is something I break about every week. To keep the Sabbath is one of the 10 commandments but it’s something I fall short of all the time.
To keep the Sabbath in the Hebrew tradition, meant to not work on the designated day and to use it for rest. Those who didn’t keep it were excommunicated from the nation of Israel.
I bet I would be excommunicated. I wonder if God looks at America in our justified lifestyles and wishes we wouldn’t work the extra hours to pay for the 2 car garage and the shiny pieces of sheet metal that reside in them, and use the time to rest and reflect.
Rest from the toil of making a living and providing. Then reflect on who God is and what Jesus, His Son, has done for us.
As I read this verse at 12:30am this morning, I must say, I’m convicted. Keeping the Sabbath is directly tied to Holiness. And the New Testament author says that without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
Maybe it’s time for a change of schedule.
So here is a question related to this. What if the way I relax is to work in the garden, etc. Is this work? Even if it means I am relaxing? What about riding a bike for 4 hours? Does it change if I am praying or thinking of God? What if I only think about God off and on?
My interpretation is focussed around the word "Rest." God rested. We need to rest. That is defined differently and cannot be regulated as the Hebrew Rabbi's tried to do. Regulating rest is legalistic. Rest can only be defined by the individual. If you unwind in an activity that is a hobby, and it rejuvenates your spirit and body, then, by all means, get dirty in that garden.
For the person who ignores their family or relationship with God because they enjoy their work and they don't renew their mind, body and soul in rest, they are in danger of breaking the Sabbath.