The Sabbath

The fourth commandment states, "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD." God spoke the Ten Commandments from Sinai and wrote them on two tables of stone. (Exodus 20:1-26; Exodus 31:12-18). The fourth commandment clearly states that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD.

The Sabbath is God's memorial of his creation. He created the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh day he ended his work and rested. God commanded that we remember the seventh day and keep it holy. God has done wonderful works and mighty deeds, which are to be remembered by those who believe his word. He has also established Annual Sabbaths (or feast days) to memorialize his mighty works and deeds.

The following discourse on the Sabbath is a stimulating and mind opening opportunity for those who are seeking the truth of God. God's word is his truth. The truth resides in the scriptures that are contained in this article.

  • The Sabbath our Weekly Revival
  • The Rewards of Keeping the Sabbath
  • God's Annual Sabbaths
  • Keeping the Sabbath Holy
  • Jesus and the Sabbath
  • Sabbath Peace
  • Conclusion

The Sabbath our Weekly Revival

God rested on the seventh day and was refreshed. The Sabbath refreshed God and he gave it his favor. He blessed it, sanctified it and made it holy. God gave this favor to the Sabbath because that in it he had rested from all his work, which he created and made. The Sabbath then, carries the power to revive all those that enter into its rest. It is the rest that causes the weary to rest. It is the rest that God made for man. God made everything for his pleasure and he made the Sabbath for man and not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath carries the power of resurrection. Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the Sabbath day. The resurrection is the ultimate power of refreshing. Read: Genesis 2:1-4; Exodus 31:17; John 14:16-17; Matt. 18:19-20; Heb. 4:12-13; Heb. 10:21-25.

The word of God is not frail or weak. It does not depend on the will of man to maintain its longevity. God's word will endure forever. What God does is forever; nothing can be added to it or taken away from it. Read: Ecclesiastics 1:14; Romans 3:4.

The Rewards of Keeping the Sabbath

The rest of the Holy Sabbath awaits those who believe the word of God. Within this rest is the power from the LORD to refresh both mind and body. God first received this blessing of refreshing, for he rested on the Sabbath and was refreshed, that is, revived.

This power to revive was also experienced by Jesus who kept the Sabbath as commanded by the law of God. Jesus received the refreshing of the Sabbath through the resurrection from the dead, which is the ultimate reward of Sabbath keeping. Today we learn about the rewards of keeping the Sabbath. Read: Isaiah 28:1-12; Isaiah 56:1-8; Matthews 28:1-10; Romans 8:1-11; Matthews 19:16-30; Revelations 22:12-21.

God's Annual Sabbaths

In addition to the seventh day Sabbath God has established annual Sabbaths for our observance. The LORD has commanded us to hallow his Sabbaths. He states that his Sabbaths are a sign that we belong to him. And that they are a sign of our sanctification by him.

We are sanctified to follow will. It is his will that we remember his feast days in their season. The annual Sabbaths are memorials to the mighty and wonderful works of God. His feasts are holy convocations ordained by him for his people to meet and rejoice before him in the place where he has placed his name. Read: Lev. 23:1-44; Exodus 31:12-18; Ezek. 20:12-20. Psalms 40:1-5; Psalms 78:1-8; Psalms 111:1-8; Psalms 19:1-11; Psalms 119:1-16.

Keeping the Sabbath Holy

On the seventh day God ended his work, which he had made. He blessed and sanctified the seventh day and it became the Sabbath because he rested in it. He placed his character, which is holy, in the Sabbath and it was given the power to refresh the soul. God rested on the seventh day and was refreshed. Those who enter the Sabbath rest received this same refreshing. We are commanded to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. No work is to be done in it. No buying or selling nor cooking is to be done in it. We are to refrain from during our own pleasures or speaking our own words. We must delight in God's Holy Day.

A. Sabbath commanded
1. God (Elohim) has directed his people to keep the Sabbath. Exodus 16:23-30. 2. The law of liberty requires Sabbath keeping. Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:14-16.

B. A day of rest
1. No business activities are to be done in the Sabbath. Neh. 13:15-22; Isa. 58:13. 2. Sabbath keepers will gain eternal life. Isa. 56:1-8.

Jesus and the Sabbath

Jesus is lord of the Sabbath. The fourth commandment attests that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD. Jesus obeyed the commandments and kept the Sabbath. He assembled with his disciples on the Sabbath Day in the Temple and taught the word of God. He taught against the of the Pharisees that were contrary to the word of God concerning Sabbath observance. He came to fulfill the scriptures. He magnified the law and made it honorable.

A. His teachings
1. Jesus (Yahshua) denounces the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Matt. 12:1-9.

2. Jesus (Yahshua) magnifies the glory of Sabbath observance. Matt. 12:10-13; Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:16.

B. His power
1. The Savior establishes his preeminence. Mark 2:23-28; Mark 3:1-4.

2. He taught the word of God (Elohim) and did good works on the Sabbath. John 5:1-18; John 9:1-7.

Sabbath Peace

God made the Sabbath for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of both the Sabbath and man. For in all things, Jesus has the preeminence. The power given him by the Father, he has shared with man. Contained in this power is the peace that the Savior has given to his disciples. The Sabbath is one of the manifestations of God's peace. It is the peaceful day of rest that can bring joy to the soul, because it is a holy convocation day. The Sabbath is the day of refreshing. It refreshes because God rested on the Sabbath day and was refreshed. The Sabbath is God's weekly revival day.

A. The Lord's Day
1. Jesus (Yahshua) is Lord of his Sabbath of rest. Mark 2:27-28; Exo. 20:9-10; Rev. 1:10. 2. It is a day of restful peace. Exo. 16:23-24.

B. Revival Time
1.The Sabbath is a day of delight and not a day for business and pleasure. Isa.58:13-14

2.Keeping the Sabbath revives, refreshes and rejuvenates the soul, mind and body. Exo. 1:12-18; Isa. 28:9-12.

Conclusion

God established the seventh day Sabbath at Creation. He gave it to man as part of the Ten Commandments and provided instructions for Sabbath observance. Jesus obeyed his Father and kept the Sabbath. Those who will enter God's Holy Mountain at the end must keep the Sabbath. The word of God is his Truth.