"Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God." Ezekiel 20:20.
"God designed that the Sabbath should direct the minds of men to His created works, and through these to Him, the Creator. Nature itself speaks to our senses, telling us there is a God, the Creator and Supreme Ruler of the universe. The Sabbath . . . was designed to keep the Creator con stantly in mind." —Bible Readings for the Home, p. 421.
You are to keep holy what God has made holy! You will find Bible instruction on how to keep the Sabbath! You will find rest, meaning, and happiness in the Sabbath!
Sabbath keeping brings great spiritual blessings. Besides its deep significance in our relationship with God, it provides protection from the false modern philosophies which are sweeping the world today. True Sabbath observance has an essential role in our spiritual growth, development, and well-being.
Earlier in this series you studied the scriptural teachings regarding the true Bible Sabbath. In this lesson you will discover the biblical basis for the following aspects of Sabbath keeping and observance—
KEEPING HOLY WHAT GOD MADE HOLY
1. What is the first word in the Sabbath commandment? Exodus 20:8.
Exodus 20:8 (NIV) "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
2. How are you to remember the Sabbath day? Exodus 20:8
Exodus 20:8 (NIV) "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
3. Which day is the holy Sabbath? Exodus 20:10.
Exodus 20:10 (NIV) 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 manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
Note: All through the week Christians will "remember" the Sabbath day. This means that all our plans will be made and all our business appointments adjusted with reference to the Sabbath. Thus each day of the week we will be reminded that our God is the Creator and Redeemer.
4. When does the day begin according to the Bible? Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31. Read the various verses, observing how the Bible measures time:
Genesis 1:5 (NIV) God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day.
Genesis 1:8 (NIV) God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning-- the second day.
Genesis 1:13 (NIV) And there was evening, and there was morning--the third day.
Genesis 1:19 (NIV) And there was evening, and there was morning--the fourth day.
Genesis 1:23 (NIV) And there was evening, and there was morning--the fifth day.
Genesis 1:31 (NIV) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.
Note: One advantage of keeping the Sabbath according to the Bible method of measuring each day from sunset to sunset, rather than the Roman method of midnight to midnight, is that we are awake to welcome and to bid farewell to each Sabbath when it comes and goes. Sunset is a great natural sign for marking the division of time into days. "from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath.”" Leviticus 23:32 (NKJV).
5. On what day should we prepare for the Sabbath? Luke 23:54.
Luke 23:54 (NIV) It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
Note: In order to keep the Sabbath day holy, it must be remembered all through the week, and on the sixth day, or the day preceding the Sabbath, special preparations should be completed. This would include housecleaning, meal planning and preparation, and clothing preparation in readiness to welcome the Sabbath when it arrives.
6. How did the Israelites in the wilderness prepare for the Sabbath? Exodus 16:22, 23.
Exodus 16:22-23 (NIV) On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23) He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"
Note: "While cooking upon the Sabbath should be avoided, it is not necessary to eat cold food. In cold weather let the food prepared the day before be heated. And let the meals, though simple, be palatable and attractive. Provide something that will be regarded as a treat, something the family do not have every day."--Child Guidance p. 532
7. How does the Bible indicate that the Sabbath should be a day for public worship? Leviticus 23:3.
Leviticus 23:3 (NIV) "'There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.
Leviticus 23:3 (EXB) There are six days for you to work, but the seventh day will be a special day of rest. It is a day for a holy ·meeting [convocation]; you must not do any work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your homes.
8. What was Christ's custom on the Sabbath day? Luke 4:16.
Luke 4:16 (NIV) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.
9. What else did Jesus often do on the Sabbath? John 9:14.
John 9:14 (NIV) Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath.
Note: Much of Christ's ministry consisted of acts of mercy and miracles performed for the relief of suffering humanity. Some of these were done on the Sabbath.
10. In what comment did Jesus approve acts of mercy on the Sabbath? Matthew 12:12.
Matthew 12:12 (NIV) How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
11. How does the Bible describe true Sabbath keeping? Isaiah 58:13, 14.
Isaiah 58:13-14 (NIV) "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14) then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Tell how you would apply these concepts today:
12. What are two essential characteristics of God which suggests the manner in which He must be worshiped? John 4:24.
John 4:24 (NIV) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
Note: Because Sabbath keeping is a spiritual response, it must be of a mind and heart in harmony with God's will and truth. Ritual obedience or mere habitual practice of church attendance is not true Sabbath keeping. In past history manmade Sabbath regulations have always tended to demand mechanical, perfunctory, and forced habits—responses contrary to the true spirit of love and worship.
13. How does the psalm "For the Sabbath day" suggest themes for proper meditation and activities? Psalm 92:1-5.
Psalms 92:1-5 (NIV) A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, 2) to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, 3) to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. 4) For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. 5) How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!
DISCIPLESHIP COMMITMENT
"The Sabbath is not intended to be a period of useless inactivity. The law forbids secular labor on the rest-day of the Lord; the toil that gains a livelihood must cease; no labor for worldly pleasure or profit is lawful upon that day; but as God ceased His labor of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath and blessed it, so man is to leave the occupations of his daily life, and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest, to worship, and to holy deeds."—The Desire of Ages, p. 207.
Is your Sabbath observance becoming increasingly more meaningful as a day of spiritual blessing and joy? Tell in your words what blessings are coming to you.
Unless otherwise designated, scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.