History of the Sabbath True Observance

Prayer Thought:

6T 352, 353 – “The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict in which all the world will act a part… God has called us to uplift the standard of His downtrodden Sabbath. How important then that our example in Sabbath-keeping should be right.”

Introduction:

Great blessings are enfolded in the observance of the Sabbath, and God desires that the Sabbath day shall be to us a day of joy… He desires that the Sabbath shall direct our minds to Him as the true and living God, and that through knowing Him we may have life and peace. 6T 349.

As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God’s people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest. The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and His people, a sign that they honor His law. It distinguishes between His loyal subjects and transgressors.

To us (Seventh-day Adventist – the Israel of today, 9T 164) as to Israel the Sabbath is given “for a perpetual covenant.” To those who reverence His holy day the Sabbath is a sign that God recognizes them His covenant. Every soul who accepts the signs of God’s government places himself under the divine, everlasting covenant. He fastens himself to golden chain of obedience, every link of which is a promise. 6T 350.

I. Chronological History of the Sabbath

Let us therefore search for the gems of true principles in observing the 7th day Sabbath from Creation until the New Heaven and New Earth.

A. Time of Creation:

(Read Gen. 2:1-3), “The weekly cycle of seven literal days, six for labor, and the seventh for rest, which has been preserved and brought down through Bible history, originated in the great fact of the first seven days.” 3SG 90; 1BC 1082

Principle # 1: We Keep the Sabbath Holy because God is Our Creator.

B. Time of the Exodus:

(Read Exo. 16:21-26), The God of Heaven gives them food to eat during six days, yet on the Sabbath they couldn’t find it.

Principle # 2: We don’t work on the Sabbath because we believe that God will provide.

C. Time at Mt. Sinai in Giving the Decalogue:

(Read Exo. 20:8-11; 35:2-3), “Every man has been placed on trial, as were Adam and Eve in Eden. As the tree of knowledge was the test of Adam’s obedience, so the fourth command is the test that God has given to prove the loyalty of all His people.” Heed First Word of the Fourth Commandment. “Remember” is placed at the very first of the fourth commandment… All through the week keep the Lord’s Holy Sabbath in view, for that day is to be devoted to the service of God. It is a day when the hands are to rest from worldly employment, when the soul’s needs are to receive especial attention.” RH Aug. 30. 1898; 1BC 1107.

No cooking, baking or kindling of fire on the Sabbath day.

Principle # 3: We should keep the Sabbath Holy and reverently no work is done.

D. Time of the Bible Politician, Gov. Nehemiah:

(Read Neh. 13:15-19), All gates for strangers and merchants are close. No selling and buying on the Sabbath day.

Principle # 4: We don’t have worldly business on Sabbath because God is our Partner.

E. Time of God’s Prophets, Isaiah and Ezekiel:

(Read Isa. 56:2; 58:13 and Ezek. 20:12, 20).

1. Isaiah – “As the end approaches, the testimonies of God’s servants will become, more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the systems of error and oppressions that have so long held the supremacy. The Lord has sent us messages for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal basis, and all who believe present truth must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God, and raise up the foundation of many generation. These will be registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach and the restorer of paths to dwell in.” Letter 11, 1890; 4Bc 1152.7.

Principle # 5: Our worship on the Sabbath should be centered solely to the Lord, not to anybody, or anything.

2. Ezekiel – “Those who trample upon God’s authority, and show contempt to the law given in such grandeur at Sinai, virtually despise the LAW-GIVER, the great JEHOVAH… By transgressing the law which God had given in such majesty, and amid glory which was unapproachable, the people showed open contempt of the great LAW-GIVER, and death was the penalty.” 3SG 284, 300; 4BC 1162.2.

Principle # 6: We Keep the Sabbath as a Sign and it will sanctify us.

F. Time of Jesus and the Disciples:

(Read Mark 2:27, 28; Lk. 4:16), It was Jesus custom that He keeps the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man.

Principle # 7: The Lord of the Sabbath is Jesus and He Set an Example to follow.

G. Time of the Crucifixion:

(Read Lk. 23:53-56), The women prepared spices and ointments, and rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

Principle # 8: Even at His Death He rested in the grave on Sabbath day and His followers keep it according to the law.

H. Time of the Early Christian Church and the Remnant, in Prophecy

(Read Mk. 15:42; Acts 17:2; 18:1-4; Heb. 4:4-10), The apostles were keeping the Sabbath day during and after the death of Jesus Christ.

Principle # 9: As the early Christians follow Christ, we should also do.

I. Time of the New Heaven and New Earth:

(Read Isa. 66:22-23) Even in the New Heaven and Earth that God will made new, 7th Sabbath will be observed.

Principle # 10: The Seventh-day Sabbath will be observed even in the New Heaven and New Earth, so it should be observed now! To prepare for it.

II. The True Observance of the Seventh-day Sabbath

A. The Sacredness of the Sabbath

“For more sacredness is attached to the Sabbath than is given it by many professed Sabbath-keeper. The Lord has been greatly dishonored by those who have not kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, either in the letter or in the spirit. He calls for a reform in the observance of the Sabbath.” 6T 353.

“The Sabbath is a golden clasp that unites God and His people. But the Sabbath command has been broken. God’s holy day has been desecrated.” 6T 351.

“God has called us to uplift the standard of His down-trodden Sabbath. How important, then that our example in Sabbath-keeping should be right.” 6T 353

“If thou turn thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shall honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.” Isa. 58:13

B. Our Attitude in the Church on the Sabbath

“As you enter the place of worship, ask the Lord to remove all evil from your heart. Bring to his house only that which He can bless. Kneel before God in His temple, and consecrate to Him His own, which He has purchased with the blood Of Christ. Pray for the speaker of the leader of the meeting. Pray that great blessing may come through the one who is to hold forth the word of life. Strive earnestly to lay hold of a blessing for yourself.” 6T 362, 363.

“The church of God below is one with the church of God above. Believers on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one church. Every heavenly intelligence is interested in the assemblies of the saints who on earth meet to worship God.” 6T 366.

“God teaches that we should assemble in his house to cultivate the attributes of perfect love. This will fit the dwellers of earth for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare from Sabbath to Sabbath, from one new moon to another, to unite who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.” 6T 368.

C. Cooking on the Sabbath

“The Lord is no less particular now in regard to his Sabbath than when he gave the foregoing special directions to the children of Israel. He required them to bake that which they would bake and seethe (that is boil) that which they would seethe on the sixth day, preparatory to the rest of the Sabbath. Those who neglect to prepare for the Sabbath on the sixth day, and who cook food upon the Sabbath violate the fourth commandment, and are transgressors of God’s law. All who are really anxious to observe the Sabbath according to the commandment will not cook any food upon the Sabbath. They will, in the fear of that God who gave his law from Sinai, deny themselves, and eat food prepared upon the sixth day, even if it is not as palatable. God forbade the children of Israel baking and boiling upon the Sabbath. That prohibition should be regarded by every Sabbath-keeper, as solemn injunction from JEHOVAH to them. The Lord would guard his people from indulging in gluttony upon the Sabbath, which he has set apart for sacred meditation and worship.” 3SG 253.

“And he said unto them, This that which the Lord hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” Exodus 16:23.

“On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done. Let the boots be blacked, and the baths be taken. It is possible to do this. If you make it a rule you can do it.” 6T 365; CG 528.

D. Bathing and shaving on the Sabbath

“The violation of the fourth commandment is not confined to the preparation of food. Many carelessly put off blacking their boots, and shaving, until after the beginning of the Sabbath. This should not be. If any neglect to do such work on a working day, they should have respect enough for God’s holy time to let their beards remain unshaven, their boots rough and brown, until the Sabbath is past. This might help their memory, and make them more careful to do their own on the six working days.”

“At every camp-meeting, instruction should be given on all these points. How can we expect the special blessing of God, unless we shun with abhorrence the smallest sin? We should choose to suffer inconvenience, loss, or privation, rather than disregard the instructions of the Lord. Our lack of spirituality has been caused by our own course. We have gradually and insensibly chosen to please ourselves instead of seeking to honor God. Christian perfection consists in complete harmony of our will with the will of our Creator. The inhabitants of heaven find, in obeying the will of God joy and blessedness.”

“Let every family of Seventh-day Adventists honor God by a strict regard of his law. The children should be taught to respect the Sabbath. On the day of preparation, clothing should be put in proper repair, shoes polished, and baths taken. Then around the family altar all should wait to welcome God’s holy day, as they would watch for the coming of a dear friend.” ST May 25, 1882.

E. Sleeping on the Sabbath

a) In the church:

“Let none come to the place of worship to take a nap. There should be no sleeping in the house of God. You do not fall asleep when engaged in your temporal business, because you have an interest in your work. Shall we allow the service which involves eternal interest to be placed on a lower level than the temporal affairs of life?” 6T 361.4

b) At home:

“When we do this we miss the blessing which the Lord designs us to have. The Sabbath is not to be a day of useless idleness. Both in the home and in the church a spirit of service is to be manifested. He who gave us six days for our temporal work has blessed and sanctified the seventh day and set it apart for himself. On this day He will in a special manner bless all who consecrate themselves to His service.” 6T 361, 362.

“None should feel at liberty to spend sanctified time in an unprofitable manner, It is displeasing God for Sabbath-keepers to sleep during much of the Sabbath. They dishonor their creator in so doing, and, by their example, say that the six days are too precious for them to spend in resting. They must make money, although it may be by robbing themselves of needed sleep, which they make up by sleeping away holy time. They then excuse themselves, saying: “The Sabbath was given for a day of rest. I will not deprive myself of rest to attend meeting: for I need rest. Such make a wrong use of the sanctified day.” 2T 704.

“Let not the precious hours of the Sabbath be wasted in bed.” 6T 357.

F. Traveling on Sabbath

“If we desire the blessing promised to the obedient, we must observe the Sabbath more strictly. I fear that we often travel on this day when it might be avoided. In harmony with the light, which the Lord has given in regard to the observance of the Sabbath, we should be more careful about traveling on the boats or cars on this day. In these matters we should set a right example before our children and youth. In order to reach the churches that need our help, and to give them the message that God desires them to hear, it may be necessary for us to travel on the Sabbath; but so far as possible we should secure our tickets and make all necessary arrangements on some other day. When starting on a journey we should make every possible effort to plan so as to avoid reaching our destination on the Sabbath.”

“When compelled to travel on the Sabbath we should try to avoid the company of those who would draw our attention to worldly things. We should keep our minds stayed upon God and commune with him. Whenever there is opportunity we should speak to others in regard to the truth. We should always be ready to relieve suffering and to help those in need. In such cases God desires that the knowledge and wisdom He has given us should be put to use. But we should not talk about matters of business or engage in common, worldly conversation. At all times and in all places God requires us to prove our loyalty to Him by honoring the Sabbath.”6T 359, 360.

G. Discussing Business on the Sabbath

“Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of business. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon those of a worldly character. And the commandments includes all within our gates. The inmates of the house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred hours. All should unite to honor God by willing service upon his holy day.” PP. 307,3, 308.

“When your temporal circumstances seem to require attention, you violate the fourth commandment without companion. You make the keeping of God’s law a matter of convenience, obeying or disobeying as your business or inclination indicates. This is not honoring the Sabbath as a sacred institution. You grieve the spirit of God and dishonor your Redeemer by pursuing this reckless course.”

“Partial observances of the Sabbath law is not accepted by the Lord and has a worse effect upon the minds of sinners than if you made no profession of being a Sabbath-keeper.” 4T 248.

“Those who are not fully converted to the truth frequently let their minds run freely upon worldly business, and, although they may rest from physical toil upon the Sabbath, their tongues speak out what is in their minds; hence these words concerning cattle, crops, losses, and gains. All this is Sabbath breaking. If the mind is running upon worldly matters, the tongue will reveal it; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

“The example of minister especially should be circumspect in this respect. Upon the Sabbath they should conscientiously restrict themselves to conversation upon religious themes – to present truth, present duty, the Christian’s hopes and fears, trials, conflicts, and afflictions; to overcoming at last, and the reward to be received.”

“Ministers of Jesus should stand as reprovers to those who fail to remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. They should kindly and solemnly reprove those who engage in worldly conversation upon the Sabbath and at the same time claim to be Sabbath-keepers. They should encourage devotion to God upon His holy day.” 2T 703, 704.

H. Washing Dishes on the Sabbath

“We should charge all not to wash their dishes on the Sabbath if this can possibly be avoided. God is dishonored by any unnecessary work done on His holy day. It is not inconsistent, but proper, that the dishes should be left unwashed till the close of the Sabbath, if this can be managed.” 3SM 258.

I. The Edges of the Sabbath

“We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time. Whenever it is possible, employers should give their workers the hours from Friday noon until the beginning of the Sabbath. Give them time for preparation, that they may welcome the Lord’s Day with quietness of mind. By such a course you will suffer no loss even in temporal things.” 6T 356.

J. Care of the Children on the Sabbath

a) In the Church:

“The house of God is desecrated and the Sabbath violated by Sabbath believer’s children. They run about the house, play, talk, and manifest their evil tempers in the very meetings where the saints have met together to glorify God and to worship Him in the beauty of holiness…

“Above everything, take care of your children upon the Sabbath. Do not let them violate it, for you may just as well violate it yourself as to let your children do it. When you suffer your children to play the Sabbath, God looks upon you as a commandment breaker. You transgress His Sabbath.” 3SM 257.

b) At home:

“Before the setting of the sun let the members of the family assemble to read God’s word, to sing and pray. There is need of reform here, for many have been remiss. We need to confess to God and to one another. We should begin anew to make special arrangements that every member of the family may be prepared to honor the day which God has blessed and sanctified.” CCh 264.

“They (the entire family) come to the table without levity. Boisterous noise and contention should not be allowed any day of the week; but on the Sabbath all should observe quietness. No loud-toned commands should be heard at any time; but on the Sabbath is entirely out of place. This is God’s holy day; the day He has set is entirely out of place. This is God’s holy day, the day He has set apart to commemorate His creative works, a day He has sanctified and hallowed.” 3SM 257, 258.

“In pleasant weather let parents walk with their children in the fields and groves. Amid the beautiful things of nature tell them the reason for the institution of the Sabbath. Describe to them God’s great work of creation. 6T 358.2.

Origin of Name of days

Shabbat (shah-BAHT; SHAH-bis)

Lit. end, cease, rest. The Jewish Sabbath, a day of rest and spiritual enrichment.

source: http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/shabbat.htm

Conclusion:

Therefore, we striving to be among God’s servant should past the test of the Sabbath. According to God’s servant, Mrs. E. G. White, “I saw that Jesus had shut the door of the holy place, and no man can open it; and that He had opened the door into the most holy, and no man can shut it (Rev. 3:7-8); an that since Jesus has opened the door into the most holy place, which contains the Ark, the commandments have been shining out to God’s people, and they are being tested on the Sabbath question.” EW 42.

“The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men. Then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false Sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. GC 605.2

Would you like to study more about the prophecies in the Bible? These are the following topics for you to know as a Seventh day Adventist.

The Importance of the Sanctuary, Daniel and Revelation Prophecies, Daniel 2 (The Mighty Stone), Rev. 7 (The 144,000 and the Great Multitude), Mat. 20 (The 11th Hour Call), Zech. 6:1-8 (The Great Paradox of Ages), The Establishment of the Kingdom of Glory, Hosea 1 & 2 (Old and New testament Church History Depicted in One Family), Mat. 13 (The Harvest), Zech. 4 (The Golden Bowl), Eph. 2:19-22 (The Temples in Type and Antitype), Ezek. 4 (The Grains), Rev. 12 (The Woman and the Dragon), Rev. 13:1-10 (The Leopard Like Beast [LLB]), Rev. 13:11-18 (The 2 Horned Beast [2HB]), Rev. 17 (The Woman and the Scarlet Beast), Rev. 4, 5 (The Judgment and the Seven Seals), The Seven Trumpets, Lev. 23 (The Ceremonial Harvest), Health Reform, Dress Reform, Sabbath Reform, etc. just request through email:

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