The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.
Into the Text
Rest is something we all desire and were created to need. In our fast-paced world, rest can feel elusive.
For the nation of Israel, God created the Sabbath as a holy day of rest. The Sabbath was God’s design for the Israelites to cease from working and express their faith in Him to provide all they need.
The Sabbath finds its roots in the order of creation. For six days, God created the heavens and the earth. On the seventh day, God rested. It wasn’t that God was tired or at the end of His abilities. Instead, God was establishing a model for humans to follow, allowing us to slow down and enjoy the gift of creation and of one another.
Throughout the centuries, and even today, there are those who hold to very strict rules in regard to the Sabbath. As Christians we have been freed from those rules, and Jesus emphasized that the Sabbath was made for us, not the other way around (Mark 2:27).
So, rather than fearfully keeping rules, we should enjoy the day of rest God has given us. We need to recognize our limits and set aside time to slow down. This could look like making time of refreshment in our relationship with the Lord, time in His Word, time with the Church, or time to invest in relationships. If it is difficult for us to do this on a specific day, it could also look like setting aside an afternoon or saying no to an activity in order to spend time with Jesus.
Finding time to rest may be easier said than done, but it is absolutely worth it. Rest is vitally important for our lives. It is God ordained and worthy of our priority.
Prayer
God, thank you that you care about rest. I pray that I can intentionally set aside time to focus on my relationship with you and the gifts that you’ve given me. Amen.