Did God really mean for people to do no work on the Sabbath? And if so, what constitutes "work"? I remember reading in the Little House books about how Mary and Laura were not allowed even to run and jump (i.e. play loudly) but must sit and read religious related material or play quietly. What are your thoughts on this?
The way I understand it, the Sabbath is for rest, relaxation, and reflection. The only thing I believe is "prohibited" is work that is for personal gain. Helping people is still good on the sabbath, so helping someone change a flat tire, or working in the medical field would still be ok in my opinion. As far as personal activities go, I think that's more of a "follow your own conscience" type thing. Basically, anything that takes your mind off the stress and distraction of your everyday worldly life and labor, and anything that puts the focus on God and his creation or discovering his truth or serving others would probably be a safe bet. Hiking/biking are my personal favorites. Getting out in the fresh air with the quietness and beauty of nature, and with a little physical activity to clear your mind, is usually the most relaxing for me and it really sets the day apart to appreciate God's creation. I don't believe the bible mandates sitting quietly indoors for the whole day, although some time to study the bible with like-believers is a good way to spend part of it.
Isaiah 58
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Excellent thought Committed, I believe we are to rest in the Lord on this day. God has given us the Lord's day to worship him, visit the shut ins, visit the sick, rest from anything that would be done on the other 6 days of the week.
I enjoy getting up with out the alarm clock on the Lord's day, go to church to worship the King, go to my family's for dinner, read and meditate on a theological book, or just read scripture. Take a nap.
We were fearfully and wonderfully made, God created us to run around and work like dogs 6 out of 7 day, on the Lord's day we are to rest.
One of the main reasons Christ wanted us to observe a Sabbath day ( which I believe doesn't have to be a certain day of the week ), was so that we didn't get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives that we forget to fellowship with Him. It is so easy these days to put Christ second and all those things we think we just have to get done first. He wants us to take a deep breath, be still, and know that He is God. He might even be able to get a word in edgewise to us during that time. :)
The Shabbat is first mentioned in Gen. 2:2,3 in the context of creation and it was given to Adam. There are three acts of G-d that denoted this day. G-d Rested, He Blessed and Sanctified the Sabbath. It is called G-d's Sabbath, "The Sabbath of YHVH." (Lev 23:3). G-d blessed this day and promised a blessing for those who honor this day.
"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the Holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor him not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words. Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord..."
Isaiah 58:13, 14
G-d sanctified this seventh day. The word "sanctify" means to set apart as holy. As New Covenant believers we are called to be a sanctified and holy people.
"Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty."
2 Corinthians 6; 16, 17
We are called to separate ourselves from the things of the world. As we observe the Shabbat each week we are choosing not to work and participate in the things of this world�s system. We are expressing a holy and sanctified life before G-d and man. In the Jewish mind, the Sabbath has often been called an island, a sanctuary in time. One day a week, we isolate ourselves from our labor and the pressures and busyness of the week and separate ourselves unto G-d.
To be honest this confused me when I accepted Messiah because Christians say that the Sabbath is on Sunday. This is what I have come to believe. The New Testament does refer to the Lords Day and it is on Sunday. G-d does command us to rest on the seventh day and G-d never changes. The seventh day is a day of rest. The first day of the week, Sunday, is the Lord �s Day; the day to honor Him and go to church.
Jewish belief is the Sabbath is a day of rest from creative work because G-d rested from creation. Now because I am Messianic I do not follow the Oral Torah and I will flip on a light and/or drive. However, I do completely rest� do nothing� zero� zilch... except spend time with G-d and my family� now outside world exist Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
I've seen the "Lord's Day" term used in reference to Sunday 'worship'. Perhaps a study on what the "Lord's Day" really is might be productive?
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Isaiah 2:12 For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and lofty
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be abased.
Malachi 4:5 �Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
Luke 12:46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
Acts 2:20 �The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
1 Corinthians 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord [a]Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord [a]will come just like a thief in the night.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and [a]its works will be [b]burned up.
This verse could have some interesting ramifications to commonly understood "truths" about "The Lord's Day" when applied to the previous verses I posted.
Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and [g]perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was [h]in the Spirit on the Lord�s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
If taken literally, these scriptures are rather profound as well.
Hebrews 4
The Believer�s Rest
4 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word [a]they heard did not profit them, because [b]it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
�As I swore in My wrath,
They shall not enter My rest,�
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: �And God rested on the seventh day from all His works�; 5 and again in this passage, �They shall not enter My rest.� 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, �Today,� saying [c]through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
�Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.�
8 For if [d]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
Galatians 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is [a]neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:12
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
