Monday, October 31, 2011

"Sabbath Day"

The Lord gave Israel their Sabbath day but it was His Sabbath! "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My Sabbath's; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you many know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. Therefore you are to observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you." (Ex. 31:13-14a) The Sabbath was given to God's people as a gift but it was His Sabbath! Everything in time and life belongs to the Lord.
The Sabbath was a witness of the relationship between Jehovah and Israel. It was holy and day that the relationship was dwelt upon, prayers offered and the heart tuned with the One who had purchased them from bondage. Their prayers showed appreciation. Their readings spoke to their heart from the Almighty. Their day of rest was a reminder of the covenant given by Yahweh. That day drew people together in the power of fellowship. It reminded each one their relationship with Yahweh and the community they were in fellowship with.
What about us? Our community of believers begins at our immersion into Christ. At that time and moment, they begin to share their Lord in common. Cleansed, belonging to Jehovah God who purchased them with His blood. This community is marked out different than anyone else that exists. We know the blood of Christ speaking to us about our covenant (Heb. 8). We gather on God's holy day of rest. Our prayers show appreciation. The reading and teaching of God's word is from the Almighty. Our communing in the Supper expresses love not only for the Lord who purchased us but also for one another. It's a community! It what marks us different from any others on the face of this earth.
The Sabbath and it observance rang a message both in the heart of the people and love for the Lord's day of rest. They had their once a year Passover. Circumcision was a once-in-a-lifetime act. The Sabbatical Year was every seven years. But the Sabbath day was weekly and powerful. Maybe we need to take some time and read about the Sabbath that Jehovah God pronounced as holy to be observed and reflect on our part that we have something greater...the blood of Christ that purchased us. What are we doing each first day of the week, our Sabbath from the Lord?

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