Exodus 20:8-11 CSB – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work….
For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.
The 4th Commandment—The Basics
Exodus 20:8-11 CSB – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work….
“Remember” = Go back. Return
“Sabbath” = “to rest from labor”
“Holy” = “set apart”
Exodus 20:8-9 CSB – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, but….
Exodus 20:11 CSB – “For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.”
Exodus 20:9 CSB – You are to labor six days and do all your work,
1 Corinthians 10:31 CSB – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Are we still legalistically bound to Fourth Commandment?
Romans 14:5-6 CSB – One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord
Mark 2:27 CSB – He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. 28 So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
The 4th Commandment is Wisdom to Follow, even if it is not a Law to Obey.
Matthew 5:17 CSB – Jesus said, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
Matthew 11:28-30 CSB – “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We Honor God When We Sabbath Rest
- We remember that God created the world
Exodus 31:17 CSB – It is a sign forever between me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”
- We remember God freeing Israel
Deuteronomy 5:12, 15 CSB –
Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy…
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 CSB – Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything
Sabbath Helps Us Find Meaning in our Work
I turn my little omelet in the pan for the love of God. When it is finished, if I have nothing to do, I prostrate myself on the ground and worship my God, who gave me this grace to make it, after which I arise happier than a king. When I can do nothing else, it is enough to have picked up a straw for the love of God. People look for ways of learning how to love God. They hope to attain it by I know not how many different practices. They take much trouble to abide in His presence by varied means. Is it not a shorter and more direct way to do everything for the love of God, to make use of all the tasks one’s lot in life demands to show Him that love, and to maintain His presence within by the communion of our heart with His? There is nothing complicated about it. One has only to turn to it honestly and simply. -Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God
Psalm 46:10 CSB – Be still, and know that I am God;
Sabbath Rest Builds Our Trust in God
Exodus 14:7 CSB – “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
Exodus 14:13 CSB – But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”
Remembering the Sabbath Keeps our Minds in The Upper Story
Hebrews 4:4-8 CSB – For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works.
Again, in that passage he says, They will never enter my rest.
6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, 7 he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time:
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
Hebrews 4:8-11 CSB – For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. 10 For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
Hebrews 11:8 CSB – By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance
v.10, For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Do you ever feel like things in your life get distorted?
Matthew 11:28 (The Message) “Are you tired? Worn out? …Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Colossians 2:1-2 CSB – …..Raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things
Isaiah 58:13ff CSB –
“If you keep from desecrating the Sabbath,
from doing whatever you want on my holy day;
if you call the Sabbath a delight,
and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
seeking your own pleasure, or talking business;
14 then you will delight in the Lord,
and I will make you ride over the heights of the land,
and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Practical Sabbath b/c God Made Sabbath for Us
Avoid Extremes: How each person applies Sabbath wisdom is a matter of conscience
Conscience Question: Who are you putting first in your calendar?
1 Peter 2:16 CSB – Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.
1. Make Sunday Different
2. Give Up Something on Sunday
3. Add Something on Sunday
4. Find Ways to Rest
Psalm 23:2 CSB – “he makes me to lie down in green pastures”.
Matthew 11:28-30 MESSAGE – “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
