Some thoughts on the Sabbath...

[Seeker47]

There is a passage in Psalm 95 that says if we do not know God’s ways, we will not enter His rest. I have been studying the sabbath and trying to understand what God really says. For your amusement and consideration, I submit the following thoughts.

Genesis 2:3
God then blessed the seventh day and set it apart because he had finished creation

The first thing God did on the seventh day, after creation was completed, was to make the day “Holy.” The entire day, not just part. He set one full day aside from all others for His use and pleasure. That use and pleasure was for our benefit; an opportunity to refresh.

Exodus 20:8-11
The first commandment concerning the Sabbath is to remember it forever…

Next God commanded His people to remember His special set-apart day forever. (Not sure we have done so well with that.) The sabbath is a reminder of His everlasting covenant. An acknowledgement that following a short period of struggles and difficulties, He will bring us all into an everlasting sabbath with Him.

Exodus 20:10
…but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work,

He then commanded His people to do no work. This has been abused and miss-understood for centuries, but His intent is clear. We are to rely on Him. (Picking up sticks does not necessarily violate the sabbath, but More on this later) We can trust God for our provision or we can rely on our own effort, but we cannot do both. For one full day out of seven, God asks our reliance be totally on Him, not on ourselves. The Bible says God will provide for the sabbath, all we need do is make the preparations.

So, what do we do? Yeshua showed us! Prayer, doing good works, reading scripture, hearing, and preaching the word, singing, fasting, healing, making oaths and vows to God, offering thanksgivings, yet always glorifying His Holy Name. There is tremendous power in the sabbath.

One problem I did encounter in my study; the stony execution of a man for collecting sticks on the sabbath. (Numbers 15:32-36) This appeared cruel and set me back.

After a little more study the context then became clear, the execution had absolutely nothing to do with breaking sabbath rules. The context is a discussion of unintentional and intentional sin. The issue is blasphemy; the deliberate, insulting, contemptuous and willful lack of reverence for God. This man stood at the foot of the mountain and heard God’s own voice proclaiming his commandments. In his arrogance he then proceeded to publicly challenged God. Not a good idea.

There is no judgement here on how or when anyone chooses to keep sabbath, only the encouragement for thoughts and prayers on the subject.

 

[homwardbound]

Hebrews 4:9-13 rest. You realize, man has not yet God has and still does rest, loving. us all om his mercy and truth of Son first. Amazing

 

[RodB651]

One problem I did encounter in my study; the stony execution of a man for collecting sticks on the sabbath. (Numbers 15:32-36) This appeared cruel and set me back.

I have read somewhere, I don't remember where, that this guy was possibly the son of the Egyptian that Moses killed earlier in Exodus chapter 2. I don't know how that conclusion was drawn, but if that's the case, he was probably rebellious from that point on. Like I say, I don't know if that's the case or not.

I do agree with the conclusions you stated about intentional and unintentional sins. The guy knew better!

 

[tablet123]

There is a passage in Psalm 95 that says if we do not know God’s ways, we will not enter His rest. I have been studying the sabbath and trying to understand what God really says. For your amusement and consideration, I submit the following thoughts.

Genesis 2:3
God then blessed the seventh day and set it apart because he had finished creation

The first thing God did on the seventh day, after creation was completed, was to make the day “Holy.” The entire day, not just part. He set one full day aside from all others for His use and pleasure. That use and pleasure was for our benefit; an opportunity to refresh.

Exodus 20:8-11
The first commandment concerning the Sabbath is to remember it forever…

Next God commanded His people to remember His special set-apart day forever. (Not sure we have done so well with that.) The sabbath is a reminder of His everlasting covenant. An acknowledgement that following a short period of struggles and difficulties, He will bring us all into an everlasting sabbath with Him.

Exodus 20:10
…but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work,

He then commanded His people to do no work. This has been abused and miss-understood for centuries, but His intent is clear. We are to rely on Him. (Picking up sticks does not necessarily violate the sabbath, but More on this later) We can trust God for our provision or we can rely on our own effort, but we cannot do both. For one full day out of seven, God asks our reliance be totally on Him, not on ourselves. The Bible says God will provide for the sabbath, all we need do is make the preparations.

So, what do we do? Yeshua showed us! Prayer, doing good works, reading scripture, hearing, and preaching the word, singing, fasting, healing, making oaths and vows to God, offering thanksgivings, yet always glorifying His Holy Name. There is tremendous power in the sabbath.

One problem I did encounter in my study; the stony execution of a man for collecting sticks on the sabbath. (Numbers 15:32-36) This appeared cruel and set me back.

After a little more study the context then became clear, the execution had absolutely nothing to do with breaking sabbath rules. The context is a discussion of unintentional and intentional sin. The issue is blasphemy; the deliberate, insulting, contemptuous and willful lack of reverence for God. This man stood at the foot of the mountain and heard God’s own voice proclaiming his commandments. In his arrogance he then proceeded to publicly challenged God. Not a good idea.

There is no judgement here on how or when anyone chooses to keep sabbath, only the encouragement for thoughts and prayers on the subject.

Gen 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

The 7th day the sabbath day applies to the creation of this earth.

It is a physical sabbath.

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

Mat 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
Mat 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
Mat 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Mat 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Mat 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
Mat 12:11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
Mat 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

The Jews had to obey the sabbath day to do no work on that day.

But the work they could not do was if it was work that had to do with physical prosperity not being a necessity.

The disciples ate of the corn when they went through the field.

And Jesus healed on the sabbath day.

Because love and helping with needs which is love never takes a day off.

They could work on the sabbath if it had to do with helping people with their needs or their own needs.

But they could not work if it had to do with personal prosperity that was not a necessity.

The man picking up sticks was laboring for something that was personal prosperity that did not support the needs of people.

And not an urgency that he had to do it on the sabbath day that was essential.

Obviously those sticks was not a necessity.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Jesus took the physical ordinances of Israel out of the way nailing them to His cross for they were contrary to us for they had no bearing on spiritual salvation.

Which includes the physical sabbath day being taken out of the way.

The physical sabbath is taken out of the way applies to this earth.

Jesus went away to prepare a place for the saints the new earth and heaven.

Which the kingdom of God is within the saints.

And they are strangers and pilgrims on earth.

So they belong to that new earth so they go by a spiritual sabbath and not the physical sabbath that applies to this earth.

Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When a person receives the Holy Spirit that is their rest and the refreshing.

The Old Testament a physical covenant this earth.

The New Testament a spiritual covenant the new earth.

 

[homwardbound]

I have read somewhere, I don't remember where, that this guy was possibly the son of the Egyptian that Moses killed earlier in Exodus chapter 2. I don't know how that conclusion was drawn, but if that's the case, he was probably rebellious from that point on. Like I say, I don't know if that's the case or not.

I do agree with the conclusions you stated about intentional and unintentional sins. The guy knew better!

I think we all do know better. How so?
Read or reread about The King of dreams, Joseph, who had no Law yet put down. Only the knowledge of good and evil. The law of God through Moses was not revealed yet.
Yet, I see Joseph was dependent on God 100% e even through prison I think for 13 years
Then the end of that story being a servant to people in the Famine that happened and restored to family after that
Amazing, God works everything out for us the people in remaining in love to us all
Time to be dependent on Father and Son too. I now know after many years of struggles to see it is true. Even in the book of Job Thank you Farther and Son as Won for us all 1 John 2:1-27
I am willing, thank you