April 30, 2006
“The Glories and Joys of Sweet Sabbath Rest”
Genesis 2:1-3
In the first three verses of Genesis 2, we not only have the establishment of the Sabbath and Sabbath rest but also the establishment of the seven-day week. I thought of treating these things exhaustively, yet as I as I went through the week I realized I would not be able to do that, just too much material to cover, the Sabbath and Seven in the Bible are subjects 7 times bigger than what I thought they would be!
Yet, here I will do the best I am able with this glorious topic!
I. Note that the Sabbath and the Seven Day week are established here by God as creation ordinances – Genesis 2:1-3
1. We find the seven-day week in every culture, at least all that I know of. Will the ACLU one day attack it for its “religious” implications?
2. We see here God rests; there is no new creating after this day.
3. We see here that God sets aside the seventh day as Holy, He sanctifies it.
4. We see here also God blesses it; He puts His special favor on it.
II. We have rules and instructions about the Sabbath given to us in the ten Commandments – Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15
God tells us to:
1. Observe / Remember the Sabbath Day
2. Keep it Holy / Separate it from the other days as special / sacred
3. For two reasons:
A. Because of God’s work in creation – Exodus 20:11
B. Because of God’s work in redemption – Deuteronomy 5:15
C. Both of these: creation and redemption are reasons for us to worship and glorify God and Christ – Revelation 4:11 (creation) and Revelation 5:8-14
III. How important is this command to keep / observe the Sabbath?
1. It is important to notice the seriousness of this command – Exodus 30:13-17
A. Disobedience is punishable by death – Exodus 31:14-15
B. It is (was) the sign of Covenant unity with God – Exodus 31:16-17
C. Instructions about the Sabbath are given at the end of the instruction about the tabernacle Exodus 31:14-15; and at the beginning or before the start of the actual work would begin on the tabernacle – Exodus 35:1-3
D. We see the death penalty actually carried out for Sabbath breaking – Numbers 15:32-36
E. We see a Sabbath given even to the Land – Leviticus 25
In the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest unto the land, v. 4. This involved:
E1. No sowing of corn or dressing
E2. No claim on personal property
E3. No work on the land
Why?
(1.) God was Landlord.
(2.) It was good rest their land
(3.) They had more time for God
(4.) They were taught to be generous
(5.) They had to depend upon God
(6.) They were reminded ease in paradise
(7.) They learned how the poor lived
(8.) This year of rest typified the spiritual rest, which all believers enter into through Christ
– abridgement of Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 25
IV. Yet, Christ teaches – Matthew 12:1-15; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-11; John 5:9-18; 7:21-24; 9:14-16
1. Adherence to Sabbath laws were to be strict but not suffocating, rather sweet and delightful – Matthew 12:1-6; Isaiah 56
2. They are concerned more with heart than with specific outward actions – Amos 8:1-6; Matthew 12:7
3. Christ Himself, was / is Lord of the Sabbath – Matthew 12:8
4. It is because of Christ’s resurrection the Sabbath day is changed – Acts 20:7
5. Christ Himself is our spiritual Rest – Hebrews 4:1-11.
6. The Sabbath Rest points us to Christ as do the bread and the wine of our Lord’s Supper – 1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 11:24
