Weekly Message: Why is it important to keep Sabbath holy and rest? 11/14/2021
by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music
Why is it important to keep Sabbath holy and rest? What is the Lord’s Sabbath principle? If the people violet the Sabbath principle what is the punishment? Today, Let us discover it in the Old Testament Exodus 16, 20 and Jeremiah 17.
What is the Lord’s Sabbath principle?
Now the Lord provided meat in the evening and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears people’s grumblings and The Lord commanded Israelites to rest on the seventh day, and not to go out to gather bread on Sabbath, for there will be none in the field. On the Sixth day, the Lord provided two days' potion of bread and meat for them. They shall cook or bake or boil it on the sixth day and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning. So the bread didn’t become foul, nor was there any worm in it. But some people didn’t follow the instructions and principle of law, went out to gather the meat and bread, however, they found none. And the Lord questioned Moses, how long these people refused to listen to Me. The Lord has given people the Sabbath so the people can rest on the Seventh day. And He provided two days' bread to them to gather in the field, however, some didn’t listen nor follow the instruction.
Exodus 16:22-26 shows that when Moses received Lord’s commands, he urged Israelites, “Now it came about on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, then he said to them, “This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning. So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul, nor was there any worm in it. And Moses said, “eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.” (Exodus16:22-26).
And it came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions?” see, the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day. (Exodus16:27-30)
In Exodus 20 the Lord spoke Ten Commandments, and in verse 8 to 11 again reminded about the Sabbath, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (vv.8-11).
Jeremiah 17 shows a call to hallow the Sabbath as a sign of repentance on the part of the people (cf Neh.10:31; 13:15-22), who were using the Sabbath to bring their crops and wares into the city in violation of the law. It stated, “This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers (vv.21-22). Yet, they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline.
Why is it important to keep Sabbath holy and rest? According to Jeremiah 17:23-25, it provides the answer as follows,
“But if you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem and this city will be inhabited forever.” (Jeremiah 17:23-25)
If the people violet the Sabbath principle what is the punishment? Jeremiah 17:27 shows that the city will be consumed by an unquenchable fire.
“But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.” (Jeremiah 17:27).
Conclusion
The Lord had given Sabbath to His people so they could rest on the Seventh day, not do any work, but work on the six days. The Lord provided two days' potion on the sixth day, but none on the seventh day. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning. So they put it aside until morning. If people obey the Lord to keep the Sabbath day holy by not word, nor carrying any load come through the gates of Jerusalem, then, the city will be inhabited forever. In contrast, if people disobey the commands, the Lord will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.
My friends, do you keep Sabbath holy and rest on the seventh day? Learn from the Biblical principle of living in the Bible, you will gain the wisdom of living, how to gain a peaceful life without restlessness, or lose your health. The Lord surely blesses those people who keep Sabbath holy and obey His Ten Commandments. Let your soul, mind, heart and body rest on Sabbath day. The Lord owns it all; the Lord is Jehovah-Jireh, who provides everything. He is Jehovah-Rohi, who is our Shepherd, we shall not want; He is El-Shaddai, all bountiful and all sufficient, trust in Him, and He will provide all the needs. The Sabbath principle is to keep six days working unto the Lord, but rest on the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Bibliography,
New American Standard Bible, The Open Bible.. La Habra, CA: Thomas Nelson publishers, 1978.
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
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