Let’s understand the Sabbath but first we have to lay the foundation in v. 1.
“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
I don’t know about you, but never in my life have I so much appreciated righteousness and justice that in these days and times, mainly because I see it ebbing away. I see guilty people thrown in prison for nothing, and I see those who should be in prison for numerous offenses free. There is no justice for some and heavy handed punishment for others. It’s hard to watch. Especially knowing it’s only time before this type of behavior spreads to the masses in greater ways.
“Maintain justice.” It’s easy to believe in justice. It’s harder to maintain, especially when there is great pressure for compromise.
And then in the synonymous parallelism that is throughout the Psalms and Scriptures in Hebraic thought is this further clarification (v. 2):
Blessed is the one who does this—
the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
Blessed is the person who 1) maintains justice–what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong according to Scripture, 2) keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and 3) keeps their hands from evil. This is not just a list but an enlightenment as the nature of the Sabbath.
So what about keeping the Sabbath? Is that still applicable to today? Because it was SUCH an important part of the Jewish culture. And in this chapter as well as he talks about including others into his fold:
- “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—
to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters (v. 4-5) - And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him to love the name of the Lord,and to be his servants,all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer (v. 7)
First of all this is a beautiful invitation to all, that the place of God is for all people on the earth. There is life and blessing in Him.
Secondly, the Sabbath was not a small thing to the Lord. The fact that it is mentioned even for foreigners and eunuchs.
It is also the point of contention with Jesus as he “broke” the Sabbath. At least he broke the Sabbath in the eyes of how the religious leaders defined Sabbath. Jesus healed on the Sabbath, and he allowed his disciples to pick grain as they were hungry. He even confronted them about their hypocrisy about the Sabbath because they had twisted into something legalistic and controlling for others, but not something bound for their own needs.
Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. (Mt 12:9-13)
In their self-righteousness they would not think twice about rescuing a sheep if it fell into a pit. Afterall, there was an investment and sheep represented money. But when it came to man? They were angry that Jesus did the “work” of healing on the Sabbath. I think Jesus healed out of compassion for the man, but also to make a bold statement.
Jesus then defined the Sabbath as God intended it: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mk 2:27-28).
If the Sabbath was meant to care for man, then why be upset when a man was healed on the Sabbath?
But there was another layer to the Sabbath. The purpose of the Sabbath was to point to Jesus himself. In Hebrews 4 we read that Jesus is our Sabbath rest:
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. (Heb 4:9-10).
The Sabbath rest spoken of here is that through faith in Jesus, we enter into rest. No more striving through works for salvation. He is the fulfillment of the “rest” that is in God.
Jesus satisfied the Law in regards to our Sabbath rest.
So should we still practice the Sabbath?
The arguments for doing so is that God rested on the 7th day and this rest was prior to any sin entering into the world. That this is something rooted in creation.
The argument against doing so is that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of that Sabbath rest. Therefore we are free.
Let’s look at a Scripture in Ex 31:
12 The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: 13 “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. 14 You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. 15 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. 16 The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. 17 It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’” Exodus 31:12-17
If you notice 3x it is clear that this is a covenant between God and the nation of Israel. Similar to the way that circumcision was the sign of the covenant with Israel. Circumcision was a symbol for removing evil and consecrating the heart. And the Sabbath was to show that through Messiah there would be rest.
So these covenants, especially circumcision, was an issue with the early church. The question now was since the new covenant was established, was circumcision necessary for salvation? The answer was a resounding No! Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature (Col 2:11).
In the same way Christ was the fulfillment of the Sabbath.
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
Colossians 2:16-17
Christ himself was the fulfillment of the Sabbath. That we would enter into his rest.
The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. Hebrews 10:1
So what about for today?
Do the Jewish people still need to be circumcised and practice the Sabbath? I think it’s important, but not a point of salvation. They are the people to whom God made the covenant. The practice was for all time, but the fulfillment was found in Christ. If someone were to be circumcised or to practice the Sabbath as a means of salvation, then they would be like Paul says that
“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.” (Gal 5:1-3).
I believe the same is true for the Jews for the Sabbath. If they practice the Sabbath because by it they think it will contribute to their salvation, then they have abandon Messiah and he is of no value to them.
But what about Gentiles?
I think the same is true in that the Sabbath is NOT a means of salvation. If it ever comes to that, then like we read in Galatians Christ is of no value. Salvation is not through the Sabbath but through Christ.
But should we practice it anyway?
My answer is yes. But not in a legalistic way.
- We understand that the practice of the Sabbath is not the means of salvation. Not for ourselves and not for others.
- We practice it because we see this rooted in creation. If God chose 1 day in 7 to rest, it is a good thing to do.
- We need it. Working 7 days a week is not good. Whether it is working a job 5 days a week and then working for ourselves 2 days of the week, it is not good for the soul. We need rest and God gives us that regulatory pattern.
- It is important that we rest and separate the “common from the holy” as we read in Scripture. It’s important to have one day a week that we rest and we worship Him. The rhythms of worship are important.
What does that look like then? How is the Sabbath practiced?
- As a day of rest I think it is a holy day that we worship and meet with other believers. We renew ourselves in the Lord.
- I believe it is also the place of being together with family, even taking time to play together. Take a hike and enjoy his creation. Play board games together. Read a book.
- I do believe it is healthy not to take a work today. Some fields require it such as medical or police/military. and clergy In that case choose another day for the Sabbath.
- I myself try not to shop on the Sabbath. I remember growing up where everything was closed on that day. Now everything is business as usual and worse, sports events for kids are on worship days making it so difficult for parents. It makes for competition and I sometimes wonder if it is designed for that.
- It’s not a point of legalism. Sometimes while I prefer not to shop on worship days, sometimes I need to. And it’s Ok. It’s now law. It’s relationship with Christ.
