So, Jesus said the Sabbath was “for” us. We talked about that being true of the Law in general; today, I want to talk about the rest that is the gift of the Sabbath in the Old Testament and the Lord’s Day in the New. Let’s begin with the passages in the Old Testament that talk about the command to the Israelites to honor the Sabbath.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. ‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you….The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. (Exodus 31: 12-16)
“Sabbath” is related to the Hebrew word for “rest.” It is the only one of the 10 Commandments given as a covenant sign. We see elsewhere in the Old Testament that covenants have signs: the sign of the Noahic covenant is the rainbow (Gen. 9:8–17); the sign of the Abrahamic covenant is circumcision (Gen. 17).[1]
The observance of Sabbath was a constant re-honoring of the covenant between God and Israel. It was an act of covenant renewal, a reminder of and a refocusing on the God with whom they had a covenant. Resting wasn’t just for personal renewal; it was for relational renewal with God.
As the Jewish people came to understand it, their primary duty was to stop working. We might think about it as getting out of the ‘rat race,’ but it became a lot more than that. Over time, the rabbis listed 39 categories of Sabbath work that was out of bounds. This was called “putting a fence around the Torah,” a well-intentioned effort to make sure they honored God as precisely and carefully as possible. See if this list makes you restful.
ripping up a piece of paper or sharpening a pencil was forbidden since it resembles “cutting to shape” or could be confused with it.[2]
agreeing to buy something was prohibited, because #“writing”
climbing a tree is forbidden, because it may lead to breaking twigs or tearing leaves, which could be construed as “reaping” (i.e., separating part of a growing plant from its source)
adding fresh water to a vase of cut flowers (“sowing” — any activity that causes or furthers plant growth).
Opening an umbrella or unfolding a screen (“building”).
Wearing eyeglasses not permanently required (“carrying” from private to public domain and vice versa).[3]
You could carry on your property, but on public property you could only carry the clothes you needed to wear – even keys and handkerchiefs had to be left at home.
They didn’t blow a temple shofar when Rosh Hashana happened on the Sabbath. Sure, there was a shofar at the temple, but what if it got broken and someone had to carry one there to replace it?
A Sabbath’s journey could be no longer than 2,000 cubits (3,000 feet) from one’s house. In some parts of Israel today, residents have been known to throw stones at those driving through their neighborhoods on Shabbat. However, they must set aside the stones for use on Shabbat.[4]
There is some irony here: Sabbath was supposed to remind them how God freed them from bondage, and it turned into bondage to the Law.[5] Which wasn’t the point at all. Sabbath was a gift designed to bring us rest. That doesn’t sound like rest.[6]
While it is the only one of the Ten Commandment given as a covenant sign, it is also the only commandment referred to as a type pointing toward the True Sabbath. Many of the New Testament writers compared Sabbath to the other covenant sign, circumcision: both were physical ways of enacting a covenant with God; both were now enacted spiritually in Christ.
“True circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. “(Romans 2:28-29)
"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:16-18)[7]
“There still remains a place of rest, a true Sabbath, for the people of God because those who enter into salvation’s rest lay down their labors in the same way that God entered into a Sabbath rest from His.” (Hebrews 4:9-10)
Literal Sabbath Day rest functioned as important reminder of the spiritual rest in Christ. The seriousness with which the Old Testament treats the observance of Sabbath rest was admirable, but Jesus pointed out that so many of the Pharisee’s laws were missing the point of Sabbath. Sabbath is for us. It had become a burden to keep, and it should not have been a burden. It should have been a blessing. After all,
"Sabbath isn't about resting perfectly; it's about resting in the One who is perfect." - Shelly Miller
Jesus didn’t un-command it, but – like all the times he said, “You have heard it said…but I say unto you,” he clarified that there was something more going on. I like how Justin Martyr summarized it about 100 years after Jesus’ death:
“The new law requires you to keep perpetual sabbath, and you, because you are idle for one day, suppose you are pious, not discerning why this has been commanded you…if there is any perjured person or a thief among you, let him cease to be so; if any adulterer, let him repent… if any one has impure hands, let him wash and be pure. Then he has kept the sweet and true sabbaths of God.“
One of the reasons Sunday rose in importance vs. Saturday in the early church had to do with the question of where we find rest in New Covenant enacted by Jesus.
In the Old Covenant, rest followed our work at the end of the week (Saturday) Once we had accomplished, we got a reward for what we did.
In the New Covenant, it is only after resting in Christ’s completed work for us on the first day of the week (Sunday) that we even begin our work. Our rest comes not from what we did, but from what Jesus did.
The Sabbath commemorated the first creation; the Lord’s Day is linked with the new creation. The Sabbath day was a day of responsibility; the Lord’s Day is a day of privilege.[8]
The new covenant radically alters the Sabbath perspective. Current believers do not first labor six days, looking hopefully towards rest. Instead, they begin the week by rejoicing in the rest already accomplished by the cosmic event of Christ’s resurrection. Then they enter joyfully into their six days of labor. - O. Palmer Robertson, (slightly modified)
“The Sabbath teaches us that we do not work to please God. Rather, we rest because God is already pleased with the work, he has accomplished in us.” A.J. Swoboda
I want to talk more about resting in God’s completed work in us by looking at some principles for observing and experiencing rest in Jesus as an ongoing experience, not just something we pursue one day a week. Let’s start by expanding our view of a verse we looked at last week.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is usefully kind, and my burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Jesus and take His yoke. “Take my yoke” was a common saying of rabbis. It meant, “If you are going to be a disciple, you must obey my teachings and follow my example.” If you want rest – deep, spiritual rest of the heart and soul - don’t pursue rest. Pursue Jesus. Jesus will lead you to rest.
Learn about Jesus, and you will find rest for your souls. Rest is connected to trust. My cat sleeps on me without a care in the world because she trusts me. If you trust the driver, you can rest on a trip. I can bare my soul to my wife because I trust her. Rest is connected with trust. If you can’t seem to rest in Christ, learn more about a Savior you can trust.
Is there a formula for how we can practically experience this rest (and I’m talking about soul rest that permeates every aspect of our life)? Formula is not the right word, but there are habits (spiritual disciplines) that are helpful. I am going to offer a couple ideas built from a list taken from some of Tim Keller’s writing on the Sabbath.
First, consciously enjoy[9] God and His good gifts. Practice acknowledgment of God throughout the day by improving purposeful contact with God.
Consciously appreciate salvation, sanctification, grace, forgiveness, the fruit of the spirit, the love and faithfulness of God: basically, the good and perfect gifts given to us by Jesus.
Celebrate the freedom Jesus offers from all kinds of slavery: slavery to sin, slavery to achieve, slavery to impress, slavery to earn, slavery to addictions of all kinds, slavery to your past, slavery to the gnawing need to be good enough to matter…
Consciously rest in the identity we have in Christ. We are loved children. We aren’t perfect children, but God’s love for us never depends on our perfection. It flows from His.
Second, do something that frees you from the tyranny of being amazing. This has to do with accomplishing, making a mark on the world, being noticed. The rabbis who created the “fence around the Torah” understood the importance of getting out of the rhythm of the ‘rat race’ and into the rhythm of the Kingdom.
"If we only stop when we are finished with all our work, we will never stop, because our work is never completely done... Sabbath ... liberates us from the need to be finished." —Wayne Muller
It turns out that the world turns even when we take time off! (I know, right?) Israelites had to let their fields lie fallow every seventh year. (Leviticus 25:1–7). This stopped them from over farming. They could enjoy whatever grew on its own. You need time to make sure you don’t “overfarm” your life or your schedule; plan fallow time, and enjoy it. Consciously let God take care of the ‘being amazing’ part.
some meals can just be Ramen noodles and leftovers
your house can be a mess when people come over
your lawn doesn’t have to be immaculate all the time
you can let down your guard and cry in front of others
you can show up at church looking like you need a hug
you can let your burdens show, and ask others to help you.
you can make mistakes, do dumb stuff, show up grumpy, post something you regret
you can own your sin in front of God and others
you can go back and apologize (which, I know, means you were wrong in what you did or said or thought)
I love this quote from Barbara Brown Taylor:
“At least one day in every seven, pull off the road and park the car in the garage. Close the door to the toolshed and turn off the computer. Stay home, not because you are sick but because you are well. Talk someone you love into being well with you. Take a nap, a walk, and hour for lunch. Test the premise that you are worth more than you can produce – that even if you spent one whole day of being good for nothing you would still be precious in God’s sight.
And when you get anxious because you are convinced that this is not so – remember that your own conviction is not required. This is a commandment. Your worth has already been established, even when you are not working. The purpose of the commandment is to woo you to the same truth.”
You can’t be amazing all the time. Jesus knows this – and friends, I hope we all do too. God forbid we use this as an excuse to be lazy, but God forbid we don’t rest in a Divine love that has covered a multitude of our sins and imperfections on the Cross.
Sabbath ceasing means to cease not only from work itself, but also from the need to accomplish and be productive, from the worry and tension that accompany our modern criterion of efficiency, from our efforts to be in control of our lives as if we were God, from our possessiveness and our enculturation, and, finally, from the humdrum and meaninglessness that result when life is pursued without the Lord at the center of it all. —Marva J. Dawn
When we are weak, the strength of God shines. His glory is perfected in our weakness. We don’t try to be weak so His glory can abound, but we rest in knowing that God uses our worst to point toward His best.
Plan rhythms that lead to spiritual rest. Notice fear/worry/anxiety and invite the peace of Christ. I don’t know what your schedule is. Sometimes we are at a place in life when we have time to stop everything and carve out chunks of time. Sometimes our days (or weeks or months) keep us hopping. Either way,
I can breath a prayer in the checkout line instead of check my phone.
I can listen to music in my truck that points me toward God.
I can download a Bible App or get a short devotional book that orients my mind.
For parents with young kids, bring ‘em to church when we offer stuff for kids and take some time to re-orient and rest. Hmmm…I bet a ministry of babysitting would be deeply appreciated….
It is so easy to get swept up in life – it comes at us relentlessly at times. Paul summarized the solution this way in Philippians 4:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Do something that refreshes you when you can. Hopefully, the things mentioned above do that. In addition, there are activities you (hopefully) have time and opportunity to do in addition to engaging in church fellowship and worship. Enjoy things that are good and that you find beautiful, and thank God for it. I know what those things are for me: puzzles and podcasts; fishing; napping (is that recreation?), gardening, sitting by a fire pit and watching a sunset… I’m not sure what they are for you. I just think they involve enjoying God’s good world. Find the green pastures and still waters that restore your soul.
Focus on passing on the grace God has given to us. I love this account of what an early Lord’s Day observance looked like in the church. This is from around A.D. 155.
“ And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.
Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.
And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who supports the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.
But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead.
For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration. (Justin Martyr, First Apology Chapter LXVII.—Weekly worship of the Christians. [A.D. 155])
Contribute to restful spaces. In relationships, seek peace and as much as it is up to you, and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14) As much as is possible, live at peace with all. (Romans 12:18) Like Jesus said, peacemakers are blessed. (Matthew 5:9) Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
Let the Lord who leads us into the Sabbath rest of salvation rule and reign your heart and mind such that those around us experience the peace God has given us. Peacemaking can involve hard truth and bold confrontation at times – but it will never be absent the kind of Christ-centered agape love that motivates to be broken and spilled out as we work for the good of God’s image bearers and children.
“I have come to think that the moment of giving the bread of Eucharist as gift is the quintessential center of the notion of Sabbath rest in Christian tradition. It is gift! We receive in gratitude. Imagine having a sacrament named “thanks”! We are on the receiving end, without accomplishment, achievement, or qualification. It is a gift, and we are grateful!” ― Walter Brueggemann, Sabbath as Resistance
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[1] Circumcision was not unique to the Israelites. Egyptians, for example, appear to have used circumcision as an act of initiation or rite of passage for boys entering manhood. Circumcision was an act of initiation; the style of circumcision showed what you had been initiated into. This may seem odd to us, but it made sense to everyone in the Ancient Near East. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/55911658.pdf
[2] https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shabbats-work-prohibition/
[3] https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shabbats-work-prohibition/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_Shabbat#cite_note-23
[5] “Anyone who cannot obey God's command to observe the Sabbath is a slave, even a self-imposed one. Your own heart, or our materialistic culture, or an exploitative organization, or all of the above, will be abusing you… Sabbath is therefore a declaration of our freedom. It means you are not a slave—not to your culture's expectations, your family's hopes, your medical school's demands, not even to your own insecurities. It is important that you learn to speak this truth to yourself with a note of triumph...” -Keller
[6] “If we do not allow for a rhythm of rest in our overly busy lives, illness becomes our Sabbath…our accidents create Sabbath for us.” ― Wayne Muller, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives He doesn’t mean that if you get sick or dangerously sloppy, it’s always because you dishonored God’s command to rest. His point is that our bodies need rest, and if we don’t set time aside for to rest our bodies (as best we can), our bodies keep score in some fashion. For me, it was a nervous breakdown. God didn’t smite me: my body needed rest that I wasn’t giving it.
[7] “So, when you ask why a Christian does not keep the Sabbath, if Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it, my reply is, that a Christian does not keep the Sabbath precisely because what was prefigured in the Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ. For we have our Sabbath in Him who said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.” (Augustine, reply to Faustus,Book XIX.-9)
[8] Believer’s Bible Commentary
[9] Also got some good ideas here: https://tifwe.org/the-sabbath-and-your-work/