Leviticus 26:33‘You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste. 34‘Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35‘All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your sabbaths, while you were living on it.
(2 Chron. 36:21) To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.
Thoughts: We have gone so far from the idea of Sabbath that many young and middle-aged people have no idea what it is. To God it was serious because it 1) marked God's people- it was part of the covenant with Moses to have one societal day of rest in seven; 2) It enabled the people to trust in God for their work. So the people did not collect manna on the Sabbath and still survived. 3) Keeping a day of rest meant they were free- and it was a reminder that when they were slaves in Egypt they could not keep a day of rest. 4) It is a health blessing to rest. Many studies have been made to affirm that if we rest on a regular basis it can give us more energy and production than if we just worked through. 5) It ensured a focus of worship of the Lord.
The people of God in the Bible did not keep the Sabbath. Leviticus (26:33-35) had warned that they would be exiled if they did not keep it. Then they were exiled- for 70 years. 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah affirmed that breaking the Sabbath (along with idolatry, child-sacrifice, ritual prostitution) were the reasons God put them in exile and then remarkably brought them back.
In our day, we neglect the day of rest and the worship of God. As God put a stop to Israel's headlong plunge away from Him so He can do it again. One thing we should learn as we are isolated and our work has slowed from the best ever rates of production and unemployment to one of the worst drops ever, is the need to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Taking time for God and for neighbor are not things to be neglected. It is obvious that some see worship as simply non-essential entertainment. But God sees worship as the most important thing you can do. Let us not only keep the Sabbath- but enjoy the day and find joy in the Lord who gives us true rest.
The people of God in the Bible did not keep the Sabbath. Leviticus (26:33-35) had warned that they would be exiled if they did not keep it. Then they were exiled- for 70 years. 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah affirmed that breaking the Sabbath (along with idolatry, child-sacrifice, ritual prostitution) were the reasons God put them in exile and then remarkably brought them back.
In our day, we neglect the day of rest and the worship of God. As God put a stop to Israel's headlong plunge away from Him so He can do it again. One thing we should learn as we are isolated and our work has slowed from the best ever rates of production and unemployment to one of the worst drops ever, is the need to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Taking time for God and for neighbor are not things to be neglected. It is obvious that some see worship as simply non-essential entertainment. But God sees worship as the most important thing you can do. Let us not only keep the Sabbath- but enjoy the day and find joy in the Lord who gives us true rest.
Prayer: Lord, help me to put you first and to give you my time- for all of my time is a gift from you.
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