A Proper Rest

Exodus 35:2-3 “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 that day must be put to death. 3 You must not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath.”
 
WHY is God’s Sabbath command here so extremely restrictive: Rest on the Sabbath or die! But that doesn’t happen. After all, millions of people work on the Sabbath. But God doesn’t kill them. Cam we really trust God’s Word through Moses, “Anyone who works on that day must be put to death”?  
     When we study Scripture, it is essential to look at the context of the text. In other words, we must understand the circumstances and purpose for God’s instructions at particular points in God’s story. This is a perfect example. The context of this capital punishment for Sabbath violation is the construction of the Tabernacle, the place where God would meet with Israel. The LORD had given very specific instructions to build the Tabernacle. This Sabbath penalty would be on any who worked on the Tabernacle on the Sabbath. The Holy God commanded perfect obedience to build his dwelling on earth. In his perfection, he commanded rest. God is not a slave master.
     How do we respond today to the Sabbath command of Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” We are to see this as a great blessing. The Sabbath law is from the framework of God’s rest from his creation (Genesis 2:2). That first Sabbath marked time with both the completion of creation and the continuation of God’s rule over the earth. The Sabbath also affirmed rest after labor is good and right to do.
     Thus, the Sabbath command was to help mankind mark each week, to give a rhythm and order for our lives as we rest. In our rest we are to refresh physically and spiritually. Ignoring physical rest, we will be too filled with labor to be filled with the Gospel. Without proper rest, we will neglect the hearing and reading of God’s Word. Constant labor will restrict our meeting with God in worship and in private times.
     In this sense, ignoring the Sabbath does lead to death. History shows the cultures neglecting God die and disappear. The evidence is all around. Our churches and communities are spiritually dying because we miss meeting with God. Our empty souls hunger for truth. We thirst for peace. Our focus is to keep busy, regardless of the cost – even our relationship with God and one another.
     Let’s remember again. God’s commands come from his love. His loving way is for you to live with a balance of work and rest. Too much of one or the other, and you will surely die in your soul.
 
LIFE Link: Good work, proper rest leads to a godly life.