THE PURPOSE AND PLACE OF THE SABBATH

God fully intended for Christians to know the purpose and place of the Sabbath, and therefore His Book is replete with information concerning this very important subject. Yet it is amazing the number of devout believers who have little or no knowledge of its duration, or time of observance. Many are simply aghast when you suggest to them that the Sabbath is not mentioned in the first book of the Bible! They have been led to believe that on the seventh day God rested and then and there instructed man that he was also to rest. But research will show you that the Sabbath is not even mentioned until Exo. 16: 23 — over 2500 years after Adam and Eve left Eden! There is not one shred of evidence that any man knew that God rested on the seventh day before the occasion mentioned in that passage, which was 2500 years from the garden.

Too, many are surprised to learn that the law of the Sabbath had not been given before Israel departed from the land of Egypt; but this is the truth! In Neh. 9: 13-14 we read, "Thou earnest down also upon mount Sinai... and madest known unto them thy holy Sabbath, and commandest them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant. " Had this Sabbath ordinance been given before then God could not have made it known unto them there! The instructions concerning keeping the Sabbath was first stated in relation to the manna — Exo 16: 22-26. Therein did Moses state that on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there was to be no manna on the ground for them. This instruction was to be remembered for forty years in which they were dependent on this food from heaven. If Israel had known of the Sabbath before, then this instruction would have been both redundant and superfluous. But not having known of it previously, the teaching was vital and necessary!

Beginning with Exo. 20: 2, you have the recital of the Ten Commandments, and God there states, "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. " This statement could have been made by none other than those delivered from Egypt, and the Sabbath was bound only upon that people and their descendants. This was in the covenant which God made with Israel at Sinai. Later Moses referred to this event in the words, "The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us alive here this day" (Deut. 5: 1-3). Later God declared, "Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt... Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctified them" (Ezek. 20: 10-12). Now, note that this was given to those whom God caused to go out of Egypt. Moreover, the Sabbath observance was given as a sign between God and them. Doesn't it stand to reason that this could not be a sign between just God and Israel if ALL MEN were to also keep and observe it? But that we may have more assurance that this was for Israel ONLY, it is recorded, "And remember that thou wast a servant in the land Of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence with a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day" (Deut. 5: 15). It was to be a memorial of THEIR deliverance, and the word THEREFORE has a special significance! Only the Israelites would have an appreciation for this!

This perpetual covenant was only to embrace Israel. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath to observe it throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever" (Exo. 31: 16-17). This "perpetual covenant" is the very same expression used in connection with the burning of incense (see Exo. 30: 8). It was to be perpetuated by Israel throughout her generations, but was never to be bound upon peoples who had never been in Egyptian bondage. In fact, that they might know of a certainty the exactness of that day, the Lord gave them a new calendar to govern them (see Exo. 12: 2). The observance was tied in inseparably with all the ceremonies, rituals and ordinance of the Law of Moses. And one might as well lead a sheep to the altar for animal sacrifice as to bind the observance of the day affiliated with those ordinances, rituals and ceremonies.

That we may clearly see that the sabbath was not to be bound on us, let us notice the facts and restrictions of the Sabbath, as stated by God's Word.

1. This sabbath law: had not been given to men before Israel left Egypt. (Exo. 16: 23-26; Deut. 5: 2-3).

2. It was given to those people delivered out of bondage in Egypt (Exo. 31: 12-17; Hos. 2: 11; Deut. 5: 15).

3. No fires were to be built on this day (Exo. 35: 3).

4. They were not to go out of their house (Exo. 16: 29).

5. They could neither bake nor boil on this day (Exo. 16: 23). 8. Priest to offer two lambs on Sabbath (Num. 28: 9).

7. It was to be kept from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23: 32).

8. Any violator of Sabbath law to be stoned (Exo. 31: 12-17; Num. 15: 32-38).

9. The Sabbath was part of the Law of Moses (Exo. 20; Exo. 24: 12).

10. The Law was nailed to the cross when Jesus Christ died (Col. 22: 12-16; Eph. 2: 13-16).

11. To be justified by the Law is to fall from grace (Gal. 5: 4).

12. The Sabbath was given at Mt. Sinai or Horeb (Deut. 5: 2).

13. But we are not come to Mt. Sinai (Heb. 12: 18).

14. There were two covenants: 1st & 2nd (Heb. 8: 7; 9: 1, 15).

15. The Sabbath observance was under the first (Deut 5: 1: 4; 1 Kings 8: 21).

16. The first made way for second (Heb. 8: 9, 10; 10: 9).

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17. The Sabbath was part of the Law (Exo. 20; 24: 12).

18. But "Christ is the end of the Law" (Rom. 10: 4; Col 2-12-16; Eph. 2: 13-15).

Lest we become tedious in our study, let us pass on to the abrogation of the Law, and investigate this matter. For Paul wrote 14 books in the New Testament which deal with the work and worship of Christians—yet Paul never taught any church or individual to observe the Sabbath! He did preach on the Sabbath, but because it afforded him an audience among the Jews who then assembled. And in the life of Paul we find that the first day of the week was not a Sabbath Day, for it was a day of religious activity (Acts 20: 7). We find that Christians were warned of exalting any "holy day" (Col. 2: 16-17; Gal. 4: 9-11). Rather than holding to the Jewish Sabbath, they were taught that our Sabbath awaits us in heaven (Heb. 4: 1-11; Rev. 22: 14).

GILDING OR GOLD?

Though the place where we live

May be blessed with good land, With the fruit of its soil ripening there;

And the home that we have

May be spacious and grand, With its furnishings chosen with care:

Yet the displays of wealth

Never quite satisfy A deep sense of our debt to the poor,

Who are failing of health

And will very soon die If our goods are not sent to their door.

Though the clothing we wear

Sport the latest "new look, " With accessories chosen with pride;

We've forgotten, I fear,

The real gist of the Book, While the hungry of earth are denied.

It's not glittering gold

With which we're embossed, When the world begs to us in deep need:

It is only cheap gilding

That covers the dross Of our stinginess, meanness, and greed!