What is Sabbath Rest?
Updated: Aug 5
So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. — Hebrews 4:9-10
The word and idea of Sabbath is having a moment. It seems that a new podcast comes out every week with someone having written a book about Sabbath. The idea of keeping Sabbath can bring out very strong emotions one way or another. If you grew up keeping a day of the week holy, you may feel that it was legalistic with a big list of dos and mostly don’ts. The idea of a day of rest may sound good to you, but maybe you feel like you have too much to do or achieve to take a break. Maybe you have tried to Sabbath every week and find it a welcome break from the hurry and worry of modern-day life. Have you ever wondered where Sabbath came from?
The first time we see Sabbath mentioned in the Bible is at creation. God creates the Sabbath at the end of creating the world as a day of rest for himself and those He created. It was a day when they could take the time to look around them and worship the God who had created everything they saw.
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 2:2-3
The next time we see God ask His people to keep the Sabbath is in Exodus. This time, it's not only God who needs a rest from His work, but His people, too. God had just delivered them from slavery. They had been slaves in Egypt building things for Pharaoh for centuries. Slaves don’t get time off. So, when God delivered this band of rag-tag slaves from captivity, He had to teach them how to live and govern themselves. He gave them a set of guidelines to live by, holy days to celebrate, and a culture and heritage to be proud of. One of these guidelines was to take a day of rest every seventh day of the week. When God gave them this guideline, He told them that this day of rest was to remind them that not only is He the God who brought them out of Egypt, but He is also the God who created the world. And He told them that this rest is not just for them, but for the foreigners who lived among them and even their animals. Everyone got a break! In giving His people a day that was set apart, He set them apart as well. None of the other nations around them kept a weekly day of rest.
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery... Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” Exodus 20:2, 8-11
After the exodus and the Israelites time in the wilderness, God promised them rest after they had conquered the promised land. God was good on His promise, and through King David He promised them another rest.
This rest came with Jesus. Jesus said,
“For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” Matthew 12:8
Jesus came to give us the ultimate rest. Peace with God. No more striving to be good enough. No more striving for perfection. Jesus was good enough. He was perfect! He gave us His perfect rest so we could have Sabbath, or rest, with God. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. He created the Sabbath in the beginning to memorialize His creative power, He gave it to the Israelites to remind them that He had set them free, and He gives it to us again to when we come to Him in faith and accept His sacrifice in our place to commemorate our freedom from sin and its power over us. The Sabbath Jesus gives us is greater than anything we can do to try and earn God’s approval. Sabbath is there to remind us of God’s power through creation, and of His power to save us and re-create our hearts.
If you are interested in learning more, check out my new Bible study on the book of Hebrews, Greater Than.
Reflect
• Do you feel like you are always striving and never arriving? What would resting in God’s provision look like for you? What deep longing must you rely on God to fulfill that you can’t provide for yourself?
• Have you ever tried to keep Sabbath? How can you make Sabbath a day of rest with God instead of just another thing to check off your holy to-do list?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for providing Sabbath rest. I know that I tend to try to do it all myself, so help me to rest in the work you have already done. Open my eyes to notice and enjoy Your creation and the many things You have done for me. Help me to rest in the work Jesus did for me on the cross. Thank you!
I'd love to hear your thoughts! Which of these reflection questions stands out to you the most? Share your experience in the comments below.
Comments