Resting in Christ
The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. As evangelical believers, we are to follow this command, although in a slightly different way than our Jewish ancestors.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy. Exodus 20:8-11, CSB
Go read about the first three commandments here!
What is the sabbath? Then and now
As stated in these verses, the Sabbath is modeled after God’s creation, in which He made everything in six days and then rested on the seventh day. Our weeks are seven days, so this model makes sense. Back in Bible times, all ancient civilizations worked seven days a week. Ancient civilizations would have looked at the Hebrews like they were crazy taking a whole day off of work just to “rest.” However, In modern times we have five day work weeks so it is less strange to take a full day off to rest.
In Hebrew the Sabbath is called “shabbat.” Both in olden times and for Jews today, Shabbat is from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Conservative Jews still celebrate this weekly in modern times. The Bible goes on to list broad laws about what Jews can and cannot do on the Sabbath, mostly constituting the act of work. The Jewish leaders went on to expound upon what these laws refer to. Some of these rules seem silly to us, like not cooking, not tearing paper (ummm even toilet paper), not even being able to turn on the lights or heat in the home.
I had the privilege of visiting Israel a few years ago. Since where we live has very few (if any) conservative Jews, I was in awe of their behaviors, especially during Shabbat. Because it is considered “work” to press the elevator button, hotels have “Shabbat Elevators” that stop at every floor. Although I found it humorous that the person would still have to press the button to call the elevator.
Why is it a command?
The short answer is because we need rest. Sabbath rest gives us time to acknowledge our dependence on God. It also helps us realize we are finite and need rest. Mark 2:27 says “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.”
The Sabbath allows us to have physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual rest and rejuvenation. For example, our bodies are able to physically rest as we are still and not working. Emotional rest is something only found in God, as he provides the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Psychological rest and rejuvenation happens when we devote our mind to things of God, instead of typical daily habits, like cleaning and cooking. Obviously, the most common type of rest thought of occurring as a result of Sabbath rest is spiritual rest and rejuvenation. Spending quiet time with God strengthens our relationship with Him and creates a renewed desire for Godly things.
What about us? Is the Sabbath something we, as evangelical Christians, abide by?
Are we still supposed to observe the Sabbath today as believers in Jesus? The short answer is yes.
Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.
Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11
The longer answer is yes and no. Do we have to follow every Old Testament and Rabbinical rule regarding the Sabbath, like not making a phone call or tying a shoe on Saturday? Of course not. First off, we are bound by Jesus’s new covenant and not by any teaching from Jewish Rabbis.
But yes, we still need to find time to rest and focus on God, as is stated in Hebrews, which is in the New Testament.
A couple different places in Scripture, we see that Jesus is the greater Sabbath. In Matthew 11:28, we see Jesus say “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus allows us each of those types of rest that were mentioned earlier - physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual rest. Also Matthew 12:8 is so perfect for this topic, because Jesus literally says “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Can it be any more clear?
As believers, we gather in corporate worship on the Lord’s Day- Sunday. Can we devote all day Sunday to Sabbath rest? Most of us cannot, especially if you are serving in any capacity at church on Sundays. However, we can make it our goal to find Sabbath rest throughout the week in various ways, even if it is not a solid 24 hour day. A great way to do this is to pick a Psalm. (There are only 150 to choose from.) Then spend time rereading that part of Scripture and meditating on it. Sometimes this is small periods of time intermittently throughout the week instead of one long day. Yet, this is a great way to rest in God.
Modern Culture’s “self-care” attitude
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “self-care.” In fact, I have even had work training on how to accomplish this.
But are we meant to rest in ourselves? Nope. We are meant to find rest in God. Rest that I give myself is only temporary relief from life’s struggles. God’s rest is permanent. Look at Matthew 11:28-30 (I know we saw verse 28 earlier, but take a moment and read all three verses and truly let them sink in.)
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (emphasis added)
True rest is only from God.
I mean how many times in the Bible are we told to just take a bubble bath and exercise and eat a kale salad? Can we do those things? Sure. Can they even be a source of Sabbath rest? Sure… if they are focused on spending time with God and not just bettering ‘me, myself, and I.’
We are not to focus on ourselves but be humble and put others’ needs above our own. That and ‘self-care’ do not mesh.
Genuine Disciples take advantage of Sabbath rest in Christ to rejuvenate and align their will to the will of God. We do this not by following a list of rules but by enjoying quiet time with our Savior. I challenge you this week to find time to rest in Christ.
Be on the lookout for our post on the remaining six of the Ten Commandments! COMING SOON
