The Ten Commandments: #4

Let us learn why God instituted the Sabbath day and also the importance of observing it. All this can be observed by reading and understanding what the fourth commandment says. So let’s read what is written and hearken unto God while reading. God said, “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-11) Here we learn that the seventh day is the Sabbath day unto the Lord. And according to the Jewish Sabbath, it “is observed throughout the year on the seventh day of the week—Saturday. According to biblical tradition, it commemorates the original seventh day on which God rested after completing the creation.” This is why I and millions of others also observe God’s holy day and rest on Saturday.

There is a reason why I celebrate the day of the Sabbath. It is because the New Testament church did also. You may not know this but Hebrews, chapter 4, is generally about God’s followers in Paul’s time. And these verses are specific on us resting on the Sabbath day. Here are just a few of those verses. It is written, “let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.” (Hebrews 4:1-4) Here we learn that when our faith is not all there, we will often take the Sabbath day for granted. However, those who believe in Jesus also rest on the Seventh-day. As God rested from all His works during the creation on this day, we also rest. Amen.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I am so grateful to know You. You are so near unto those who give ear to Your words. You have never failed me. You have taught me so much as I read in Exodus, chapter 20, today. These ten commandments are beautiful in every sense of the word. I often wonder why people would not want to obey them today, for those who love You it is a joy to obey them. People who see Your laws as burdensome, I wonder about their faith in You. I am grateful, God, that I have the privilege to read the ten commandments. These laws really do help us love You more and our neighbors as ourselves. As for today, I am pondering upon You and Your fourth commandment, which is the Sabbath day. Thank You for bringing this single law to my attention, that I might reflect on it, in order to see how I am lacking when it comes to observing it. How can I be a teacher of the word if I cannot even rest on the seventh day. For this reason, when Saturday comes, I rest more and cannot get enough of the Bible. Listening to sermons, Christian music, and doing good is what I love about it. It is a joy to honor You, God. I love You and Your laws so much. Amen.

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