Many people desire to keep the Sabbath day holy, which is to work six days and rest the seventh. Out of these people, Saturday or Sunday is chosen as the day of rest for the Lord. I, myself, love to rest on the Sabbath, even though I could be more diligent in keeping it holy, week in and week out on Saturday. However, did you know that the Sabbath in the old covenant was extended past just days but years also? This might be a history lesson as this is no longer necessary in our time, but it is interesting to learn about the ancient laws of Moses. It is written, “and the Lord spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof.” (Leviticus 25:1-3) So we have six years that people worked in their land and fields. This is when the vineyard was pruned and the fruit was gathered. The harvest was plentiful for many, so the next year wouldn’t be so bad.
Six years did people work really hard in order to be ready for the seventh year, where their fields may not survive. Even whatever is produced in the fields like grapes, corn, and other vegetables and fruits, they are not harvested. God said, “but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee.” (Leviticus 25:4-6) Truly, this took observing the Sabbath to the next level. God’s people may have done this at this time on earth, but in the time we are living in today we are under God’s grace. We are asked to follow Jesus if we say we believe. Then and only then, can we be saved as gentiles along with the Jews. This is very good news for every person is saved and redeemed through the blood of Jesus. Amen.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I am so grateful for Your sacrifice on the cross for my sins. Thank You for redeeming me through Your blood. You are the only person who has the power to save us. Your mercy and grace sustain my life and helps me to know that You love me. I am grateful to be delivered from my sinful life. I was filled with my own false beliefs until the day that You came into my life and set me free. It has been a long journey with You by my side, but I am grateful to have You with me. No longer will I live this life comfortless again. Your sabbath is my day of rest. Although I rest with You on a daily basis, I am willing to give up working one day a week to rest with You fully. May my mind be liked unto Yours. Give me wisdom, God. My desire is to know Your plans for me and others. First, help me to live under Your standards, then, will I know how to rightly judge others. In everything I do, I do it for You. You are my lifeblood, of whom I love more than life itself. Lord, lead me this hour and for the rest of my life. Build me up in Your armor, so that when temptation comes, Satan will flee. I love You, Lord. Amen.
