Dr. Paul Manuel—Sabbath Emphasis Day—2003
As we move along life's path, we depend upon God for such things as guidance and protection. When things do not turn out as we expect, we may have to revise our understanding of His involvement.
When the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to invading Babylonian forces (587 B.C.), the people left the Promised Land for exile in a foreign land. How could they keep from suffering the same fate as their brethren in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, whom the Assyrians had deported earlier (722 B.C.) and who had apparently assimilated into the gentile milieu? How could the former residents of Judah maintain their identity as God's people? The answer lay in their covenant with God, a commitment they demonstrated by their obedience to His commands. That is what made them different from other people, and that is what marked them as God's people. Some instructions the Lord gave at Sinai had parallels in other Ancient Near East law codes (e.g., prohibitions against murder and theft). Other instructions were unique to His people (e.g., dietary regulations). One such command was particularly distinctive because it had a very apparent and recurrent display—observing the Sabbath.
In Canaan, God's people were the majority, and God's precepts were the laws of the land, incumbent upon every resident, Jew and gentile alike. Resting on the Sabbath, for example, included family members, servants, animals, and permanent, non-Israelite residents.1 In Babylon, God's people are a minority, and God's precepts are not the laws of the land. Jews may observe them, but they are incumbent upon no one else. Nevertheless, as the exiles established new communities, with homes, businesses, and synagogues, they had contact with the gentile residents of Babylon, some of whom noticed a difference between the LORD and pagan deities. They saw that the righteous character of Israel's God was far superior to the unrighteous character of Babylon's chief god (Marduk). Perhaps the commands of Israel's God were superior as well. Convinced of this, some gentiles joined the exilic Jewish community and made the stipulations of the covenant the guiding principles of their life.
After the Persians conquered Babylon (539 B.C.), the new king reverses the previous administration's policy and decrees so that the exiles may return to their ancestral homes. This is good news for the Jews but potentially bad news for the gentiles who had joined them. Canaan is not the gentile believers' ancestral home. Will the departing people of Israel separate them from the God of Israel? Do these non-Jews have to find a new deity? Has God helped them along just so far, only to leave them now to fend for themselves? God answers their concern through Isaiah, 150 years before it is even an issue, when he encourages Jews and believing gentiles to...
I. Keep the Sabbath (Isa 56:28).2
Because we are not Jews, this must mean that the Sabbath has no significance for us and that we can do whatever we please today: hit the mall, cut the lawn, go miniature golfing. Right? ...Not quite, because in this Isaiah passage, the Lord also addresses gentiles who observe the Sabbath not because they have to but because they want to, because they see in it something of value, a means of identifying with God's people and with God's program. Does God turn them away? Not at all. While He enjoins the Sabbath for His people...
The gentiles in Isa 56 are not pagans looking to add another deity to the pantheon they already worship. They have forsaken the false gods of Babylon and have embraced the true God of Israel, including His holy day. The Sabbath is not a universal day of rest because...
What is the benefit to gentile believers for keeping the Sabbath? What incentive do they have?
Gentiles have long been attracted to the Israel's God, because He is different from every other deity. He is omniscient and omnipotent as well as righteous and loving. They have also been attracted to Israel's covenant, because the stipulations of that agreement, with its various "commands, decrees, and laws,"16 define how one relates to the Lord.
In the New Testament, gentile believers are often present in the synagogue (see n. 12). Some convert to Judaism and assimilate into the Jewish community. Others choose not to convert but still observe commands that enable them to participate somewhat in the covenant the Lord made with His people. The New Testament and other first century documents call these gentile believers "God fearers."17
This amicable arrangement continued for several hundred years, especially while the church served as a reform movement within Israel. By the fourth century, though, the church was predominantly gentile, and church leaders were antagonistic to Jews. Wanting nothing to do with the synagogue, they forbade gentile Christians from having contact with Jews. These leaders issued their own laws prohibiting gentile believers from observing the Sabbath and even compelling them to work on that day.18 Thankfully, we do not have to contend with such restrictions today.
God gave the Sabbath specifically to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a mark of their separation to Him. So God instructs Moses...
Most Christians recognize that the Sabbath has no bearing on salvation. God saves you on the same basis as He saves your Sunday-keeping brethren—by grace through faith. Does it matter, then, when a person worships? Does one day have any advantage over another? According to what God says through Isaiah, keeping the Sabbath has advantages that keeping another day does not.
When the American Standard Version of the Bible was published in 1901, it described the Sabbath as a day of "solemn rest."20 The word "solemn" was not in the Hebrew text but was an addition in the English translation to stress the seriousness of God's holy day, and it reflected a common attitude at that time.
In the first half of this message, from Isa 56, God is speaking to the exiles in Babylon. He encourages them to keep the Sabbath, the day He gave as a sign of their election as His chosen people (n. 9). We also saw that, while God gave the Sabbath to Israel, He invites gentile believers to observe it as well, those who turn to Israel's God in repentance and faith, and He promises to include them among those who will take part in the restoration. In the second half of this message, from Isa 58, God is still speaking to the exiles in Babylon, including those gentile believers. He continues with further instruction and incentive for keeping this precept.
God issued hundreds of commandments, many of which relate to specific circumstances, such as...
Babylonian exile...
Please turn to Isa 58, where we will examine what God says about this command to those in exile and to us.
Earlier, when God commanded the Sabbath at Mt. Sinai, He laid it on the line.30
You probably try to alter your activities on the weekend, to do what you cannot squeeze in during a busy week: shopping, golf, dinner and a movie. Is that what God has in mind here, just a change in your schedule? ...Had that been the case, He would have said, "Turn aside from what you normally do...." Instead, He makes a more specific statement: "Turn aside from what would violate the Sabbath."
At this point, it would have been helpful had God attached a list of activities that violate the Sabbath, so you would know what to avoid. He did not, but He did give some principles to help you decide. Before He gets to them, God addresses another matter.
The first clause warns the people against breaking the Sabbath, which has a decidedly negative tone. It brings to mind all the restrictions, the 'thou shalt nots' of the seventh day.31 Nevertheless, the Sabbath is not just about restricting what the people may do; it is also about rejoicing in what the Lord has done. Hence, the second conditional statement is...
This description of the Sabbath contrasts sharply with the dour view of the elders in the story I told earlier, an attitude that may have been common in this congregation at one time. While I see more smiles than frowns, it is still possible to miss the enjoyment of the seventh day, especially if you are thinking about is what you would rather be doing were you not in church or what you will be doing when the Sabbath is over.33 To enjoy the Sabbath, you must pay attention to the Sabbath.
The third clause addresses the need for guidelines to help determine what is or is not appropriate for God's holy people to do on God's holy day. It is a general principle rather than a specific precept.
So, what does honoring the Sabbath entail? ...God issued some specific regulations, the most common being to proscribe work and to prescribe rest.34 Does "work" refer just to your occupation? ...No, not any more than "rest" refers just to lying in bed all day. Still, how do you apply these very broad parameters, especially when one person's labor may be another person's leisure?
Look again at v. 13, where three guidelines determine what is appropriate on the seventh day. They are uncomplicated...and uncomfortable, as God reminds His people that the Sabbath is not about them; it is about Him.35
When you wonder if a particular activity is appropriate for the Sabbath, ask where it falls on this list. Is it about your ways, your wants, your words, or is it about His ways, His wants, His words? The difference will help you identify activities that honor God and ultimately help you.
Sabbath observance is important first because this is what God regards, but second, because...
One of the speakers at an Seventh Day Baptist Ministers' Conference (2001) was a professor in church history, a Baptist, though not an SDB, who asked a very insightful question: "Is the Sabbath for Seventh Day Baptists an issue of doctrine or of polity?" In other words, do you keep the Sabbath because it is a biblical principle (tenet) of the faith or because it is an ecclesiastical practice (tradition) of your fellowship? The difference has implications for what you do and for what you think others should be doing.
Regardless of whether the Sabbath is optional or obligatory—and here is the salient point—if you choose to keep the Sabbath, then you must do so according to God's commands and not according to your convenience. To do otherwise gives God no particular satisfaction, nor does it benefit you in any way that is different from what your Sunday brethren experience.
Speaking to those in Babylon, both Jews and believing gentiles, God assures them that He has not abandoned them, that He is still committed to their welfare. If they believe His promise and want to be part of His program, they can demonstrate their commitment to Him by heeding His precepts, especially His command to keep and honor the Sabbath as A Time of Consecration. This is what God regards, and this is what God rewards.
One Sabbath morning a little girl in her best dress was running so she wouldn't be late for church. As she ran she kept praying, "Dear God, please don't let me be late to church. Please don't let me be late to church...." As she was running, she tripped and fell. When she got back up, she began praying again, "God, please don't let me be late to church...but don't shove me either!"Does God ever shove us? Does He help us along just so far and then push us out of the way or just leave us to fend for ourselves? That is a question some gentile believers in Babylon seem to be asking, as they hear Isaiah's prophetic message.
When the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to invading Babylonian forces (587 B.C.), the people left the Promised Land for exile in a foreign land. How could they keep from suffering the same fate as their brethren in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, whom the Assyrians had deported earlier (722 B.C.) and who had apparently assimilated into the gentile milieu? How could the former residents of Judah maintain their identity as God's people? The answer lay in their covenant with God, a commitment they demonstrated by their obedience to His commands. That is what made them different from other people, and that is what marked them as God's people. Some instructions the Lord gave at Sinai had parallels in other Ancient Near East law codes (e.g., prohibitions against murder and theft). Other instructions were unique to His people (e.g., dietary regulations). One such command was particularly distinctive because it had a very apparent and recurrent display—observing the Sabbath.
In Canaan, God's people were the majority, and God's precepts were the laws of the land, incumbent upon every resident, Jew and gentile alike. Resting on the Sabbath, for example, included family members, servants, animals, and permanent, non-Israelite residents.1 In Babylon, God's people are a minority, and God's precepts are not the laws of the land. Jews may observe them, but they are incumbent upon no one else. Nevertheless, as the exiles established new communities, with homes, businesses, and synagogues, they had contact with the gentile residents of Babylon, some of whom noticed a difference between the LORD and pagan deities. They saw that the righteous character of Israel's God was far superior to the unrighteous character of Babylon's chief god (Marduk). Perhaps the commands of Israel's God were superior as well. Convinced of this, some gentiles joined the exilic Jewish community and made the stipulations of the covenant the guiding principles of their life.
After the Persians conquered Babylon (539 B.C.), the new king reverses the previous administration's policy and decrees so that the exiles may return to their ancestral homes. This is good news for the Jews but potentially bad news for the gentiles who had joined them. Canaan is not the gentile believers' ancestral home. Will the departing people of Israel separate them from the God of Israel? Do these non-Jews have to find a new deity? Has God helped them along just so far, only to leave them now to fend for themselves? God answers their concern through Isaiah, 150 years before it is even an issue, when he encourages Jews and believing gentiles to...
I. Keep the Sabbath (Isa 56:28).2
Isa 56:1a This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." 3a Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." ...4a For this is what the LORD says: ...6 [F]oreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." 8 The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."After a general exhortation to "do what is right," God gives a specific illustration of what He has in mind. Of the many precepts He could have cited, the prohibition against idolatry would have been the best choice, because Israel's violation of that command was a primary cause of the exile.3 Alas, I was not around for Him to consult, and He chose keeping the Sabbath....4
A. This is what God regards.He deems it important, and...
It is important to realize that the Sabbath is not a universal command,5 something God demands from everyone (excluding the permanent resident)...61. He enjoins it for His people.
Apart from God's observing the Sabbath after the creation, there is no record of anyone else in Genesis keeping it—not Adam and Eve, or Enoch, or Noah,7 or Melchizedek, or even the Patriarchs. The next mention of the Sabbath is not until God gives it to the Israelites after the exodus. At that point, and several times thereafter, God specifically states that the Sabbath is for them8 a sign of the special relationship He has with them.9 Israelites are the only ones God commands to keep it. Moreover...a. Israelites are the (only) ones God enjoins to keep it.
When God denounces the Israelites' sins, He often mentions their failure to keep the Sabbath.10 When God denounces the sins of gentile nations', He never mentions their failure to keep the Sabbath.11 The Israelites are the only ones God condemns for breaking it.b. Israelites are the (only) ones God condemns for breaking it.
Because we are not Jews, this must mean that the Sabbath has no significance for us and that we can do whatever we please today: hit the mall, cut the lawn, go miniature golfing. Right? ...Not quite, because in this Isaiah passage, the Lord also addresses gentiles who observe the Sabbath not because they have to but because they want to, because they see in it something of value, a means of identifying with God's people and with God's program. Does God turn them away? Not at all. While He enjoins the Sabbath for His people...
...for those who wish to know Him and serve Him.2. He encourages it for other people.
The gentiles in Isa 56 are not pagans looking to add another deity to the pantheon they already worship. They have forsaken the false gods of Babylon and have embraced the true God of Israel, including His holy day. The Sabbath is not a universal day of rest because...
They are the only non-Jews who truly appreciate it and the only non-Jews who truly (and voluntarily) keep it.12 Moreover...a. Believers are the (only) gentiles God invites to it.
Before the exile, there were gentiles who lived and worked in Canaan. They were permanent residents, and they rested on the Sabbath with everyone else because that was the law of the land. Some may have believed in Israel's God, but many probably did not. During the exile, gentiles have no compulsion to rest on the Sabbath because it is not the law of the land in Babylon. They can do as they please on the seventh day, and most probably work. The gentile believers in Isa 56, however, choose to rest in obedience to God, and He says in v. 2, "Blessed is the [one] who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it."13b. Believers are the (only) gentiles God blesses for it.
What is the benefit to gentile believers for keeping the Sabbath? What incentive do they have?
- There is no financial incentive for them to do so. On the contrary, they are missing a day of work and losing the wages they could earn.
- There is no social incentive. On the contrary, they are behaving differently from most of their neighbors, who probably view them as a little peculiar.
- There is, however, spiritual incentive, because....
B. This is what God rewards.As I mentioned, these gentile believers are apprehensive about what will become of them when their Jewish friends leave Babylon and return to Canaan. Surely God will join His people back in the promised land. Will God leave them as well? He assures them that will not happen. In fact, He will bring them along and will give them something God's people have not had for seventy years....
...and...1. They will have access to His house.
These gentile believers are probably wondering what they will do when they get to Jerusalem. Will they participate with their Jewish friends in the various activities of the temple service? Here, too, God assures them. They will not only attend the services, they will be able to demonstrate their devotion by offering sacrifices...14
- It will be a joyful experience.
and...2. They will find acceptance in His house.15
....because God says, "my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" (v. 7).
- It will be a worshipful experience.
Gentiles have long been attracted to the Israel's God, because He is different from every other deity. He is omniscient and omnipotent as well as righteous and loving. They have also been attracted to Israel's covenant, because the stipulations of that agreement, with its various "commands, decrees, and laws,"16 define how one relates to the Lord.
In the New Testament, gentile believers are often present in the synagogue (see n. 12). Some convert to Judaism and assimilate into the Jewish community. Others choose not to convert but still observe commands that enable them to participate somewhat in the covenant the Lord made with His people. The New Testament and other first century documents call these gentile believers "God fearers."17
This amicable arrangement continued for several hundred years, especially while the church served as a reform movement within Israel. By the fourth century, though, the church was predominantly gentile, and church leaders were antagonistic to Jews. Wanting nothing to do with the synagogue, they forbade gentile Christians from having contact with Jews. These leaders issued their own laws prohibiting gentile believers from observing the Sabbath and even compelling them to work on that day.18 Thankfully, we do not have to contend with such restrictions today.
God gave the Sabbath specifically to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a mark of their separation to Him. So God instructs Moses...
Exod 31:13 "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy."It is particularly striking, then, when non-Jewish believers observe the seventh day.
- It is a measure of your devotion to God.
- It is a means of your inclusion by God.
Most Christians recognize that the Sabbath has no bearing on salvation. God saves you on the same basis as He saves your Sunday-keeping brethren—by grace through faith. Does it matter, then, when a person worships? Does one day have any advantage over another? According to what God says through Isaiah, keeping the Sabbath has advantages that keeping another day does not.
- It demonstrates a devotion to God.
- It generates a blessing by God.
- It anticipates a reward from God.
*************
When the American Standard Version of the Bible was published in 1901, it described the Sabbath as a day of "solemn rest."20 The word "solemn" was not in the Hebrew text but was an addition in the English translation to stress the seriousness of God's holy day, and it reflected a common attitude at that time.
A young pastor awoke to discover that a severe winter storm had blocked all the roads, making it impossible for him to reach the church in time for the morning service. The only way he could make it would be to ice skate along the canal that ran in front of the church. His congregants were very strict about Sabbath observance, though, and skating was not an acceptable activity. There being no alternative mode of transportation, the minister decided to run the risk. Putting on his skates, he took off. When he arrived at the church, the elders, who had seen him coming, met him at the door with a collective frown. They were obviously disturbed that the pastor had so clearly violated proper Sabbath behavior. They were also uncomfortable, because they liked him very much and did not want to strain their relationship with him. After the elders discussed the matter, one of them asked the pastor, "Did you enjoy the skating?" "No I didn't," he replied. "It was cold, one of my laces broke, and I nearly fell through the ice twice." At this, the elder smiled and said, "Good. Since there was no joy in the activity, it was acceptable on the Sabbath." (Adapted from Hodgin 1998:329)Should the Sabbath only be a serious day, or should it also be a joyous day? It is certainly A Time of Consecration, when we demonstrate our commitment to the Lord.
In the first half of this message, from Isa 56, God is speaking to the exiles in Babylon. He encourages them to keep the Sabbath, the day He gave as a sign of their election as His chosen people (n. 9). We also saw that, while God gave the Sabbath to Israel, He invites gentile believers to observe it as well, those who turn to Israel's God in repentance and faith, and He promises to include them among those who will take part in the restoration. In the second half of this message, from Isa 58, God is still speaking to the exiles in Babylon, including those gentile believers. He continues with further instruction and incentive for keeping this precept.
God issued hundreds of commandments, many of which relate to specific circumstances, such as...
- The theocracy of David, or
- The sanctuary of Jerusalem, or
- The geography of Israel.
Babylonian exile...
- The theocracy of David was defunct.
- So, the administration could not send troops to slay the inhabitants of an idolatrous city.21
- The sanctuary of Jerusalem was destroyed.
- So, the priests no longer offer sacrifices.22
- The geography of Israel was but a distant memory.
The people could not keep the commands that related to these circumstances. Other commands, however, had no such limitations. Even in Babylon, God still had certain expectations of His people.24
- So, the people could not grant redemption to the land in the Jubilee Year.23
- They were to respect the elderly.
- They were not to slander one another.
- They were not to eat meat with the blood still in it.
- They were to conduct their business honestly.
- They were not to bear a grudge against one another.
- They were not to engage in occult practices.
- They were also to...
Please turn to Isa 58, where we will examine what God says about this command to those in exile and to us.
Isa 58:13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not [seeking your own pleasure] or speaking [your own] words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.In these verses, we discover what is most important for us to know about Sabbath observance. First...
A. This is what God regards.Twice in v. 13, He calls the Sabbath "holy." While God alone is inherently holy,25 He extends that quality to indicate what is important to Him.
- He designated the sanctuary as a holy place, because there is where He resided.26
- He designated the Israelites as a holy people, because they are whom He redeemed.27
- He designated the Sabbath as a holy period, because then is when He rested.28
- Those who do not recognize the significance of what is holy have common priorities—whatever pleases them.
- Those who do recognize the significance of what is holy, Jews and gentiles, are to have uncommon priorities—whatever pleases God.
Earlier, when God commanded the Sabbath at Mt. Sinai, He laid it on the line.30
Exod 31:14 Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people.Here in Isa 58, He takes a different approach, couching His instruction in three conditional statements: "If you do this...." Is God backing off from the hard stance He took earlier? Is He finally wising up and admitting that people, even His people, will only do what they want to do?
- "I apologize for the inconvenience. I know the Sabbath is an imposition on your busy schedule, but if you would be so kind as to keep it, I'll make the sacrifice worth your while."
- "I recognize that even those who claim to serve Me do not always obey Me, but if you give diligent attention to this particular command, you will reap a reward that is beyond anything else you may be pursuing now."
- Parents do it with children: "If you behave, we'll go for ice cream later."
- Teachers do it with students: "If you complete this extra assignment, I'll raise your final grade."
- Employers do it with employees: "If you make this sale, you'll win a bonus.
If you keep [lit. "turn"] your feet from breaking the Sabbath....God recognizes that their natural inclination is to do what they would likely do on other days or what they would like to do on other days. In most cases, however, what they normally do on other days is not appropriate on the seventh day. They must make a deliberate course change.
...from their regular pattern.1. It is a day to deviate...
You probably try to alter your activities on the weekend, to do what you cannot squeeze in during a busy week: shopping, golf, dinner and a movie. Is that what God has in mind here, just a change in your schedule? ...Had that been the case, He would have said, "Turn aside from what you normally do...." Instead, He makes a more specific statement: "Turn aside from what would violate the Sabbath."
At this point, it would have been helpful had God attached a list of activities that violate the Sabbath, so you would know what to avoid. He did not, but He did give some principles to help you decide. Before He gets to them, God addresses another matter.
The first clause warns the people against breaking the Sabbath, which has a decidedly negative tone. It brings to mind all the restrictions, the 'thou shalt nots' of the seventh day.31 Nevertheless, the Sabbath is not just about restricting what the people may do; it is also about rejoicing in what the Lord has done. Hence, the second conditional statement is...
If you call the Sabbath a delight....God's goal is not to make His people miserable. Quite the contrary, He promises to give them great joy if they will only heed His admonitions.32 The Sabbath command is one of those admonitions He links directly to joy.
...an opportunity for them to contemplate and celebrate God.2. It is a day to delight...
This description of the Sabbath contrasts sharply with the dour view of the elders in the story I told earlier, an attitude that may have been common in this congregation at one time. While I see more smiles than frowns, it is still possible to miss the enjoyment of the seventh day, especially if you are thinking about is what you would rather be doing were you not in church or what you will be doing when the Sabbath is over.33 To enjoy the Sabbath, you must pay attention to the Sabbath.
The third clause addresses the need for guidelines to help determine what is or is not appropriate for God's holy people to do on God's holy day. It is a general principle rather than a specific precept.
If you honor it [the Sabbath]....The word "honor" in Hebrew comes from the same root as the word "heavy," because to honor something is to give it weight, to give the seventh day a significance the other six days lack.
...more attention and to value above others.3. It is a day to devote...
So, what does honoring the Sabbath entail? ...God issued some specific regulations, the most common being to proscribe work and to prescribe rest.34 Does "work" refer just to your occupation? ...No, not any more than "rest" refers just to lying in bed all day. Still, how do you apply these very broad parameters, especially when one person's labor may be another person's leisure?
Look again at v. 13, where three guidelines determine what is appropriate on the seventh day. They are uncomplicated...and uncomfortable, as God reminds His people that the Sabbath is not about them; it is about Him.35
The Sabbath is about His ways and, by concentrating on them, His people ensure that their plans accord with His plans.a. It is not about their ways.
The Sabbath is about His wants and, by concentrating on them, His people ensure that their priorities accord with His priorities.b. It is not about their wants.
The Sabbath is about His words and, by concentrating on them, His people ensure that their perspective accords with His perspective.c. It is not about their words.
When you wonder if a particular activity is appropriate for the Sabbath, ask where it falls on this list. Is it about your ways, your wants, your words, or is it about His ways, His wants, His words? The difference will help you identify activities that honor God and ultimately help you.
Sabbath observance is important first because this is what God regards, but second, because...
B. This is what God rewards.Look again at v. 14....
Isa 58:14 "[If you honor the Sabbath] then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.36Is it possible for the exiles to be happy while living in a foreign land? Will they ever see the fulfillment of the promise to their ancestors? Yes, because God is present no matter what their location,37 and He is faithful no matter what their situation. If God's people honor the Sabbath, His holy day...
- They will attain what is truly enjoyable,38 and...
- They will acquire what is truly enriching.
One of the speakers at an Seventh Day Baptist Ministers' Conference (2001) was a professor in church history, a Baptist, though not an SDB, who asked a very insightful question: "Is the Sabbath for Seventh Day Baptists an issue of doctrine or of polity?" In other words, do you keep the Sabbath because it is a biblical principle (tenet) of the faith or because it is an ecclesiastical practice (tradition) of your fellowship? The difference has implications for what you do and for what you think others should be doing.
- If the Sabbath is a matter of Christian doctrine, then (you are saying) it is obligatory.
- God expects Christians to keep it, and those who do not are disobeying Him, and they will suffer a reduction in their eternal reward.
- If the Sabbath is a matter of Church polity, then (you are saying) it is optional.
The official position of the [Salemville German SDB] church, according to our Constitution, lists Sabbath observance as a point of doctrine: "We...believe that the fourth commandment, the seventh-day Sabbath, should be observed as a time of rest, worship, and celebration." Indeed, most Seventh Day Baptist churches regard the Sabbath as a point of doctrine not of polity. This Baptist historian asked the question, though, because the answer was not at all clear to him by observing Seventh Day Baptists.
- God invites Christians to keep it, but those who do not are not disobeying Him, and they will suffer no reduction in their eternal reward.
- Some go to church in the morning and to a restaurant for lunch.
- Others eat at home.
- Some go to church in the morning and to the mall or to a game or to some community activity in the afternoon.
In other words, some do what pleases them on the Sabbath, although they would not characterize it as such; while others do what pleases God (contra Isa 58:13). Hence, a more appropriate question might be: Do we treat Sabbath observance as if it is an issue of doctrine or of polity?
- Others devote the entire day to fellowship, study, and rest.
Regardless of whether the Sabbath is optional or obligatory—and here is the salient point—if you choose to keep the Sabbath, then you must do so according to God's commands and not according to your convenience. To do otherwise gives God no particular satisfaction, nor does it benefit you in any way that is different from what your Sunday brethren experience.
Speaking to those in Babylon, both Jews and believing gentiles, God assures them that He has not abandoned them, that He is still committed to their welfare. If they believe His promise and want to be part of His program, they can demonstrate their commitment to Him by heeding His precepts, especially His command to keep and honor the Sabbath as A Time of Consecration. This is what God regards, and this is what God rewards.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs