AUG 4

Genesis 2:1-3
Memorise Exodus 31:17
“God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it”

To understand the meaning of ‘Sabbath’, we must go back to the creation account in Genesis, where we see the reason behind the observance of the Sabbath. Although we do not see the word “Sabbath” in our English translation, it is repeated twice in the Hebrew text, translated in the English as “rested”. The word “Sabbath” is actually a transliteration of the Hebrew word “shabath”, which means to rest or to cease. This is why we often refer to the Sabbath as a day of rest. In other words, we can call the Sabbath, a rest-day, a day where we can rest in the Lord.

So in asking us to remember the Sabbath, what God really calls upon us to do is to rest, to rest in Him, as Jesus called us to do in “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). You see, sweet, wonderful spiritual rest can be found at the feet of Jesus, learning from Him and serving Him. This is how our Sabbaths ought to be spent, drawing comfort and strength from our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, in our busy metropolitan society, rest is often viewed as sloth. We are a people on the go, constantly in motion, filling every single waking moment with action and activity. If we are not working or studying, then we fill our time with leisure, recreation and the pursuit of pleasure. Seldom do we have any time at all to stop to smell the roses. The idea of a whole day of rest, a distinct day of separation from the world and spending time with the Lord seems so alien and foreign to us.

Yet we must realise that rest does not just mean doing absolutely nothing at all. When God rested, it was from the work of creation only. It does not mean that He ceased completely from all activity. He is constantly involved with His creation, guiding His children and providentially working out His sovereign will in this world. Likewise for us to ‘rest’ on the Lord’s Day does not mean we just stay at home and slack the day away. There are indeed many meaningful and edifying things that we can do on Sundays, as we will learn in the next few days.

Thought: If God tells me to rest, then I should rest!
Prayer: Lord, help me to find contentment and joy in resting in Thee.