Why Do We Choose To Celebrate Sabbath?
by Lisa Anglin
In this article we have chosen to follow the tradition of Jewish scribes in reference to the name of G-d. This is done out of respect to the absolute holiness of our G-d. It is done as a way of remembering just how great and awesome is the L-rd. For this reason, we have elected to replace the first vowel in names referencing G-d or our L-rd. Additionally, out of respect for our Messianic/Jewish brothers and sisters, we have chosen to refer to G-d using His Hebrew name, Ha'Shem, which literally means, "The Name," and to refer to Jesus as Y'shua.
On the seventh day Ha'Shem was finished with His work which He had made, so He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. Ha'Shem blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day Ha'Shem rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce (Genesis 2:1-3, CJB).1
Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for Ha'Shem (Exodus 20:8, CJB).
The Sabbath (Shabbat or Shabbos), is a holy day set aside by the Creator. When Ha'Shem had finished creating the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, He took the seventh day to rest. Shabbat (meaning rest/inactivity) is the final crowning achievement of the act of creation; a day Ha'Shem set apart as holy as an example for the benefit of humanity.
Why would Ha'Shem need a day to rest? As an omnipotent Being, Ha'Shem has no need for rest. He never gets tired. Unlike us, He does not have a need to relax from the busyness of our day-to-day toil. So, again we ask, why did Ha'Shem set aside the seventh day to rest?
I believe the answer is in the first chapter of Genesis. In Genesis 1:31 it is written, "Ha'Shem saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good." I believe Ha'Shem wanted to take some time to think on and admire all He had created, much as we do when we have created something that pleases us.
I also believe that because Ha'Shem knows man and his character, He knew at the time of creation that we would need a day of rest. In Mark 2:27, Y'Shua said, "Sabbath (Shabbat) was made for mankind, not mankind for Sabbath (Shabbat); So the Son of Man is L-rd even of Sabbath (Shabbat)." (CJB)
Not many years ago, it was the custom among Christian believers to spend a day at rest, unbeknownst to some of us then that we were celebrating Shabbat. In preparation for this day of rest, children would be required to bathe on Saturday night and go to bed early so they could begin their day of rest refreshed from a good night of sleep. Parents and other family members would also go to bed early in preparation for the following day.
On Sunday mornings, everyone would rise early. The woman of the house would usually put a roast or a chicken in the oven and the family would head off to church services. After church, the family, and maybe a couple of other church members, would go home and sit down to a wonderful meal. Later, in some households, the adults might be found napping, playing a game of dominoes or sitting on the porch talking. The children were usually playing a game of some kind outside. No work or business was conducted on Sundays. In fact, many states had what were called "blue laws" that were written to enforce moral standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, with a restriction on doing any business on Sunday. It was on Sundays that mankind would find rest.
That is not necessarily the case today. In fact, in our little town, we are hard-pressed to find a business that is not open on a Sunday. It is usually the small "mom and pop" stores that are closed. Most franchise businesses are open and do a brisk business on a day that people used to take as a day of rest. Many factories and mills also stay open today when they used to close on Sunday in the past. Our American society has lost the concept of rest .We fill our lives with activity instead of resting, using Sunday as an errand day, or a day to catch up on things we didn't make time for during the week.
When I was a little girl, my family used to be one of those families that rested on Sunday. After I became a believer in Y'Shua, I spent many years observing Sunday as a day of rest; however, in the last few years, as I became better acquainted with the Torah of Ha'Shem (G-d's word), I have felt the need to search out His expectations of me. I have come to understand that the Creator gave us a day of rest for our good. I have also come to recognize, through studying the Torah and seeking Ha'Shem in prayer, that Sunday is not the day He has set aside for me to rest. I believe Ha'Shem has directed me as a Believer to observe Sabbath according to the custom of the Jewish world of yesteryear and today, on the seventh day. Exodus 20:8-11 states:
Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for G-d. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is Shabbat for ADONAI your G-d. On it, you are not to do any kind of work -- not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock , and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. For in six days, ADONAI made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day He rested. This is why ADONAI blessed the day, Shabbat and separated it for Himself. (CJB)
I recognize the Sabbath is specified as sunset, Friday to sunset, Saturday. I am not advocating a list of rules, or "don'ts," to be incorporated into a person's life, but a recognition that it is a time set apart as holy, for Ha'Shem, as a day of rest and peace before our Creator. I believe that the specifics of the day are between the individual and Ha'Shem. Remember, Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man -- it is a time set apart for our good, and His honor.
I don't know about you, but I believe there is overwhelming evidence testifying of the importance to observing Sabbath written in the scriptures. Additionally, there are many promises linked to the observance of the Sabbath. Three specific promises are mentioned in Isaiah:
If you hold back your foot on Shabbat and from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call Shabbat a delight, ADONAI's holy day worth honoring; then honor it by not doing your usual things or pursuing your interests or speaking about them. If you do, you will find delight in ADONAI -- I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of ADONAI has spoken (Isaiah 58:13-14, CJB).
Numerous more promises are mentioned in Leviticus 26 and elsewhere throughout the bible. With promises such as those above, how can I disregard Ha'Shem's commandment to keep the Sabbath? For the sake of my own conscience, I can't.
Strong's Concordance defines a Disciple as, "a learner, that is, pupil: - disciple"2. Webster's Dictionary defines the word disciple as, "one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another."3 As a follower of Ha'Shem, who is accepting and assisting in the spreading of His word, I believe the word "disciple" speaks to who I am in Him. As a disciple, I believe Y'Shua is not only truly G-d, but is also truly a Jewish man who lived a Torah observant life in every detail and who followed G-d's calendar and the customs of the Jewish world of His day. By observing Sabbath, I am showing the world that I want to live as He lived; as a demonstration of my love of Him and of His Father. This is not to say I desire to be Torah observant from an orthodox viewpoint, but merely desire to demonstrate my desire to be obedient to that which He has instructed me.
Many believers in Y'Shua will tell you Torah does not bind us because of the sacrifice made for us on the cross; however, Y'Shua said,
Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud [jot] or a stroke will pass from the Torah -not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot [commands] and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim [Pharisees], you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven! (Matthew 5:17-20, CJB)
This ministry does not advocate that Believers follow Torah from an orthodox rabbinical standpoint or to every "yud or stroke" (jot and tittle). No, this ministry believes in the power of grace provided by Ha'Shem and by the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to be obedient in our personal relationship with Him. After all, Y'Shua said He came, "not to abolish the Torah but to complete the Torah." I am making a choice for myself to celebrate the Sabbath so I may draw ever closer to Him in every aspect of my life. Whether you choose to observe the Sabbath on Saturday or another day of the week is between you and Ha'Shem. No matter what your decision, know that He is pleased with your offering of worship. Be blessed!
Lisa
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1. Scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources Int'l. www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
2.The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Classic Edition, Strong, J. (G3101)
3. disciple. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disciple.
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