Among other things, the NT teaches that Christ is Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), all days are holy to the Lord (Romans 14:5), and the sabbath is given to serve people, not the other way around (Mark 2:27). We are always be ready to engage to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12), to love other Christians with differing sabbath views (Romans 15:1) and not to judge one another about sabbath keeping (Col. 2:16-17).
Even still, from Exodus 31, I believe I see three of God's purposes for my present sabbatical in particular, and more generally for a rhythm of life that reflects that is for my benefit and honors him.
1. In Sabbath, God aims that my life reflect, not the pattern of his unceasing sovereign work, but the pattern of his creative work. It seems too easily I can slip into being 'always' at work. When I relax, I feel guilty— there are so many good things are yet to be done. The Lord gave us the Sabbath to confront this. While God is always at work (John 5:17), that is not the pattern of life his people are to reflect. Rather, he calls us to pattern our work habits after his work at creation. Exodus 31:17,
2. In Sabbath, God aims that I remember that, by his grace in Christ, he has sanctified me as his own. God gave the sabbath "... that you may know that I , the Lord, sanctify you" (Exodus 31:13, ESV). In my rest from my work, I am to rest in God's work. My rest from work — even pastoral work — should work to exterminate sinful thoughts of my working to earn God's grace and favor. Sabbath rest is given to ground me in the gospel reality that God sanctifies and saves me in Christ, not the other way around. I can, and should rest, because I trust that in Christ the saving work is done. Christ loves me, and died to save and sanctify me (e.g., Hebrews 13:12; Ephesians 5:26).
3. In Sabbath, God aims that I be refreshed. God, after 6 days of work creating everything in the universe, ceased his creative work and on the seventh day, "... he rested and was refreshed." (Exodus 31:17, ESV). I understand when the text says God "rested" because it means that he ceased working. But I'm not sure I really understand when the text says that God was "refreshed." The word means, 'to catch your breath'. Perhaps, for God it parallels his enjoyment of creation and his own praise of the glory of his goodness when, after each day of creation, he stepped back and said, "It is good".
While it is unclear what this anthropomorphism means in reference to GOD, it is clear what it means to me (cf. Exodus 23:12). It means, God gave me the Sabbath teachings in order that I would rest and catch my breath. It also points to a final future eternal rest which is yet to come for us in Christ (Hebrews 4).
May God give me grace to benefit from the sabbath teaching in Exodus 31 by living a life that more reflects God's creative pattern of work and rest, by resting by faith in God's saving work for me through Christ, and by finding a rhythm of not only rest in the sense of refraining from work, but also refreshment.
1. In Sabbath, God aims that my life reflect, not the pattern of his unceasing sovereign work, but the pattern of his creative work. It seems too easily I can slip into being 'always' at work. When I relax, I feel guilty— there are so many good things are yet to be done. The Lord gave us the Sabbath to confront this. While God is always at work (John 5:17), that is not the pattern of life his people are to reflect. Rather, he calls us to pattern our work habits after his work at creation. Exodus 31:17,
"It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."
2. In Sabbath, God aims that I remember that, by his grace in Christ, he has sanctified me as his own. God gave the sabbath "... that you may know that I , the Lord, sanctify you" (Exodus 31:13, ESV). In my rest from my work, I am to rest in God's work. My rest from work — even pastoral work — should work to exterminate sinful thoughts of my working to earn God's grace and favor. Sabbath rest is given to ground me in the gospel reality that God sanctifies and saves me in Christ, not the other way around. I can, and should rest, because I trust that in Christ the saving work is done. Christ loves me, and died to save and sanctify me (e.g., Hebrews 13:12; Ephesians 5:26).
3. In Sabbath, God aims that I be refreshed. God, after 6 days of work creating everything in the universe, ceased his creative work and on the seventh day, "... he rested and was refreshed." (Exodus 31:17, ESV). I understand when the text says God "rested" because it means that he ceased working. But I'm not sure I really understand when the text says that God was "refreshed." The word means, 'to catch your breath'. Perhaps, for God it parallels his enjoyment of creation and his own praise of the glory of his goodness when, after each day of creation, he stepped back and said, "It is good".
While it is unclear what this anthropomorphism means in reference to GOD, it is clear what it means to me (cf. Exodus 23:12). It means, God gave me the Sabbath teachings in order that I would rest and catch my breath. It also points to a final future eternal rest which is yet to come for us in Christ (Hebrews 4).
May God give me grace to benefit from the sabbath teaching in Exodus 31 by living a life that more reflects God's creative pattern of work and rest, by resting by faith in God's saving work for me through Christ, and by finding a rhythm of not only rest in the sense of refraining from work, but also refreshment.
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