What is the meaning of Exodus 31:15? For six days work may be done God built a rhythm of life into creation itself—six days of purposeful labor (Genesis 1; Exodus 20:9). • Work is dignified, commanded, and good. Proverbs 14:23 echoes, “In all labor there is profit.” • This pattern guards against laziness (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) while also preventing work from becoming an idol. • By limiting work to six days, the Lord teaches stewardship of time, talents, and responsibilities. but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest The word “Sabbath” means cessation; here it is “complete rest,” not a partial slowdown (Exodus 23:12). • God Himself modeled this rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). • Rest is not mere inactivity; it is a deliberate trust that the Lord provides even when we cease from striving (Psalm 127:1-2; Matthew 6:25-34). • Hebrews 4:9-10 points ahead to the ultimate rest believers enter through Christ, yet the weekly rhythm still teaches dependence on God. holy to the LORD To be “holy” is to be set apart exclusively for Him (Leviticus 19:30; Isaiah 58:13). • The Sabbath is not just a personal day off; it is devoted time that acknowledges God’s sovereignty over our schedules. • Worship, reflection on Scripture, fellowship, and acts of mercy (Mark 2:27-28) make the day distinctly His. • By calling the day holy, the Lord invites His people into a covenant sign that distinguishes them from surrounding cultures (Exodus 31:13). Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day The command targets ordinary, profit-driven labor (Exodus 35:2-3), not works of necessity or mercy (Luke 14:5). • A man gathering sticks in Numbers 15:32-36 illustrates deliberate violation, not accidental oversight. • The principle: willful disregard for God’s boundaries is rebellion against His lordship (James 4:17). • The weekly pause reminds us that life’s ultimate purpose is not production but relationship with the Creator. must surely be put to death Under Israel’s theocratic covenant, Sabbath-breaking carried capital punishment, underscoring the seriousness of sin (Romans 6:23). • This civil penalty was unique to Israel’s national law, yet it reveals God’s unchanging holiness (Malachi 3:6). • The severity foreshadows the cost Christ would bear; He died once for all lawbreakers, offering grace without nullifying the law’s righteousness (Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24). • While believers today are not under Israel’s civil code, the moral imperative remains: treasure the sacred rhythm God ordained and honor Him with obedient rest. summary Exodus 31:15 presents a divine pattern: six days for meaningful labor, one day wholly set apart for sacred rest. This weekly cycle highlights God’s sovereignty, provides a practical safeguard against both idleness and overwork, and invites worshipful trust. Though the death penalty applied specifically to ancient Israel, the verse still proclaims how seriously God views willful disobedience. Embracing the Sabbath principle today nurtures physical renewal, spiritual depth, and joyful acknowledgment that our lives, our time, and our work belong to the Lord. |
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