Topical Encyclopedia The concept of a "Day of Rest" is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, originating from the biblical account of creation and extending through the practices and teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. This entry explores the theological, historical, and practical aspects of the Day of Rest as presented in the Bible.Biblical Foundation The Day of Rest is first introduced in the Book of Genesis, where God Himself sets the precedent. After six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day, sanctifying it as a day of rest. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." The Sabbath Commandment The Day of Rest is formalized in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Fourth Commandment, as recorded in Exodus 20:8-11 , instructs the Israelites: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy." Sabbath Observance in Israel In ancient Israel, the Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and His people. It was a day set apart for rest, worship, and reflection, serving as a reminder of God's creation and deliverance. The observance of the Sabbath was strictly regulated, with prohibitions against work and specific instructions for worship and rest. Leviticus 23:3 emphasizes, "For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD." Prophetic Insights The prophets of the Old Testament often called the people back to proper Sabbath observance, linking it to social justice and spiritual renewal. Isaiah 58:13-14 highlights the blessings associated with honoring the Sabbath: "If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Jesus and the Sabbath In the New Testament, Jesus' teachings and actions regarding the Sabbath reveal its intended purpose and spirit. While He observed the Sabbath, Jesus also challenged the legalistic interpretations of the religious leaders. In Mark 2:27-28 , Jesus declares, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." This statement underscores the Sabbath as a gift for human benefit, emphasizing mercy and compassion over rigid adherence to rules. The Early Church and the Lord's Day As Christianity spread, the early church began to gather on the first day of the week, known as the Lord's Day, in commemoration of Jesus' resurrection. Acts 20:7 notes, "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread." While the Sabbath continued to be observed by Jewish Christians, the Lord's Day became a distinct day of worship and rest for Gentile believers, reflecting the new covenant in Christ. Theological Significance The Day of Rest holds profound theological significance, symbolizing God's completed work, human dependence on divine provision, and the promise of eternal rest. Hebrews 4:9-10 speaks to this eschatological hope: "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His." Practical Application In contemporary Christian practice, the Day of Rest serves as a time for worship, family, and community, providing a rhythm of work and rest that honors God and nurtures spiritual well-being. It is a day to cease from ordinary labor, focus on spiritual matters, and enjoy the blessings of creation and redemption. Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia Day of RestOn the seventh day, God having completed His creative work, rested, And blessed and sanctified the day (Genesis 2:2,3). There is no evidence that man was required at this time to keep the day. Greek 2960. kuriakos -- of the Lord ... 2960 () is used of Supper (ie "communion," the table) and " day" () as the appointed day for rest and worship. See 1 Cor 11:20; Rev 1:10. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2960.htm - 7k Library The Day of Rest. Auburn. CM Sweet Day of Rest. LM Mrs. Gilman. The Day of Rest. Spanish Hymn, 7S, 8. The Day of Rest. O Day of Rest and Gladness Fourth Commandment The Fourth Day in Passion-Week - Jesus in his Last Sabbatic Rest ... St. Matthias' Day. Come unto Me, all Ye that Labour and are Heavy ... The Seventh Day, Without Evening and Setting, the Image of Eternal ... Entrance into Rest. Resources What is the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Seventh-day Adventism (SDA), and what do Seventh-day Adventists believe? | GotQuestions.org What is the Lord's day? | GotQuestions.org Day: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Gladness Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day of Good Tidings Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Day Which the Lord Has Made Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Good Day Day: A Time of Festivity Called A: Solemn Day Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Adversity Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Anger Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Calamity Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Darkness Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Destruction Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Evil Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Slaughter Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of The Lord Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Trouble Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Vengeance Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Visitation Day: A Time of Judgment Called a Day of Wrath Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of God's Power Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Redemption Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Salvation Day: A Time of Mercy Called a Day of Visitation Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Break of Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Decline of Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Evening Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Morning Day: Artificial, Divided Into: Noon Day: Artificial, the Time of the Sun's Continuance Above The Day: Day's Journey, Eighteen or Twenty Miles Day: Divided Into Twelve Hours Day: Judgment: A Figure of Spiritual Illumination Day: Judgment: Called the Day of the Lord Day: Later Subdivided Into Twelve Hours Day: Made for the Glory of God Day: Natural, from Evening to Evening Day: Proclaims the Glory of God Day: Sabbath Day's Journey, About Two-Thousand Paces Day: Six Working Days Ordained Day: Sometimes Divided Into Four Parts Day: Succession of, Secured by Covenant Day: Th Sixth Day of the Week Called Preparation Day Day: The First Day of the Week Called the Lord's Day Day: Time of, Ascertained by the Dial Day: Times of Adversity Called Day of the Lord Related Terms Preparation-day (1 Occurrence) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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