Topical Bible: The Sabbath: Honoring of The Women

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, is a cornerstone of Judeo-Christian tradition, rooted in the creation narrative and the Ten Commandments. While the Sabbath is often discussed in terms of rest and spiritual renewal, it also provides an opportunity to honor the roles and contributions of women within the faith community.

Biblical Foundation of the Sabbath

The Sabbath is first introduced in Genesis 2:2-3 : "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." This divine rest sets a precedent for the observance of the Sabbath, later codified in the Ten Commandments: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8).

Women and the Sabbath in Scripture

Throughout Scripture, women play significant roles in the observance and sanctification of the Sabbath. In the Old Testament, women are integral to the household's spiritual life, ensuring that the Sabbath is kept holy. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the virtuous woman who "watches over the affairs of her household" (v. 27), a role that includes preparing for the Sabbath.

In the New Testament, women are often depicted as active participants in Sabbath observance. For instance, in Luke 23:55-56 , the women who followed Jesus from Galilee "prepared spices and perfumes" and "rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" after His crucifixion. This passage highlights their devotion and adherence to the Sabbath even in times of grief.

Honoring Women on the Sabbath

The Sabbath provides a unique opportunity to honor the contributions of women within the faith community. In many Christian traditions, the Sabbath is a time for families to gather, worship, and reflect on God's blessings. Women, often the spiritual anchors of their families, play a crucial role in facilitating these gatherings and ensuring that the Sabbath is a time of peace and reflection.

The Proverbs 31 woman is often cited as an exemplar of diligence and faithfulness, embodying the virtues that are celebrated on the Sabbath. Her commitment to her family and community is a testament to the vital role women play in upholding the spiritual fabric of society.

Sabbath as a Time for Rest and Renewal

The Sabbath is not only a time for physical rest but also for spiritual renewal. Women, who often bear the dual responsibilities of work and family, can find in the Sabbath a time for personal reflection and rejuvenation. The rest prescribed by the Sabbath is a divine acknowledgment of the need for balance and restoration, a principle that applies to all believers, regardless of gender.

Conclusion

The Sabbath, as a day of rest and worship, offers a profound opportunity to honor the contributions of women within the faith community. Through their roles in the home and the church, women exemplify the virtues of diligence, faithfulness, and devotion that are central to the observance of the Sabbath. As such, the Sabbath serves as a reminder of the integral role women play in the spiritual life of the community, deserving of recognition and honor.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 23:56
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Crucifixion.
... heart of Nicodemus smote him for his tardiness in honoring Christ, and ... it was the
day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on. ... c 55 And the women, who had ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxiii the crucifixion 4.htm

Table of Contents
... THE HOLY KINGS CELEBRATE A FEAST HONORING MARY'S CONCEPTION. ... MARY CONCLUDES THE SABBATH
IN THE BURIAL CAVE OF ... ESSENE WOMEN RENDER SERVICE TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/table of contents.htm

Fourth Commandment
... If Christian men and women refused to buy them, if ... On the other hand, honoring the
fourth commandment brings ... turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/fourth commandment.htm

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
... is authority and the Law of the Sabbath is void ... the holy bread, had he blindly insisted
on honoring the prohibitions ... the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the women that sew ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fourth sunday after epiphany.htm

Good Works
... We laboured when here the Sabbath morning before last ... have some evil motive, such
as honoring ourselves, that ... are Christian men and Christian women, who forget ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/good works.htm

Conversion
... God, is hastening to hail men and women and cast ... always disported myself thus on
the Sabbath-day; but ... the deliverer of his fellow-creatures, honoring him more ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/conversion.htm

The Feast at Simon's House
... to Jerusalem, and that He would rest over the Sabbath at Bethany ... she was eager to
be first in honoring her Lord ... The women who bore spices to the tomb found their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 62 the feast at.htm

Acts XIII
... own achievements, but much to encourage us in honoring a brother ... (44) "On the next
Sabbath almost the ... Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

Jesus --"All Blessing and all Blest"
... of us, those hours on the Sabbath, when mother ... palaces, and singing men, and singing
women"who had ... much self-depreciation, but much more honoring of Christ ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/jesusall blessing and all blest.htm

Limiting God
... shall produce the richer harvest; for God, honoring our faith ... She looks round every
Sabbath morning, but John is ... and there, there are men and women who have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/limiting god.htm