Topical Bible: The Sabbath: Instituted by God

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The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, holds a significant place in Judeo-Christian tradition as a divinely instituted ordinance. Its origins are rooted in the creation narrative and further established in the Mosaic Law, serving as a perpetual covenant between God and His people.

Creation and the Sabbath

The concept of the Sabbath is first introduced in the creation account found in Genesis. After six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day, setting a precedent for the Sabbath. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "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 passage underscores the sanctity and divine blessing of the seventh day, marking it as a day of rest.

The Sabbath in the Ten Commandments

The formal institution of the Sabbath is found in the Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Fourth Commandment explicitly instructs the observance of the Sabbath. Exodus 20:8-11 commands, "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 livestock, 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." This commandment not only reiterates the creation narrative but also establishes the Sabbath as a day of rest for all within the community, emphasizing its role as a sign of God's covenant.

The Sabbath as a Covenant Sign

The Sabbath is further described as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel. In Exodus 31:16-17 , it is written, "The Israelites are to keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come. It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed." This passage highlights the Sabbath as an enduring symbol of the relationship between God and His chosen people, serving as a reminder of His creative power and His provision of rest.

Sabbath Observance in Israelite Society

In ancient Israel, the observance of the Sabbath was a central aspect of religious life. It was a day set apart for rest, worship, and reflection, free from the labors of the week. The Sabbath regulations were detailed in the Mosaic Law, with prohibitions against work and specific instructions for its observance. Leviticus 23:3 states, "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 Emphasis on the Sabbath

The prophets of Israel often called the people back to faithful Sabbath observance, linking it to the nation's spiritual health and covenant faithfulness. Isaiah 58:13-14 exhorts, "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, and 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." This passage emphasizes the spiritual blessings associated with proper Sabbath observance.

The Sabbath in the New Testament

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ's teachings and actions regarding the Sabbath provide further insight into its purpose and observance. While Jesus upheld the significance of the Sabbath, He also challenged the legalistic interpretations that had developed over time. 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 affirms the Sabbath's role as a gift for humanity's benefit, emphasizing mercy and compassion over rigid adherence to rules.

The Sabbath, as instituted by God, remains a profound testament to His creative work, His covenant with His people, and His provision of rest and spiritual renewal. Its observance continues to be a vital aspect of faith and practice for many believers, reflecting the enduring significance of this divinely ordained day.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ...
... the ceremonial law was enjoined to the Jews only, and not to the Gentiles; but this
commandment of the holy Sabbath, as matrimony, was instituted of God in the ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/ten reasons demonstrating the commandment.htm

Christ's Authority Over the Sabbath as Its Lord He Recalled it ...
... Lord, (and) still more as He who instituted it. ... it might henceforth be plain that
the Sabbath was not ... For that was really [3889] God's work, which He commanded ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xii christs authority over the.htm

Sabbaths were Instituted on Account of the People's Sins, and not ...
... Sabbaths were instituted on account of the people's sins, and not for a work of
righteousness. "Moreover, that God enjoined you to keep the Sabbath, and impose ...
/.../chapter xxi sabbaths were instituted on.htm

God's Law Immutable.
... can never become obsolete, and must never be forgotten."(733) It was to keep this
truth ever before the minds of men, that God instituted the Sabbath in Eden ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /25 gods law immutable.htm

God's Law Immutable
... It was to keep this truth ever before the minds of men, that God instituted the
Sabbath in Eden; and so long as the fact that He is our Creator continues to be ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 25 gods law immutable.htm

Letter viii. Public and Social Worship, and Sabbath Employments.
... duty of every one to attend upon the regularly instituted public worship of the
Sabbath, when we neglect it we are out of the way of duty. And God will never ...
/.../letter viii public and social.htm

At a Public Fast in July, First Sabbath, 1650. (257)
... At A Public Fast In July, First Sabbath, 1650.(257). ... You see here a comparison
instituted between two very unequal parties, God and man; there is no likeness ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon i at a public.htm

What Covenant of God the New-Born Babe Breaks. What was the Value ...
... day (which coming after the seventh or Sabbath day, was ... justification." [2249] Ever
since circumcision was instituted amongst the people of God, which was ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 xi what covenant of.htm

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ...
... day of the week: therefore to keep the Sabbath on that ... a true prophet, or have any
grace of God's Spirit in ... the Lord's day to have been instituted and ordained ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the true manner.htm

John ix. 29
... God: the Jews considered the forsaking the law of the Sabbath to be a ... to outward
or positive ordinances, even when commanded or instituted by God himself. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xxxiii john ix 29.htm