“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” —Exodus 20:8.
THE Sabbath was given to Israel not only as a memorial of God’s creation-rest, but as a reminder of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt in order that they might enjoy the rest of Canaan (Deut. 5:12-15). In giving them one day out of every seven for physical rest and spiritual upbuilding, God had their needs in view. His Sabbath was made for man. He designed it for His people’s blessing. It is a sad commentary on the perversity of the human heart that many of them saw in this gracious provision a restriction upon their liberty, against which they rebelled, saying, “When will the... sabbath... be gone?” (Amos 8:5), because of their desire to indulge in trade and the acquisition of wealth.
On the other hand, long ere our Lord appeared on earth, they had hedged the Sabbath about with so many of their own rules and regulations that what God intended to be a joy and a delight had become a heavy burden and an oppression of their spirits.
Similarly do men treat the Christian day of rest and worship, which for intelligent believers has displaced the Sabbath of the law. But how we would miss them were our Lord’s Days taken from us and if we were forced to labor seven days a week with no respite for spiritual, cultural or physical upbuilding!
“O day of rest and gladness.
O day of joy and light.
O balm of care and sadness,
Most beautiful, most bright,
On thee the high and lowly
Through ages joined in tune
Sing, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy!’
To the great God Triune.
On thee at the creation
The light first had its birth;
On thee, for our salvation.
Christ rose from depths of earth;
On thee our Lord victorious,
The Spirit sent from heaven,
And thus on thee most glorious
A triple light was given.”
―C. Wordsworth.