1. Sabbath
To Rest or not to Rest

2. 7th Day is different No introduction-Then God said
Does not close with, evening and morning to indicate being over
Only day blessed and consecrated by God
The phrase 7th day is repeated 3 times and twice more with “it”

3. 2:1 Their vast array Means: sun, moon, stars, and all inhabitants.
Concludes what 1:1 envisions

4. 2:2-3 Contain 4 lines with first 3 each possessing 7 words (in Hebrew)
Midpoint of each line says “seventh day”

5. Literal Translation
So God finished by the seventh day His work which He did
And he rested on the seventh day from his work which he did
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it
Because on it he rested from all his work which God created to do

6. Seventh Later in Israel the seventh was replaced by Sabbath
God completed his work by the seventh day

7. His Work
This phrase also occurs 3 times to emphasize creation was God’s alone
The end of his work was related to completion and not exhaustion
Rested means cessation of creative activity
He abstained from work
Note-Sabbath does not appear as a noun although sabat (ceased) does

8. 7th Day Uniquely sanctified and blessed The day was devoted to him
Exodus 20:8,11-remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
No work to be done by human or animal-Exodus 31:35, 35:2

9. 7th Day First ties to Sabbath or creation rest-Exodus 20:8-11, 31:17
Sabbath occurs as a synonym for seventh day
Therefore the Lord has blessed the Sabbath and made it holy
The seventh day of creation is viewed as God’s Sabbath

10. Israel
In the wilderness there is a Sabbath where gathering of manna is suspended-Exodus 16:21-30
To Israelites Sabbath has existed since creation whether man observes it or not
The seventh went beyond days to week and years
The Sabbath was set apart as a special day of worship and celebration

11. Israel Sabbath also meant redemption to Israel
God wasn’t idle in the garden but making skins to cover Adam and Eve
Sabbath released humans and animals from work
4th commandment make up 2 versions for Sabbath for Israel: Celebration and Redemption

12. Which Covenant Are we under OT covenant?
No. We are under the new covenant. Grace
OT-Sabbath was Saturday
We observe Sunday

13. Legalism Some Israelites went to far in observance
Made up laws that God never intended
Certain amount of steps taken
Feeding of animals

14. Today Can we: Work, recreate, do household chores?
Mark 2:27-Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not the man for Sabbath.”
Matthew Henry-A privilege-God never designed it to be a burden to us
What does this mean?

15. What’s the point?
Remember what the point is: Rest and recover, Celebrate, remember God’s redemption, sanctify
Ask yourself are you doing these things?
If your normal work routine doesn’t change then you aren't resting-God intends for us to rest

16. Celebrate and Redemption
Do you celebrate on the Sabbath?
Do you worship corporately?
Do you think of God’s redeeming grace and mercy every Sabbath?

17. Sanctify Do you set it aside as different?
Is the Sabbath just any other day?
For preachers, it may be Monday and you too
But, we need a day to worship, rest and reflect

18. Sabbath Don’t have to be legalistic
But, when we treat our normal day of worship and rest the same as other days we are wrong and living in sin
If we are not intentional, then we will not sanctify the Sabbath