Topical Bible: The Sabbath: Saints: Observe

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The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, holds significant importance in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is rooted in the creation narrative and the Ten Commandments, serving as a perpetual covenant between God and His people. The observance of the Sabbath is a testament to God's creation and His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and it continues to be a day of spiritual reflection and rest for many Christians.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of the Sabbath originates in the creation account, where God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth. 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 is further enshrined in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. 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."

Observance by the Saints

The early Christian church grappled with the observance of the Sabbath, especially as it related to the Jewish customs and the new covenant established through Jesus Christ. While the Jewish Sabbath is observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, many Christians began to gather on the first day of the week, Sunday, in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. This practice is reflected in Acts 20:7 , "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight."

Despite the shift to Sunday worship, the principle of rest and spiritual renewal remains central to the observance of the Sabbath. Hebrews 4:9-10 emphasizes the spiritual rest that believers enter through faith in Christ: "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."

Theological Significance

The Sabbath serves as a sign of the covenant between God and His people, as noted in Exodus 31:16-17 : "The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a lasting 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."

For Christians, the Sabbath is not merely a day of physical rest but also a symbol of the spiritual rest found in Christ. It is a time to cease from worldly labors and focus on worship, reflection, and community. The observance of the Sabbath is a reminder of God's provision, His creation, and the ultimate rest that believers will experience in eternity.

Practical Observance

In practice, the observance of the Sabbath varies among Christian denominations. Some maintain a strict adherence to rest and worship on Saturday, while others observe Sunday as the Lord's Day. Regardless of the specific day, the essence of the Sabbath is captured in the call to rest, worship, and remember God's faithfulness.

The Sabbath remains a vital aspect of Christian life, encouraging believers to pause from their daily routines and dedicate time to spiritual growth and community. It is a day set apart to honor God, reflect on His goodness, and anticipate the eternal rest promised to the saints.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 13:22
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ...
... as their own subjects and family, to observe the holy ... is, of lords, as papists do
of saints, Hosea 2 ... are less careful in keeping the Lord's Sabbath, than they ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/ten reasons demonstrating the commandment.htm

How Saints May Help the Devil
... Delivered on Sabbath Morning, July 24th, 1859, by the. ... 1. And first I would observe,
that the daily ... the humble followers of Jesus, who washed his saints' feet? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/how saints may help the.htm

The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints' Rest.
... So I tell thee, if thou wilt observe but this one ... And is not the saints' rest a more
excellent happiness ... If it were felony to break the Sabbath, neglect secret ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter vii the necessity of.htm

The Cleansing of the Earth.
... is essential to the faith; for such only as observe the Sabbath ... God's blessing the
Sabbath day, and ... was a type of that glorious rest that the saints shall have ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the cleansing of the earth.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... mind of the believers, as to whether they will observe them or ... must be assigned for
this; and some of the saints to begin their eternal sabbath with God ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

Letter viii. Public and Social Worship, and Sabbath Employments.
... It is in the assembly of his saints, that he ... These must also be cultivated in the
Sabbath school. ... Observe the principles by which it is developed and called ...
/.../letter viii public and social.htm

Creation's Groans and the Saints' Sighs
... MY venerable friend, who, on the first Sabbath of the ... You observe the text speaks
of waiting for the adoption ... In this world, saints are God's children, but you ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/creations groans and the saints.htm

Galatians Chapter ii.
... make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are ... [60] Observe how,
he ... are now circumcised, yet, by fasting and observing the sabbath with the ...
/.../galatians chapter ii.htm

Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus.
... 3771] The Christian Sabbath hinges on ... As for us, then, we scrupulously observe the
exact day, [3773 ... with glory from heaven and shall raise again all the saints. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/polycrates bishop of ephesus.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return had a Spectacular Setting Forth ...
... Observe further, that our Lord said to his disciples, "There ... years of rest and peace,
the Sabbath-day thus ... may learn that the Old Testament saints shall have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/7 the fact of the.htm