Laws of The Sabbath
April 21, 2021
Commentary
Moses tells the Israelites what the Lord has commanded them to do. Even while building the tabernacle, they must keep the Sabbath, for the sake of knowing the Lord as the one who set them apart and as the one who created the world in six days (vv. 12-17). Observing the Sabbath reminded the Israelites of the Lord’s identity as the Creator. God’s instructions for making the tabernacle and its furnishings and designating priests, all set apart, for God’s service, exemplified what it meant, for the people themselves to be sanctified.
They and their descendants are to obey the laws of the Sabbath (v. 12). By doing this they will know that He is in charge (v. 13). They can work six days, but they must rest on the seventh day (v. 14). If they work on the Sabbath they will be put to death (v. 15). Every generation of Israelites must respect the Sabbath (v. 16). This day will serve as a reminder that He (as creator God) made the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day (v. 17).
The two tablets of the Testimony contained the Ten Commandments (v. 18). These were not the only code of laws in the ancient world. Other laws had come into existence when cities or nations decided that there must be standards of judgment and ways to correct specific wrongs. God’s laws for Israel were unique in that (1) they alleviated the harsh judgments typical of the day; (2) the rich and the poor received the same punishment; (3) they did not separate religious and social law.
Application
The Sabbath had two purposes. It was a time to rest and a time to remember what God had done. I need to make sure my day of rest provides a time of both refreshment and remembrance of God.
Exodus 31:12– 18 (NET)
12 The Lord said to Moses, 13 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death. 16 The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
18 He gave Moses two tablets of testimony when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, tablets of stone written by the finger of God.