Laws of The Sabbath
April 21, 2021
Commentary
God gave Moses clear instructions for the people of Israel. Even while they were building the tabernacle—a holy and important task—they were not to forget the command to keep the Sabbath. This day of rest was not just a rule; it was a sign of their relationship with the Lord, who had set them apart as His people (vv. 12–17). Observing the Sabbath reminded them that the Lord alone is the Creator who made the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Just as the priests, the furnishings, and the tabernacle itself were set apart for God, so His people were called to live as holy and distinct from the nations around them.
God told the Israelites that they and their descendants must keep the Sabbath as a lasting covenant (v. 12). By doing so, they would continually remember that the Lord is the one who sanctifies them (v. 13). They could work for six days, but on the seventh they were to stop completely (v. 14). Breaking this command carried the death penalty (v. 15), showing how seriously God viewed disobedience. Every generation of Israelites was to honor this special day (v. 16). The Sabbath served as a continual reminder of God’s creative power and His covenant relationship with His people (v. 17).
When God finished speaking with Moses, He gave him two tablets of the Testimony, written by His own finger (v. 18). These tablets contained the Ten Commandments, which set Israel apart from all other nations. Unlike human laws that favored the rich or powerful, God’s law was righteous and fair. It joined together religious and moral life, showing that true worship must be reflected in daily living.
Application
When do I pause my busy work to remember that God is the Creator and Lord of my life? The Sabbath teaches me that rest is not laziness but trust, trust that God can provide even when I stop working. How can I use a regular time of rest to renew my heart, focus on worship, and remember the One Who truly sustains me?
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.
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