By Roxanne Drury
Sabbath rest – what exactly is that? Do we as a people even know how to truly rest? Let’s explore what Sabbath rest means and then list ways to accomplish it in our busy lives.
Everyone I know has often expressed that their lives are too busy. There is simply too much to do and insufficient time to do it. This week was such a week for my husband and me. Oddly enough, since I retired, we have had many such weeks. Go figure!
Recently, I was reading the Book of Hebrews, NLT version, and came to chapter 4 and verse 9, which says, “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.” The words “special rest” in this verse captured my attention. What kind of special rest does God have for us? The footnote read, “Or a Sabbath rest.” Okay, that made sense. I let that sit for a few days and returned to it this morning while writing this article. Have you ever read a verse that so intrigued or challenged you that you couldn’t let it go without further investigation? Hebrews 4:9 was such a verse for me. So, I did what I do in those instances and researched and read Hebrews 4:9 in other versions of the Bible that I have.
Side note: I have this thing about Bibles. My goal is to have one of every version. However, I don’t…yet!
Most versions read “Sabbath rest,” and some say merely “rest,” but the Good News Translation was much more precise. It reads, “As it is, however, there still remains for God’s people a rest like God’s resting on the seventh day.” Ah, now we are getting somewhere.
God commanded us to take a Sabbath rest as He rested on the seventh day after creating the world (Exodus 20:8). We must remember that everything God does is for our good. The commandment instructs us to set aside a day to rest and worship. The commandments aren’t suggestions; they are commands. A Sabbath rest is meant for us to take a break from our regular daily routines and work habits and, well, rest. It is to our benefit to rest. What that rest looks like is up to you, but the word ‘holy’ indicates it should be treated as a unique set aside day. “The Sabbath was to be different than the other six days of the week.” 1
In Exodus 20:8-11, Moses clearly lays out God’s command. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (NLT). He goes on to give further instructions, which I will paraphrase here: Work six days, the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the Lord; no one is to work, not you, your kids, your servants, your animals, or any visitors in your home. Verse 11 explains why. “For in six days, the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day He rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”
While the commandment is given in the Old Testament, the New Testament also has something to say about the Sabbath. One Sabbath day, Jesus and his disciples walked through a grain field. The disciples broke off some grain to eat it. The Pharisees saw this and accused them of breaking the law of the Sabbath by harvesting (Mark 2:23-26). Mark 2:27 gives us Jesus’ response to the Pharisees: “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” As previously stated, everything God does or commands is for our good, to meet our needs, as verse 27 indicates. So, shouldn’t we honor that?
God knows what we need more than we do. Unfortunately, I have personal experience with workaholism. I am not proud of this by any stretch of the imagination. Working in the insurance industry in my younger years, I easily worked 12-hour (or more) days five days a week, brought work home for the weekend, and was 100% accessible on Saturday and Sunday. Practically speaking, this practice was not good for me and definitely not good for my family.
Not setting aside at least one day a week for rest and downtime made work more important than anything: my family, myself, and the Lord. Work became my idol. There is a commandment about that, too.
So, how do we, in this busy age, set aside a day of rest for ourselves and the Lord? I realize that in some jobs, a person is on call 24/7. It may not be possible to set aside a 24-hour block of time. Setting boundaries is even more critical in those kinds of industries. A day is 24 hours. A suggestion in this case might be to break up the 24 hours and allow yourself downtime a few hours each day. Do not check your email or text messages on the weekend or after a specific time each day. Give yourself permission to block out time to put your phone on Do Not Disturb or Out of the Office. Take a nap. A nap does wonders.
Setting boundaries for a Sabbath rest time is tricky if you are in ministry. Your work is serving the body of Christ, but the command is still valid. Ministry workers typically work on Sundays. So, choose another day as your Sabbath day of rest. I feel certain God will honor whatever day you decide to set aside.
For those who work a 40-hour work week, stick to 40 hours. Save your evenings and weekends for family, personal time, and time for the Lord. Make those Sabbath rest days memorable and meaningful by planning game nights or family outings. My favorite would be a family reading night. Make one night a time for Bible study, whether personally or in a group.
In conclusion, following God’s example of resting is a spiritual step of obedience. Stepping away from your daily work and setting aside time for a Sabbath rest allows you time to be bathed in the peace of the Lord. It allows for rejuvenation and regeneration. It is sacred and holy. That ‘special rest’ is still waiting for you. My suggestion is – make it happen!
Source:
1 https://thebiblesays.com/en/commentary/exo+20:8
Roxanne Drury is a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Christian preschool teacher who served the Lord in children’s ministry for over 45 years. She has written a group study guide on Psalm 23, as well as other books. She may be reached at [email protected].
Copyright © 2020 Christian Living Magazine All Rights Reserved.
