#173 Sabbath

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 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 male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 NIV

There has been much written about the Sabbath, and much contention over the day. I am still learning about it, and praying that in every instance my opinion and practice will be shaped by what God's word is saying about it, in my understanding of both the Spirit and the Letter. First, I would like to look at the physical element of it. After six days of creation, it says God rested on the seventh day. He set it apart as holy, but also included in its observance that not only Israel, but Israel's servants and visitors as well, shall not work. The Bible tells us: how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?" 27Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28"So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Matthew 2: 26-28. Men could conduct business and all that needed done in the six days leading up to the Sabbath, but the seventh day was to be set apart for the rest of man. Not only Israel, but those bonded to them in service were to receive this rest. You could not therefore gain a day of business on the back of your servant or hire a visitor to do your work. Israel has just been set free of the burdens of Egypt, but they are men and men quickly forget who they are and where they come from. It is easy, for the love of money, for a man to think himself entitled to the fruits of the backs of others. Governments have to make provisions against the abuse of labor, and yet it continues still, and it is against creatures made in the image of God. A man could say that he is born to this entitlement as a part of Israel, or that he is religious and therefore deserves this rest, but not according to this; it is extended to all. In its moral essence, it protects all, even from those who are outwardly religious, yet inwardly corrupt. However, any moral implication here would not appear to be about the day itself.

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." What was remembered about this day and on this day? God is the creator of all things, God is holy, God is just, God is merciful, He delivered them from Egypt and established His moral law here on the mount. They remember the Passover through a feast, and all these things that would foreshadow Christ. 

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Colossians 2:13-19. Man is not merely physical though, and there is a part of him that needs, not just rest from labor, but the time set apart to those things eternal. It becomes clear in the gospel message and in Paul's letters that this part was set aside by those preferring the appearance of holiness and adding to the law.12 “Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. Ezekiel 20:12

The pharisees attacked those coming to be healed on the Sabbath and would attempt to charge our Lord upon the letter of their ignorance of the Sabbath. 

10 One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”

15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? 16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

17 This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did. Luke 13:10-17

It is only in Christ we are new creatures; it is only in Christ that we have offerings fit for a Holy God. The observance of the Sabbath was not to the merit of Israel, nor to those, who would argue over a day, in this time. 

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:1-13

Well, I will not be defending or arguing a day in particular. The Sabbath of the Old covenant, the law, stood upon the seventh day, and shall stay standing there in my memory. I shall remember and speak of the God, who in six days created the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day rested. He instituted this law for men to remember Him, and made it holy. There is still a higher, spiritual implication here that rests upon things eternal. What happens when we forget God?  20Thus they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass. 21They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, 22Wonders in the land of Ham And awesome things by the Red Sea.…Psalm 106:20-22

I was approached by a gentleman while fishing the other night, and he wanted to hand me a track. I declined and tried to appear busy, but he asked if I was a Christian, to which I answered yes. He then tried to give me the track again, and so I asked him what organization he was with. He would not answer so I was admittedly rude and tried once again to walk away. He asked me what brand of Theology did I subscribe to, and so I told him, the Bible and I am a reformed Christian. I asked him why he was too embarrassed to cut the chase and tell me what religion he belonged to, and he answered that he believed the Bible too. He said he would most likely differ with me upon the Sabbath, and told me he was a Seventh Day Adventist. I thought as much, but nonetheless a touch of guilt would lead me to apologize, for I was very rude. Now, I don't think it is ever in me to change a persons mind. Most people in these instances are very much set upon what they believe, and are never much inclined to listen, both sides mostly thinking about what they will say next. I have been told to have an answer for the hope that is in me, to study and rightly divide the Word of truth, and so I spent the next 30 minutes discussing the Sabbath, and he stated, "so you think it is Sunday?" Well when we see the early church first meet, it is on Sunday and this is the day that our Lord was resurrected, fulfilling the law and completing the work that would allow us to enter His rest, and so many Christians meet on that day. But, to answer your question, no, I don't believe Sunday is the Sabbath. The Bible says that God must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth, and  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks? 31Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;…1 Corinthians 10:30-32. So in the end to me it is no longer the seventh day, but rather seven days, and we are to meet with other believers as commanded, to brake bread and remember. In the remembering we are to tell others of their position in sin and point them to Christ, not a day, for He is Lord of that day. And to my new friend, I apologize, while we may differ, I was rude and for that I am sorry.

#172 What's in a Name

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7 NIV

This is well put, and so I am dropping a cut and paste from Ligoniers. I went to St. Andrews chapel last night for the first time, and it was a wonderful service. RC Sproul is an excellent teacher and author, and I would encourage anyone to attend there or read his books. The gentleman who preached last night gave an excellent sermon, and both myself and Lily enjoyed the message.

The Third Commandment

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (v. 7). - Exodus 20:7

Now that we have considered the three uses of the Law and have briefly considered the comprehensiveness of the Ten Commandments, we will examine two of these statutes and their applications today. The first commandment we will study is probably the most widely broken law in the society at large and perhaps in the church as well. We are speaking of the third commandment, which forbids us from taking the name of the Lord in vain (Ex. 20:7).

The term vain is a synonym for futile; thus, the third commandment is warning us not to use God’s name in a futile or trivial manner. This is something our Creator takes very seriously, for the commandment adds a special note that He “will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” in order to make us pause before we use the Lord’s name flippantly. If the commandments enjoin the opposite of what they forbid, this law mandates that we set apart the name of God as holy. Jesus Himself indicates this is the case when He tells us the very first thing we should pray for is that the Lord’s name be hallowed (Luke 11:2).

Outright blasphemy is an obvious transgression of this commandment, but it can be violated in other ways as well. A common violation of this law occurs in the swearing of oaths. When we ask the Almighty to bear witness to a vow, we testify that He is omniscient and able to see every point at which we break or keep an oath. Moreover, we witness to His omnipotence, confessing that He can and will deal with us even if no one else disciplines us for breaking a promise. To swear an oath by anything besides the Lord attributes these qualities wrongly to something created and makes us guilty of idolatry. For example, we might casually swear on our mother’s grave to affirm the truth of our words, but what can our mother’s grave do to us if we do not keep our promise?

Christians can misuse God’s name in saying things like “the Lord moved me to tell you…” when we feel that a friend needs to hear a special word. Yet this intuition does not necessarily find its origin in God’s prompting, and we should not attribute words to the Lord unless they are found in Scripture. Otherwise we might put false words in His mouth and inadvertently make Him a liar.

Coram Deo

It is often said that the way we talk about God in everyday conversation is more revealing of what we think about Him than anything else. Take some time today to consider how you use the Lord’s name. Do you take the oaths made before Him seriously and fear the consequences if you break them? Is your speech about our Father reverent, or do you refer to His name in a flippant manner? Be mindful to hallow His name in everything that you say.

From Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship of R.C. Sproul. All rights reserved. Website: www.ligonier.org | Phone: 1-800-435-4343

#171 Insanity

And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20: 1-6 NIV

This the beginning of the ten commandments; it is no new law, but the law that was written in the hearts of men from the beginning. It has not changed with sin, but must be restated because of sin's skew upon the mind and the conscience. "You shall have no other gods before me": this would seem a simple matter, since all other gods are of our own invention. The Creator has revealed Himself to this people, and demonstrated His sovereignty in nature, so that there is no natural thing, outside of superstition, that a man can worship. There has never been a time in my life where I have not worshiped at the altar of some god. As soon as I denied God, it was in that denial that I crafted my own god, whether money, the intellect of others whose minds I esteemed above His, or the altar of sinful preference. Yes, even those who would claim there is no God, worship many gods. Figurines adorn nooks, but in the heart of every man rest an idol; it is often cast in the image of himself, and borrowing from those attributes he esteems most. He will kiss up to approach the god of success. He will lie and cheat others for the god of money. His identity is attached to the god of conquest, and he must sacrifice often at the altar of his lust. In order to be this god he must reduce others, and we must all stand convinced that our identities lie herein, talent, sexual preference or prowess, monetary gain,  popularity, youth, vanity. It is all in vane.

20 But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 1 Corinthians 10:20 - 22

#170 Caution

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day,because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[b] trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[c]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them. Exodus 19: 10-25

There is some insight here to the character of God and His position in relation to sin. It all appears trite and unnecessary to us, but there is not a part of our person, logic or perception that is not infected by sin, and so we reason from this position that there is no need to be clean. A million voices will say that the mountain is approachable, that a man may stand as good upon his own two feet. This love they would like to focus upon is most certainly extended, but not by an unbalanced, blind or  unjust God. Yes, God is love, and His love is infinite as He is, but God is infinitely just in this as well. His opposition to sin is eternal and never changing, and so He warns Moses, tell the people not to force their way up. Like us, Moses seems slow to understand, he feels that these things are already understood. It is not the limits set by men that keep us from approaching God; it is that we are slaves to sin, unclean and cloaked in this we would be marching to our deaths. I should like to remove my opinion from this though, for I have tried to approach the mountain with a back pack and standing on my own feet, telling myself I was clean enough to stand before an infinitely holy God. Yes, God is Just, and that shall never change, but here again we see His love extended in mercy and patience. He is making a way where there was only void, He is not accepting sin, but He is revealing to men the state in which they are in. He is warning of the imminent, and demonstrating what is needed to approach Him. We are sinners, and as proven by ourselves, unable to rectify this condition. God will have no part in sin, and so if He shall have us, then there is no way to justify any, except by the sacrifice of the infinite. So while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. It is by this grace, received through faith, both given as a gift by Him, that we are able to approach the mountain, cleansed by the blood of His sacrifice.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19&20

#169 Dove shaped Cloud

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim,they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. Exodus 19:1-9 NIV

Moses goes to the mountain to talk to the Lord, and God gives him the words of a covenant to bring back to Israel. It is the testimony of God's ability and that He is able to do His part, now what shall be the part of the descendants of Jacob? Shall it be heritage, genetic, a call by name only? He ask their obedience, and they respond in unison, "we will do everything the Lord has said." How hard was that? So easily the words roll off the tongue, much like today, "in sickness and in health, for better or worse, forsaking all others." It's a beautiful thing to say until you get sick, the money fails, another person feeds your ego, or you just don't feel it anymore. We know from history what will happen with Israel, what men will continue to do, and that words are the easy part. God  comes to Moses in a way that designates him as His prophet. This will become a costly matter for Moses later, for the person that says they come in the name of the Lord should take great care in what they do or say as regards the name of Whom there is no higher. 

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Luke 3: 21&22

#168 Dishonest gain

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trust worthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country. Exodus 18:13-27

Moses has taken seriously the role of leader, and has thrown himself deep into the responsibility of a budding nation. He is without help though and the people come to him with every dispute or problem that may arise. They are no longer slaves to another kingdom, so what rule that may be must be established. Moses' father in law is concerned for his health and well being, and the one talks to God on behalf of the people is yet willing to listen. He is not tyrant, monarch or politician. Moses sees the advice is good and follows it, but great care must be taken in who he appoints. The men must fear God, for if they do not then they shall most certainly not hate dishonest gain. Politicians create a system that feeds upon it's people, and makes possible those lobbyist whose interest are not for the people. All men are tempted, by varying degree, when offered power and position, but Moses is quick to relinquish and disperse it. He is a very earthly picture of Christ as mediator, and a man given the patience to deal with a grumbling nation, but also the wisdom to seek guidance and ask for help. Responsibility is not a bad thing, but we can assume too much, and in the end be irresponsible. 

Leadership in the church

#167 In Laws

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons, of whom [a]one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a [b]sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 [c]The other was named [d]Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses[e]in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. 6 He [f]sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, [g]in delivering[h]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; [i]indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against [j]the people.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat [k]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro reunites Moses with his wife and children, and like the name of his son, Gershom, the presence of family must be a blessing to the man without a country. It comes with the blessing and fellowship of his father in law, a gentile, who will partake of the bread from heaven. He comes with the attitude of humility, and reacts with praise to the God who has delivered Israel. He acknowledges God for who He is, greater than all the gods. He was not there, but his reaction to the story leads him to an offering. Many of those who witnessed the miracles did not respond this way. 

"I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father."39They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40"But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.…John 8:38-40