God's Plan for Women

The United States recently celebrated "Mothers Day". It is a noble thought to set aside one day a year to honor our mothers. However, it is what we should do every day. Have you ever thought where we would be without them?

Over the past several decades it seems that women have been having difficulty determining their proper place in society. When I was growing up most of the women in our rural area were homemakers. Yes there were the nurses, secretaries and grocery clerks but most were content to be keepers of the home.

Then along came the "Women's Liberation Movement" then the "Equal Rights Amendment" and then what is known as the "Feminist Movement". It seems that some women were no longer content to stay at home, cook, clean, sew, care for the children and their husbands. These wanted to be liberated from domestic duties and to be paid in money for their work.

What brought about this change? Some attribute it to "the war effort" during WWII when men were fighting and workers were needed in the factories to make the supplies for the soldiers. Personally I see that as a factor but not the biggest reason.

It is my observation that the biggest reason could be described as the movement away from God. I remember as a child when virtually no businesses were open on Sunday with the exception of the occasional gas station or restaurant. Wednesday night was church night so no school activities were scheduled. Today we have the occasional business that is closed on Sunday and school activities and every other kind happening on Wednesday night.

All of the above brings us to the scriptures. I want to suggest that the plan which God has for women is described in the following passages: Proverbs 31:10ff, Titus 2:3-5, and I Peter 3:7. There are other passages as well but these sum up very well the position and work of women in God's wisdom.

I would like to hear from you what these passages teach in regards to our subject. What role does God have for women?

How many covenants?

How many covenants? Well, I confess, it was a poorly worded question or series of questions.

There are several different covenants mentioned in the scriptures. The first was made with Noah and his seed after him. God said in Genesis 9:15 "and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. " It is then understood that this covenant would last forever. It was not with a specific group of people but with all his seed and all animals. This of course refers to God's promise not to destroy all living creatures with water again. The rainbow is the token of this covenant.

The scriptures then tell us of a covenant God made with Abram in Genesis 15:18 to give them the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. This was but one of a series of covenants made with Abraham.

We then learn of what is called in scriptures "the first covenant" (Hebrews 8:7). It was given to Moses and the children of Israel on the day God led them out of the land of Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:2ff). This covenant was given to a specific people and their descendants exclusive of all others. As you may remember there were some 600,000 men who came out of Egypt as well as women and children.

It is obvious that this was not the first covenant that God made with man. It was however the first covenant made with a nation! It was the first covenant that established a nation. Therefore it can truthfully be called the "first covenant".

From the New Testament we learn that there were two covenants which God made with man. The first was at Mt. Sinai and with the children of Israel as we have just learned. The second was made with any who would follow Jesus after his death. (Hebrews 8-9).

Which is to govern our lives today? The second of course! It became binding at the death of the maker on the cross. We must understand that the second applies today and not the first. The second is different than the first. It has different terms and conditions, different pattern of worship and different rewards. We mustn't try to mix the two!

What do you think?

Covenants

In our discussion of the Sabbath, the subject of covenants came up from time to time.

It is vital to a proper understanding of the Word of God to know what the Bible says in answer to the question "How many covenants were made by God with man?" It has been suggested by some of the participants in our discussion that the "Bible is its own best interpreter". If this is indeed true, and I firmly believe it is, then we must allow it to do so. When we do it is then possible to "rightly divide the scriptures" as Paul admonished the young preacher Timothy. (II Timothy 2:15)

So put on your search lights and see how the Bible answers these questions.
1. How many covenants were made by God with man?
2. When and with whom were they made?
3. What covenant is in force today?

As always give scriptural support for your answers. Happy searching.

The Sabbath - in Conclusion

It is my hope and prayer that you have found this study of the sabbath to be both interesting and informative. It certainly has been for me.

As promised I shall draw some conclusions from our search of the scriptural teaching on the sabbath. Our focus was on command to "keep the sabbath" and so we limited ourselves to the first five books of the Old Testament, the books of the law.

It is interesting to note that the first time the sabbath is mentioned is about the time the Israelites arrived at Mt. Sinai under the leadership of Moses. (Exodus 16:23) The last mention of the sabbath in the books of the law gives the clear reason for its institution. (Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.) One is forced then, by the scriptures, to understand that the sabbath was instituted to assist the Israelites in remembering their servitude in Egypt and their deliverance.

What we have learned.
1. According to the scriptures the sabbath observance began shortly after Israel's departure from Egypt.
2. Its purpose was to cause the Israelites to remember how God led them out of bondage in Egypt according to the scriptures.
3. The sabbath was part of the covenant made with the children of Israel living at the time of the exodus and after as the scriptures clearly state.
4. In order to keep the sabbath properly the Israelites were prohibited from doing certain things and required to make certain sacrifices according to the scriptures.
5. The weekly observance was to be on the seventh day of the week but not all sabbaths were on the seventh day of the week !

Please keep in mind, dear reader, that these observations are not my opinion but rather clear statements from the scriptures. Each of these has been noted in previous posts with the proper references noted.

If this is not what you have been taught then it might be good to reexamine the teaching you have received. If I am incorrect please, please show me how and where!

Meanwhile are there other things you think of that we should note from our study?

The Sabbath #4

Our discussion of the sabbath left off at the end of Numbers. In the next book, Deuteronomy, the sabbath is mentioned only 3 times. Remember that this book is a recapitulation of the Law. It was given to the people near the end of the life of Moses.

Deuteronomy 5 contains the only mentions of the sabbath. Here is the text for your convenience. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Jehovah thy God commanded thee. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. In this passage of scripture we learn three things about the sabbath.
1. Observance of the sabbath was commanded by God.
2. The sabbath was to be observed on the seventh day of the week.
3. This is to me the most interesting point. The sabbath observance was commanded for a remembrance of God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Notice again verse 15: And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

As we are now to the end of the books of the Law, the commands concerning the sabbath are finished. The remaining references to the sabbath in the Old Testament have to do with points of time, reminders of the commands, and what was actually done in keeping the sabbath.

In the next post I will draw some conclusions from this study of the sabbath. Meanwhile, what conclusions have you reached?

The Sabbath part 3

We have been looking at all the mentions of the sabbath in scriptures. As we left off we were near the end of Leviticus. It is there that we pick up our study.

In Leviticus 24:8 the sabbath is given as the time for an offering of bread. This offering was to be made every sabbath. Then in Leviticus 25:2, 4, 6 the term is used of the year of the sabbath. This was to happen every 7th year from the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. It was to be a time to give the land a rest.

Please keep in mind that we are looking only at the singular term sabbath. If you are looking in your concordance you may also find it used in the plural form. We are however limiting our study to the singular.

The next mention of the sabbath is found in Numbers 15:32 where a man was found gathering sticks on the sabbath day. Remember now that the command to observe the sabbath included the order;"thou shalt not do any work". This fellow in the above mentioned passage failed to properly observe the sabbath. The verses following tell us of the consequences, he was stoned to death.

God in His infinite wisdom gave instructions on how to properly observe the sabbath. To refresh our memories notice the following scriptures. Exodus 20:8-11 "thou shalt not do any work"; Exodus 31:15 "Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death."
Exodus 35:3 "Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day"; Leviticus 24:5-8 "And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth parts of an ephah shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before Jehovah. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto Jehovah. Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant". While this may not be a complete list of things that observing the sabbath entailed, it should be enough to demonstrate at least part of what God expects of those who would keep the sabbath according to the 10 commandments.

In Numbers 28:9-10 the sabbath is again mentioned. This time it specifies specific sacrifices required to observe the sabbath properly. Modern day sabbatarians would object saying that this was part of the "ceremonial law" and that law is no longer binding upon us.

Is it not reasonable to understand that God is specifying what He expects of those who keep the sabbath? Did not the Israelites need instruction on how to keep His commands? Does God give commands and then leave it up to us on how to observe them properly?

The Sabbath part 2

We left our study of the sabbath referencing Exodus 31:16-17 and noting the "perpetual covenant" with the children of Israel. The next mention is found in Exodus 35:2-3 where it is noted as a holy day, a sabbath of solemn rest unto God and no fire was to be kindled.

The sabbath is again mentioned in Leviticus 16:31 in connection with the day of atonement for Israel. It is here called a "statute for ever". Next mentioned in Leviticus 23:3 where it is called a sabbath of solemn rest, a sabbath of the lord. It was to be a day of holy convocation and no work. It is mentioned again in this same chapter in verses 11, 15, 16 but is simply a reference point for counting time.

Again in Leviticus 23:24 it is mentioned as a "memorial of blowing trumpets, a holy convocation" and also in verse 32 it is mentioned 2 times. Then in verse 36 it is again mentioned 2 times. These references in the latter part of the chapter are in connection with the day of atonement.

Please keep in mind that all these references are in the KJV. There is something peculiar about these references in Leviticus 16 and the latter part of chapter 23 which I have never heard modern day sabbatarians discuss. I am sure they have some explanation. The question then is "can you tell me what is peculiar about these references to the sabbath?