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?
Why Does It Matter?
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He remembers what the squall was, but his mom and dad never even had a
clue. Not even when the event took place. There is nothing quite like the
experience...
4 years ago
4 comments:
Josiah,
Another question also comes to mind as I have read through all of these posts. If, as Author stated, the Sabbath was a universal principal for all mankind, why was it instituted as an everlasting covenant to only the Israelites? Second, if believers today are the New Israel, would it be wrong to assume there would be also a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-36)? The majority of believers, it is safe to conclude, are not of the Jewish race therefore we would not be eligible for the benefits of the Law. This then would mean that a new covenant would have to be entered into in order for us to be called the "New Israel" seeing as the old covenant makes no provision for our inclusion (See Hebrews 6-10). Would not Colossians 2:16-23 be applicable to this study?
Josiah, That is a good observation by Christian. There are so many scriptures that tell us the 'old law' was done away, nailed to the cross, and that Christ was an instigator of a 'new law', built upon 'better promises'. Why do folks want to return to a 'law of death'. I have wondered what the difference between author and the Judaizing teachers that Paul and the early church fought so hard against is?
Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
Act 15:29 that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. 25) But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.
It seems that the more things change the more they stay the same. Deboraw
P.S. The second reference should have been: Act 21:25 But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.
Deboraw
Thank you Christian and Deboraw for your very astute comments. As has been pointed out several times in these pages there is now a new covenant in effect as predicted by Jeremiah.
Yes Colossians 2:16-23 would and does apply.
Perhaps "Author" will rejoin our discussion and shed some sabbatarian light upon these things.
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