#3 (The
“Remember” Series)
“REMEMBER THE SABBATH!”
TEXT: Ex.
20:8-11; Gen. 1:31-2:3,15; Neh. 13:15-22 Isa. 58:13-14 Heb. 10:25
INTRO: Out of the
10 commandments the one taken the lightest has got to be #4: “Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Against “Thou shall not
kill, steal, lie, commit adultery, etc.” it seems to pale in
comparison – YET, this commandment is the longest of all 10, because it affected
Israel’s life on a daily basis – “6 days thou shall work, the 7th you shall
rest.” Thus it covered
every day of their lives! This
commandment was not just about 1 day a week, it was about 7
days.
This was probably the final commandment
on tablet #1 -- those dealing with man’s relationship to God, the final six
commandments dealt with man’s relationship to man -- and thus likely on tablet
#2.
Ironically, nearly every time
The importance of this
commandment deals with the very nature of man.
Man was created for two things; WORSHIP &
WORK. No man is balanced
physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually that ignores this dual nature.
For you to be healthy and balanced
these two areas must exist in proper order. Together these make us strong and durable
and fulfill our God created design.
A failure of either and we are not what God intended us to
be.
ILLUS: FOLLOWING
THE DESTRUCTION OF HURRICANE ANDREW A TV CREW CAME UPON A HOUSE IN PERFECT SHAPE
SURROUNDED BY BROKEN HOMES ALL AROUND IT.
THEY STOPPED TO INTERVIEW THE OWNER AS TO WHY HIS HOUSE WAS STILL
STANDING AND THE OTHERS WEREN’T AND THIS WAS HIS STORY. THE MAN STATED THAT HE HAD BUILT THE
HOUSE HIMSELF AND UNLIKE THE OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HE HAD BUILT IT EXACTLY
TO THE BUILDING CODES OF FLORIDA, ONES CREATED TO GUARANTEE A HOUSE THAT COULD
WITHSTAND A HURRICANE. HIS
NEIGHBORS HAD THEIRS ALL BUILT BY CONTRACTORS WHO DECIDED TO SAVE MONEY BY
SKIPPING SOME OF THE CODES THAT THEY CONSIDERED OVER-KILL FOR
This commandment really has 2 parts to
it:
1. “6 days shalt
thou labor and do all your work…”
2. “…the
7th day is a Sabbath and is to be kept
holy.”
3. In this way you will notice that
this commandment really covers the entire week, and not just a single
day.
We cannot practice either one without
the other and be in good balance!
PROP SENT: This commandment that we are called upon
to remember will bring great joy and balance in the life of those who keep it.
A violation of either part of this
commandment will bring ruin to the spirit and life of those who ignore either
the WORK or WORSHIP side of this commandment!
I. MAN THE WORKER Ex. 20:9; Gen. 1:31;
A. Divine
Responsibilities Gen.
2:15; Ex.
20:9
1. God’s plan for man has always
included work, even before the fall in the Garden of
Eden!
2. God put Adam in the garden to
work it, even before sin entered the picture of
humanity!
3. Work is an inherent part of our
humanity and is very much a part of the foundation of human dignity, this is
what our present welfare system misses!
4. It is man’s nature to work!
Laziness and low self-esteem await those who
don’t work!
a. Notice the unique dynamics of
the welfare system of the Old Testament: the poor in
b. This way provision for the poor was
available but it was also work for them, this gave them the dignity of doing
something toward the help they received – thus work!
c. For the really incapacitated,
friends of the family would help by gleaning the edges for them, such as Ruth
did for her aged Mother-in-law who couldn’t – so there was help for those who
really could not work.
d. Even in the New Testament Paul
wrote the Thessalonians and told those in the church who had quit their jobs to
await the return of Jesus thinking it would happen soon, “... keep away
from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you
received from us … we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to
any of you … in order to be a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you we gave
you this rule: ‘if a man with not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle …
such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn
the bread they eat.” II Thess.
3:6-12
5. Spirituality includes work if we
are capable of it!!!
ILLUS: SOME PEOPLE
HAVE CRAZY IDEAS OF BEING SPIRITUAL … “JUST LET GOD DO IT” MENTALITY. LIKE THE FARMER WHO WAS SITTING ON HIS
PORCH WHEN A STRANGER HAPPENED BY AND ASKED HIM, “HOW’S THINGS?” THE FARMER
REPLIED, “TOLERABLE” … AND THEN HE CONTINUED, “2 WEEKS AGO A TORNADO CAME ALONG
AND KNOCKED DOWN ALL THE TREES I WOULD HAVE HAD TO CHOP DOWN FOR THIS YEAR’S
WINTER FIREWOOD. THEN LAST WEEK
LIGHTNING STRUCK THE BRUSH I HAD PLANNED TO BURN TO CLEAR THE FIELDS FOR
PLANTING.” THE STRANGER RESPONDED,
“THAT’S REMARKABLE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?” THE FARMER ANSWERED, “I’M WAITING
FOR AN EARTHQUAKE TO COME ALONG AND SHAKE THE POTATOES OUT OF THE
GROUND!” – SOURCE UNKNOWN
B. Divine
Reasons Gen.
1:31
1. Notice how God felt after doing all
His work of creation ... “God saw all that He had made and it was very
good.”
a. God felt GOOD about His
work!
b. A job well done even though hard
makes us feel good; we were made in God’s image!
c. Work builds self-esteem, work
never hurt anyone!
2. God knows it is also our nature to
work, just like it is His nature to create and work we are made in His image,
can you imagine a lazy God?
3. It also brings benefits or
blessings that are tangible, in our case the money to purchase life’s
necessities and more as well as gaining self-esteem and
dignity!
a. Like gardening, it is hard
work, so why does anyone ever do it? -- Because of the rewards that come
later!
b. Work renews us in every way: body,
mind, and spirit!
4. Work thus keeps us in shape;
physically, mentally, and yes ... SPIRITUALLY!
a. There are many proverbs in
the book of Proverbs that condemn laziness and speak of the evil things that
come to those who are lazy!
b. Work was NOT a punishment for
sin – it was part of our humanity before sin, it keeps us engaged to help
ourselves and others!
5. Work also takes the focus off of
us, we work not just for ourselves but with and for
others.
C. Discipline & Reward Neh.
13:15-22
1. Our fallen nature distorts God’s
created nature for work in one of two ways:
a. Either toward
laziness!
b. Or overwork! Herein was part of the purpose behind
this 4th commandment:
(1. “6 days shall
thou do all your work!”
This fights against laziness and overwork! Studies have proven that those who
work 7 days a week are not as productive as those who work
less!
(2. The Sabbath was not made for God, it was
made for us!!
2. Work requires discipline, we don’t
just go to work when we feel like it, could you imagine an economy run this
way?
3. The same dynamics that make us good
workers make us good worshippers; it doesn’t just happen, it requires our input
and discipline!
4. There are rewards to those who work
just as there are rewards to those who obey the Sabbath principle and
worship!
5. Nehemiah was stuck with the job of
reigning in the abuse of the Sabbath, Israel like Americans loved prosperity and
so quickly overworked and ignored the Sabbath, it became just another day
to make a buck! Neh. 13:15-22
a. You have to love a Pastor
like Nehemiah, he simply orders the doors to town closed and finally proves he
means business – when the merchants realized Nehemiah wasn’t ruled by the buck
but by the Word of God they gave up trying to abuse the
Sabbath!
b. Besides this, if Nehemiah
(1. It says he called down curses on them and
pulled out some of the men’s hair!!
Then he made them swear an oath!
(2. His predecessor Ezra had also gotten
worked up (Ezra 9:3-4), but Ezra had pulled
out his own hair, Nehemiah’s system seemed to work better on the people and it
was less painful on him as the pastor – he simply pulled out their hair instead
of his own!
c.
6. Nehemiah understood that God’s
blessings would not come to Israel if they broke God’s Word, so this was not
just a personal thing with him, he was calling them to be disciplined so they
might receive the rewards of faithfulness which are considerable with
God!
a. They wanted God’s blessings
but without obeying the Sabbath principle!
b. This still describes many
Christians today, they want God to bless them and prosper them but without
tithing or obeying God’s Word!
c. There is no easy way to get
an easy thing!
ILLUS: LIKE THE
POEM SAYS, “IF YOU DON’T WANT TO WORK …
YOU HAVE TO WORK TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY SO THAT YOU WON’T HAVE TO
WORK.” -- by humorist
II. MAN THE WORSHIPPER Ex. 20:8,10-11; Isa
58:13-14; Gen. 2:1-3; Heb.
10:25
A. Divine
Relationship Ex. 20:8
Isa.
58:13-14
1. As much as man was created to be a
worker he also was created to be a worshiper!
a. Avoiding either dynamic
destroys the human design!
b. This 4th commandment
thus has 2 parts to it: WORK & WORSHIP!
2. It is clear that God made the
Sabbath so we could have fellowship with Him!
3. God did not make man just to work,
He also desired us to fellowship with Him, something only man was made to do out
of all creation. The rest of
creation may work but they cannot worship! Therefore animals know no Sabbath, they
work 7 days a week, but not man!
4. When God blessed Israel in the
wilderness with food He provided double portions the day before the Sabbath so
they wouldn’t have to work on the Sabbath, God’s blessings won’t make us
desecrate the Sabbath!!!
5. Work alone will never bring
fulfillment, workaholics are never satisfied! Worship can bring joy and fulfillment
however. Isa. 58:13-14
a. God specifies this in this
passage; we can find JOY IN THE LORD if we don’t violate the Sabbath
principle!
b. They would also “ride on the
heights of the land, and to feast on the inheritance of their
forefathers.”
6. Fellowship with God builds us up,
it does not tear us down, thus it makes us more fit for work if we have first
worshipped each week!
a. Remember, the Sabbath was man’s first day of the week, thus Adam’s first full day alive
started with fellowship with God; this made him fit to work the rest of the
week.
b. Man was created the end of day 6,
so while the Sabbath was God’s 7th day of creation it was man’s
1st day of existence, thus man starts his existence with the Sabbath
rest in God – worship then work.
c. WORSHIP prepares us to be good
WORKERS!!
7. The Lord desires our fellowship and
we need His desperately!
a. Having to take account of our
spirit each week before almighty God helps keep us balanced at work and gives us
a place to practice our spirituality.
b. It also makes every man and woman
equal each week, everyone in
c. The fellowship with God would
also build up the body of Christ, it will keep us HOT!
ILLUS: LIKE THE
PASTOR WHO WENT TO VISIT A PARISHIONER WHO HADN’T BEEN IN CHURCH FOR A LONG
TIME, THE MAN DIDN’T THINK IT MADE ANY DIFFERENCE IN HIM. THE PASTOR ARRIVED IN THE PLAIN MOUNTAIN
CABIN ON A COOL EVENING; THE MAN INVITED HIM INTO THE LIVING ROOM WHERE A
BLAZING FIRE KEPT THE ROOM WARM. WITHOUT SAYING A WORD THE PASTOR SIMPLY
GOT UP AND TOOK A HOT COAL FROM THE FIRE AND PLACED IT ALONE ON THE SIDE OF THE
FIREPLACE … SOON THE COAL WENT COLD AND BLACK, THE FIRE OUT. THEN AS THE MAN WATCHED THE PASTOR, THE
PASTOR TOOK THE COAL AGAIN AND PUT IT BACK INTO THE FIREPLACE NEXT TO ANOTHER
HOT COAL AND IMMEDIATELY IT BUST INTO FLAME AGAIN. WITHOUT A SINGLE WORD SPOKEN THE MAN GOT
THE MESSAGE AND SIMPLY SAID, “PASTOR I‘LL SEE YOU IN CHURCH NEXT WEEK, THANKS
FOR YOUR SERMON ON THE COAL” … AND THE PASTOR LEFT! – SOURCE UNKNOWN
8. God did not make us to be robots,
He wants us to have fellowship, a relationship with Him as well as with each
other!
a. The Sabbath gives us that
opportunity on a regular basis.
b. This 4th commandment was
the longest of them all – because it was so regular and daily, it had the most
impact on
c. Many of the other feasts were
annual events, only this one was weekly!
d. Its impact would be powerful if
obeyed and powerfully negative if ignored!
9. It is not a legalistic thing, it is
a loving thing, fellowship with God!! GOD WANTS TO
BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU!
a. And He is better than
AT&T or MCI’s “friends and family
program” ... all calls long distance or otherwise are all FREE!!!!, no
special times, it is all the time!
b. The Sabbath is not a negative
thing, it is a positive thing.
B. Dynamic
Rest Ex.
20:10-11; Heb.
1. God’s point in all this was for man
to enjoy a “REST.”
a. This rest was not just
physical in nature; it meant refreshing his entire
being!
b. It also allowed for Israel and
Israelites to be able to rest as a society, for once each week they were all
equal in God’s eyes and each others, they were all
worshippers!
c. Notice in the 4th
commandment it records carefully how ALL
2. NO MAN-MADE system has ever
recreated this equality, communism said it in principle but we know the results
of 80 years of practice without worship and only work – it
failed!
3. This is the beauty of the church,
we can all be in different strata in society but here we are all BROTHERS AND
SISTERS IN CHRIST!
a. Society would enjoy the rest
as well as the individuals.
b. This would teach
4. Even nature experienced renewal as
man did not use his beasts of burden on the Sabbath, and the ground could
recover as well! (The point behind
the special Sabbaths as well such as the “Sabbath year” ... and the “year of
Jubilee”)
5. The idea of “REST” is also found in
Gen. 2:1-3.
a. “God blessed the
7th day and rested from all His labors and made it holy because on it
He rested...”
b. Interestingly enough in Gen. 2 concerning the 7th day it never says, “and the evening
and the morning were the 7th day” following the Sabbath day’s
creation by God ... the only day where this phrase is missing ... the
point – no end to the Sabbath rest!
c. This “rest” was meant to be
eternal, thus no end to the 7th day, sin brought a loss of this but
even now if you read HEB. 4 you discover that
God through Christ has made possible for us to enter that rest again,
forever!
d. For Christians every day is a
Sabbath in principle, without end, even though it is still important to express
it weekly.
6. The Sabbath renews us PHYSICALLY,
MENTALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY ... WHAT A WONDERFUL REST! It gives us the chance to hear God by
becoming still and quiet and resting in Christ’s work to save
us!
ILLUS: BEFORE
REFRIGERATION THERE WERE HUGE ICE HOUSES. THEY HAD THICK WALLS AND WERE FILLED WITH
SAWDUST FOR INSULATION FOR THE GREAT BLOCKS OF ICE THAT WOULD BE KEPT THROUGH
THE SUMMER MONTHS. ONE DAY A MAN LOST HIS WATCH, A VALUABLE ONE INSIDE ONE OF
THESE ICEHOUSES, AND TRY AS THEY MIGHT THEY COULD NOT FIND IT AMONG ALL THE
SAWDUST AND ICE. FINALLY A SMALL
BOY ASKED TO TRY, BUT HE WANTED EVERYONE TO LEAVE AND THE THICK DOOR CLOSED!
SOON THE BOY EMERGED WITH THE WATCH
TO THE SURPRISE OF ALL THE ADULTS. WHEN ASKED HOW HE DID IT HE SAID, “I JUST
SAT PERFECTLY STILL AND QUIET AND SOON I COULD HEAR THE TICKING, THEN I JUST
FOLLOWED THE SOUND AND THERE IT WAS ... YOU JUST HAD TO STOP AND BE STILL TO
HEAR THE SOUND! – SOURCE UNKNOWN
7. This is what the Sabbath does for
us ... it allows us the chance to be still and know that He is
God!
8. It is in this sense that we hurt
ourselves so severely when we ignore God’s Sabbath call ... for it was created
for man!
HOW TRULY RESTED ARE
YOU?
conclusion: The Sabbath was God’s
7th day, but man’s 1st, we therefore begin with worship
and then enter the rest of the week with work. This is God’s created balance for
mankind. The “rest” of the Sabbath
was not just about doing nothing, it was about worshipping God! You never fully enter the Sabbath rest if
you don’t also worship! Out of the
10 commandments this one was the longest because its impact is both daily and
weekly and thus affects us frequently. Usually