The most common idea of Sabbath is setting aside a day for God, to worship Him, and to learn from His Word.
I recall reading one of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and how the children dreaded Sundays because they were not allowed to play or do anything fun, because it was Sabbath.
But what if we have the idea backwards?
What if it isn’t the Sabbath that leads us to worship God, but our worship of God that brings us Sabbath rest?
Here’s what I mean:
In 2 Kings 23, we read about how King Josiah cleansed Judah of the altars and high places they had made in worship of Ba’al and other gods.
The phrase in verses 5 and 11, “Then he removed” is “shabat”.
But what is more interesting is that it is only used when he removed the idolatrous priests and the horses that were dedicated to the sun.
Another Hebrew word was used for the removal of the altars and high places.
In other words, he “shabbated” only the living things that were dedicated to serving and worshiping other gods.
The rampant idolatry that spread gross immorality all over the land of Judah was stealing the rest God wanted to bring to their souls and spirits.
There is a rest that can only be found in worshiping God and God alone.
We were created to worship God, and no other. We were created to live in harmony with God’s commands and His ways.
When we entertain sin
When we fail to put God first in our lives
When we think that God will simply excuse our failures
When we give ourselves to those things that nailed Christ on the cross
We go against the nature He created us with.
Our nature of rest.
Because sin goes against our nature, it brings friction in our lives.
That friction brings unrest and kills the Sabbath blessing God has for us.
We were created to worship God.
The etymology of the word worship is “worth-ship”, giving worth and value to the object of our worship.
When we exalt God, when we give Him the highest value in our lives, when we make Him and His Word the very core of who we are, what we do, and how we live…
This is worship!
And this level of worship brings rest, because it is in harmony with our true nature.
Worship removes idolatry
It removes the friction in our lives
It brings rest for our souls
It brings all of the blessings of the Sabbath rest that we are promised.
You see, Sabbath isn’t about setting aside a day to worship.
Our daily worship and honoring of God is what brings Sabbath rest to our lives.
Yes, we should still set aside a day in honor of God, because God Himself gave us that example in creation.
But, Sabbath rest goes far beyond that.
Sabbath rest is about a lifestyle of honoring God, not just a day.
God wants all of us.
He wants us to honor Him 24/7, as a lifestyle of worship and honor that brings Sabbath not only on Sunday, but each and every day of our lives.
Amen! Yes, we were made for worship... in joy. Not a restrictive or punishing way. I think 'man' put often unnecessary rules, where God meant freedom.
Yes! I love this and feel this 🙏🏻