Sabbath and Balance from Deuteronomy

Yesterday, I began a discussion on the Sabbath as a means of maintaining balance.  I shared the story of a fellow pastor who dismissed the need for a "day off" as Western.  His message was to "press on" like Paul.

As I shared, I found this conversation troubling for a number of reasons.  Today I wish to speak to the hermeneutical, or interpretative issue with the pastor's comments.  

I often hear people who claim that they could not find a word in the bible, therefore it must not be a biblical concept.  These folks have been taught that the way to discover what the bible says about a topic is to do a word search.  I must confess that I have found word searches helpful.  Yet, this is not the best and only means of understanding scripture!  

When it comes to proper interpretation, Context is King.  Word searches should get us to read the context of each passage.  People who use one verse proof texts from scripture can and easily do make the bible say whatever they want it to say.  This is dangerous and deadly!  

The Word of God is not a magic book which we look to for easy answers.  It is not the spiritual version of the child's game "Magic 8 Ball", which we flip through with the hope of finding something.  It is the revealed "will" of God.  If we wish to understand someone's will or desires, it takes time to hear them properly.  It takes knowledge of the person, knowledge of the context of what they are talking about, and knowledge of how to apply their desires.  The same goes for the will of God!

When discussing the need for balance and rest, scripture is clear that we humans need to rest from our labors weekly.  Why?  Because this is how we were created!  Thus, Jesus' affirmation, "The Sabbath was made for Man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27)  I believe Paul, for all this work to build the Kingdom, would have understood this well!  The context of scripture demands such an interpretation.  Why?  Weekly rest is affirmed throughout the Old Testament as well as the New.

Yesterday we looked at the Ten Commandments as they are written in Exodus 20.  Interestingly, the only commandment that is given a rationale is the keeping of the Sabbath.  Obviously, this command is one that is hard to keep, and has been hard to keep!  In Exodus, Moses writes that we should keep the Sabbath because God rested on the seventh day after creating all things in six.  In Deuteronomy 5, the Ten Commandments are stated again.  Notice, this commandment's rationale is different.

Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work, ...  You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Deuteronomy 5: 12-15

Why would a different rationale be given here?  I think it is the same point, but it comes from a different perspective.  It could be argued that God can create in six days, but I am not God.  I need to labor to complete all my work constantly because I am so weak and human.

I have heard this perspective many times.  I would say from the context of the bible, such talk is false humility.  It reveals our lack of faith in God to provide and complete our work.  Why?

In Deuteronomy, Moses gives us the rationale of God's incredible provision for Israel in rescuing them from slavery.  These people had nothing.  They had to labor as slaves constantly.  They had no military and no power.  They were under the thumb of the greatest military power in the world.  In other words, they could not bring rescue, they could not provide for themselves, and they could not finish their tasks.

So what happened?  God miraculously rescued them, provided for them, and finished the call of bringing them back to the promised land.  If He can do that with such helpless people, could He provide for you?  Could He provide for me?  Could He establish the work of our hands (Moses' prayer in Ps. 90:17)?

Of course God can provide.  In fact, He can provide in six days what those who do not know Him are able to secure in seven.  He could provide more!  

When through constant labor we deny the promise of provision given in the command to keep the Sabbath , we affirm that we don't believe God is God.

This idea is maintained throughout the Old Testament.  In fact, the Sabbath is mentioned 74 times in the OT, with the vast majority of the usages reminders for people to keep the Sabbath because they are breaking it!  (Notice a word study must look at context!)  Paul knew this context.  Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to nullify it (Matt. 5:17).  We were created to enjoy the Sabbath.  We need it.

How do we apply this teaching?  If you do not keep a Sabbath, repent and begin to use it to renew your relationship with God.  Make the Sabbath a regular time of refreshment!  Also, ask God why you do not keep the Sabbath.  What issues keep you from resting in His presence?  Is it control?  Fear?  Doubt?  Pride?  Ask the Spirit to lead you into deeper repentance and faith!

Most importantly, if you wish to live a healthy life, make the worship and enjoyment of God central to your weekly schedule!  We need the weekly reminder that God is God, I am not God, and His mercy and grace are constantly there for us.