God Recognizes Man’s Need for Both Spiritual and Physical Renewal.

Thus, Spiritual Nourishment and Physical Rest Are Essential.

Without Worship, Man’s Spirit Dries Up; and Without Rest, Man’s Body Breaks Down. 

Hypocrites Must Know the Importance of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.

They must not break the Sabbath by doing as they please. Instead, they must keep the day holy by setting it apart as a day of worship and rest (Ex. 20:8–11). The Sabbath was intended to be a day when people took delight in the Lord, honoring His Name and His law (Holy Word). The purpose of the Sabbath was not to do one’s own thing but to worship and honor the Lord. No business transactions were to take place on the Sabbath. People were not even to engage in idle, useless talk. The focus was to be upon the Lord and His Word. Three wonderful promises were given to those who kept the Sabbath day holy:

Ø  They would be filled with the joy of the Lord.

Ø  They would ride or be victorious over the high places or enemies of the earth and receive great honor from the Lord.

Ø  They would receive a full share of the inheritance promised to Jacob, the promised land itself (a symbol of heaven). 

The Importance of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

¹³If you keep the Sabbath holy, not having your own fun and business on that day, but enjoying the Sabbath, speaking of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day, and honoring the Lord in what you do, not following your own desires and pleasure nor talking idly—¹⁴then the Lord will be your delight, and I will see to it that you ride high and get your full share of the blessings I promised to Jacob, your father. The Lord has spoken.^[1] (Isaiah 58:13–14) 

Keeping The Lord’s Day Is the Clear Commandment of God.

God recognizes man’s need for both spiritual and physical renewal. Thus, spiritual nourishment and physical rest are essential. Without worship, man’s spirit dries up; and without rest, man’s body breaks down. Listen to what God’s Holy Word says about being faithful in weekly worship with other believers.

V  “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read” (Lu. 4:16).

V  “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Ac. 20:7).

V  “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given an order to the churches of Galatia, even so, do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Co. 16:1–2).

V  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (He. 10:25).

V  “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it” (Ex. 20:8–11).^[2] 

Prayer For Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Father God, we thank you that you have modeled for us how we should live our lives. We see in you that taking time to rest is a good thing. Rest not only allows us to physically recover from the work of our hands but also allows our minds to rest from mentally taxing tasks. Unfortunately, our world Lord has so many distractions that detour us from following you that we barely take time to rest. We acknowledge, Lord, that you command us to rest for our own good, but for our spiritual health to rest and focus our attention on you is better. A blessing from you, Lord, when we do take time to rest as you command that our family can come together and refocus our minds and hearts on each other, reminding ourselves that we need to be of help to each other, we need to bless each other serving one another as you serve us.

Father God, your Word says that if we keep the Sabbath holy, not doing our own thing but focusing on you, and resting in you, then you will bless us. Father God, the blessing of rest is often more than enough. But the spiritual blessing is what we need. Help us, Lord, to take the time to intentionally give our attention to you on the day you have set aside to rest in you. We praise you, Lord, for your care for us and the model of how we should live our lives as revealed in the life of Christ. Father God, we ask that your hand of providential care continues to watch and care for us; in Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.   

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 God Recognizes Man’s Need for Both Spiritual and Physical Renewal. 

Thus, Spiritual Nourishment and Physical Rest Are Essential.

Without Worship, Man’s Spirit Dries Up; and Without Rest, Man’s Body Breaks Down.

^[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible, Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

^[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.