IN FAITH
REFLECTIONS ON SABBATH REST
Years ago, back in the early 1960’s there were laws called “blue laws.” Those of us who are old enough to remember those days, recall that because these laws were in place, places of business were not open on Sundays.
Looking back on those days in the early 1960’s and before probably seems like “ancient history” to some, especially to those who never lived in a time when there was an “official” Sabbath, enforced by law.
Why is a Sabbath important? Well, from a religious point of view, its simply scriptural! God tells us in the book of Genesis, that we are to observe a Sabbath. Let’s take a quick look at the Bible and learn about why God gave us the Sabbath: 1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God finished his work, which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. 3So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation. Genesis 2:1 through Genesis 2:3 (RSV)
Text from Genesis tells us that after God had created the universe, God rested on the seventh day. Did God rest because God was tired? No. There were other reasons. Throughout the entire creation story, we hear over and over again that after God created something, Genesis tells us: …and God saw that it was good. In other words, God “stepped back,” and savored His creation, and appreciated it. And we also learn from this story, that everything that God created was good. And that includes you and me, dear reader. (We will not consider “sin” and “redemption” in this piece).
The Ten Commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy tell us that we are to observe a Sabbath. And, there is a story in Mark’s gospel in Chapter 6, verses 31 and 32 that Jesus and his disciples were so busy one day, that Jesus took his students and friends to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, so that they could have a “mini-Sabbath” and regain their strength.
31And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. Mark 6:31 through Mark 6:32 (RSV)
Now, where does all of this teaching about the Sabbath become practical? Well, first of all, many people today, do not realize that human beings were created to be in communion with God, and that human beings are not simply “flesh and blood.” We are spiritual beings as well. God commands us to observe a Sabbath, because human beings need to be in communion with their God, in whom they live and move and have their being. Secondly, if we are out of harmony with God, and do not rest in God, our spirits are depleted. And that can have disastrous consequences. We can forget our spiritual identity as God’s children, and wander into lifestyles and habits that are self destructive, and destructive to others.
And, I don’t know about you, but this Christian, can grow short tempered when he is overly tired, and when he doesn’t observe Sabbath “rest” time. Recently I was at a prayer seminar led by Dr. Terry Tekyl. Terry has written a book entitled, “How To Pray After You’ve Kicked Your Dog.” None of us wants to kick our dogs, our spouses, or our children. But, when the frustrations of daily living build up over a long period of time, we may displace our anger on to those whom we love the most. (And they often say things like, “What did I do?” after such outbursts from us.)
We live in times when the companies, which employ many of us, have downsized, and expect their employees to do the work of several other employees in addition to their own work, in order for the companies to be “cost effective.” But, this has disastrous consequences for the remaining workers, who are dead tired and discouraged after hostile corporate “takeovers.” They become dispirited, discouraged, and lose their sense of loyalty to the companies for which they work, because the companies no longer are loyal to their workers, and do not appreciate them, but simply treat them as a means to an end, which is “the bottom line,” or more money for the company and CEO and stockholders (which is really about idolatry, and the love of money-another sermon topic).
So, this pastor would invite you to make sure that you do not over-program yourself, and that you take time for worship, for rest, for play, and that you “replenish your soul,” so that you will remain whole and in communion with God and so that as you relate to your family, you won’t dump frustrations and anger on those whom you love the most.
So, do like Jesus did: Go to worship and get your batteries recharged. Spend time alone with God, get in the fishing boat and go to the other side of the lake, and put the job down. Take up an exercise program. The job will be there when you return.
Nobody wants to have these words on their tombstone: “I wish I’d worked harder.” And, the real reason why God gave us the Sabbath was so that we could “get a life.”
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