THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT: “REST!”

(Exodus 20:8-11)

...It seems that whatever man touches usually gets messed up, ruined, or _destroyed_. God gives such wonderful

   and beautiful _gifts__ such as the creation, _marriage__ and _salvation_...and we mess them up.

...The 4th commandment is another great example of this! God gave it to Israel to be a blessing. By Jesus time it

   had become an enormous _burden_ to the people.

            -No burden, bigger than a dried _fig__ could be carried.

            -No false __teeth___ could be worn on Sabbath, might fall out.

            -No travel further than 1000 yards.

            -No labor, women were forbidden to look into a _mirror__, she might discover a white hair.

            -No spitting on soil, you could on rock. Legalism had all but murdered God’s gift of the Sabbath.

...Let’s uncover the Sabbath for what it was and see how it relates to the Christian’s radically new _Lord’s__

   __Day__.

THREE QUESTIONS HELPING US TO SEE THAT

THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR ISRAEL’S BENEFIT.

I.    WHAT IS THE SABBATH?

            A. This 4th commandment unfolds something brand __new__. (v 8)

                        1. The word “Sabbath” means __rest___.

                        2. Israel was told to copy God’s _pattern__ during the creation week. (Genesis 2:2-3)

                            “On the 7th day God rested.”

                        3. Search the scriptures and you will _not__ find the Sabbath command before this.

                                    a. This involves the time from _Adam__ to Noah, and from Noah through

                                        Abraham to Moses.

                                    b. Thousands of years without it.

            B. In a word, the essence of this Sabbath command required Israel to rest, both physically and spiritually.

                        1. It reminded them that man was made for more than __work___.

                        2. It was also a time for them to _remember__ that God had redeemed them from Egypt where they could not rest because they were slaves. (Deut. 5:15) They were told focus upon the Lord.

            C. This commandment was unique in that it was given as “A _sign__ between God and Israel.”

                 (Exodus 31:13)  Rest!

            D. The Sabbath was built on the creation - rhythm.

II.    ARE WE OBLIGATED TO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY TODAY?

            A. _Jesus___ never broke the Sabbath. (Mark 2:23-28)

                ...Rather He came to “fulfill the law.” (Matt. 5:17)

            B. Jesus, by His resurrection on Sunday, superseded the Sabbath commandment by _establishing__

                something brand new, the Lord’s day.

            C. The early church gathered weekly on the Lord’s day for _worship__. (Acts 20:7, I Cor. 16:2)

                        1. Whereas the Sabbath was for rest, the Lord’s day was for _worship__.

                        2. THE DIDACHE  “Come together on the Lord’s Day.”

                        3. In the early church, worship and _work__ went together.

            D. Note: 9 of the 10 commandments are restated in the N.T., with the absence of the 4th.

            E. Paul included the Sabbath in the ceremonial part of the law that foreshadowed Christ, and

                _passed__  __away___ with His resurrection. (Col. 2:16-17)

            F. Calvin: “The Sabbath day for the Jews was set aside.”

                ...For him, Sunday was __not___ a simple continuation of the Jewish Sabbath. Rather, it was a

                   distinctively Christian institution.  Jesus is our Sabbath!

            G. Therefore, we are __not___ obligated to keep the Sabbath today.

III.   HOW SHOULD WE VIEW THE LORD’S DAY?

         ...For the Lord’s day is ___not___ the Sabbath.

            A. We are _commanded__ to gather every week with God’s people. (Heb. 10:25)  Worship!!

            B. As Christians, _rest__ (cessation from labor), while it is not demanded, is a good thing for us.

                 We ought to submit our lives to the creation-rhythm.

            C. _Prepare__ on Saturday for a more meaningful Lord’s day.

            D. Use the day to reconnect with loved ones and friends. Take walks, play, read...