RENEWING THE HEBREW FOUNDATIONS OF THE SABBATHBY DWIGHT A. PRYORThe Siddur liturgy succinctly summarizes only the seventh day is “hallowed.” With the Sabbath,time itself becomes sanctified, and the re-the treasured place <strong>of</strong> the Sabbath inJewish tradition with these words: “Last sulting redemptive rhythm pervades andin creation, first in intention.” punctuates the whole <strong>of</strong> Jewish life.<strong>Shabbat</strong> is the crown <strong>of</strong> creation and the first The Sabbath principle is implicit in creation,thing made holy by the Creator. “Then God but made an explicit precept commanded <strong>of</strong> Israelin the Sinaitic covenant. Both aspects, creationblessed the seventh day and sanctified it . . .” (Genesis2:3). The six days <strong>of</strong> creation are “good” but and redemption, are alluded to in the Ten Words:“Remember” (zachor) the Sabbath in view <strong>of</strong> thecreation (Exodus 20:8). “Observe” (shamor) theSabbath in light <strong>of</strong> the Exodus (Deuteronomy5:12). In either case the seventh day is to be sanctifiedunto the Lord.Whether we operate under the Mosaic covenantenjoined at Sinai or the New Covenant inYeshua’s blood effected at Calvary, <strong>Shabbat</strong> teachesus much about the Lord <strong>of</strong> the Sabbath, His intentin creation, and our place in His world. Apartfrom the legal precept obligatory upon Israel, theSabbath is a creation principle relevant to everyonewho calls on the name <strong>of</strong> the Lord.Consider the wisdom and power <strong>of</strong> the Sabbathto expand our perspective and enhance ourrelationship with the Holy One <strong>of</strong> Israel. 11. The Sabbath is a testimony to the wonders <strong>of</strong> thecreation and the greatness <strong>of</strong> the Creator.The world as created by God is wondrousand good. The Sabbath reminds us <strong>of</strong> this. Natureis not to be worshipped, but it should becelebrated as God’s handiwork. Consecrating theSabbath confirms the biblical account <strong>of</strong> the creationand acknowledges the ethical implications<strong>of</strong> it. The world is the intentional act <strong>of</strong> AdonaiElohim–to whom we are responsible and beforewhom we shall all give a reckoning one day. The16 RESTORE!
moral mandates <strong>of</strong> ethical monotheism, centralboth to Judaism and to Christianity, hang on theessential truth <strong>of</strong> the Genesis account <strong>of</strong> creation,concluding with the Sabbath.2. The Sabbath is the telos or end <strong>of</strong> creation in twosenses, both as its “finish” and as its “goal.”In six days, God created the heavens and theearth. On the seventh day, the good became hallowed.The Sabbath completed and culminatedGod’s work <strong>of</strong> creating and pointed to the goal<strong>of</strong> it.In the Bible the world is good but not intrinsicallyholy. Only God, in partnership with manmade in his image, can sanctify it. The Sabbath,by God’s act and by man’s acknowledgment, hallowsthe creation. Sanctifying the seventh day fashionsthe world <strong>of</strong> man into a habitation suitablefor the Divine dwelling.On <strong>Shabbat</strong>, man and his Maker dwell in yachad,unity, in a special way. Mutually, they create a <strong>Shabbat</strong>kodesh, a Sabbath <strong>of</strong> holiness. This union <strong>of</strong>intimate covenantal partnership is the goal and thepassion <strong>of</strong> the Holy One who created man. EverySabbath kept, every seventh day hallowed,points to the eventual destiny <strong>of</strong> the creation itself.The finite world shall become the dwelling<strong>of</strong> the infinite God, the abode <strong>of</strong> His glory. Andin that Day, the whole earth shall experience<strong>Shabbat</strong> shalom.3. To sanctify the Sabbath is to set the day apartfrom all that is common, ordinary, or pr<strong>of</strong>ane.It is not that ‘earthy’ things are evil. God createdthe earth and deemed it “tov” or good. Thatis why we give him thanks for the good things <strong>of</strong>the earth, like bread and wine. But in the midst <strong>of</strong>our labors in the earth we are to create a sanctuaryin time for the things <strong>of</strong> the Spirit. We are toset aside every seventh day unto the Lord and tothe things <strong>of</strong> the Lord.The root Hebrew word for “holy,” kadash,means to mark <strong>of</strong>f, set apart, or make distinct.Holiness adheres intrinsically only in God. He is“kadosh, kadosh, kadosh” (Isaiah 6.3) by his verynature. All else becomes holy only when set apartunto him and his service. His holiness can be manifestin space, time, and people. To “hallow” theSabbath, therefore, is to set the day apart from allcommon or ordinary activities, good though theymay be, and to consecrate the day, oneself, andone’s home unto the maker <strong>of</strong> heaven and earth.4. When we sanctify the Sabbath we in turn are setapart as God’s “peculiar people” and “treasured possession.”The Sabbath concept is not a natural occurrence.It is a supra-natural opportunity set by God.The seven-day cycle is not self-evident in the naturalorder <strong>of</strong> things. Neither the monthly lunar cycle(29+ days) nor the annual solar cycle (365+ days)is divisible byseven. The sevendayweek we takefor granted wasunknown in thePresents“Build It and He Will Come”In this new teaching series, Dwight Pryordiscusses the Sabbath for Christians from thepoint <strong>of</strong> view <strong>of</strong> spiritual opportunity, not legalobligation. After you hear these two messages,you, too, will “Call the Sabbath a Delight”!Only $12*Toll Free Order Line: 1-800-308-6506 ororder online at www.jcstudies.com*Mention you saw us in Restore! and receive free shippinganywhere in the U.S.A.ancient paganworld.The Sabbathrepresents sacredtime, set in placeby the act <strong>of</strong> theHoly One. It becamethe principaland powerful symbol<strong>of</strong> Yahweh’sunique covenantalrelationship withHis elected people,Israel.“ ‘. . . speak tothe sons <strong>of</strong> Israel,saying, “You shallsurely observe mysabbaths; for this isa sign between meand you throughoutyour generations, that you may know that Iam the LORD who sanctifies you. Therefore youare to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. .. . For six days work may be done, but on theseventh day there is a sabbath <strong>of</strong> complete rest,holy to the LORD . . . And when he had finishedspeaking with him upon Mount Sinai, he gaveMoses the two tablets <strong>of</strong> the testimony, tablets<strong>of</strong> stone, written by the finger <strong>of</strong> God.” (Exodus31:13-18 NASB)The Sabbath is a “sign” or symbol that bearsvisible witness to the enduring covenantal partnershipbetween God and His people. It is holyby God’s decree, and it “sanctifies” or hallowsthose who honor it. Like a wedding band symbolicallysets apart a bride as holy and covenantedto her husband, so the Sabbath signifies that Israelis set apart exclusively unto the Lord as his “treasuredpeople” (am segullah). It distinguishes themfrom all the other nations as the people with whomGod has chosen to make His dwelling.5. In remembering theSabbath we honor the Creatorby giving up our creations.On <strong>Shabbat</strong>, man and hisFor six days we laborin the world formaker dwell in yachad, unity,our own ends. We create,control, and sub-create a <strong>Shabbat</strong> kodesh, ain a special way. Mutually, theydue the world around Sabbath <strong>of</strong> holiness.us. For one day we areasked to remember theSHABBAT ISSUE 17
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