Shabbat - Heart of Wisdom

was that Shabbat was both blessed and holy.HONORING SHABBATHonoring Shabbat by resting is not a matter ofChristians becoming like Jews. It is a matter ofbeing like God. Since God rested on Shabbat(making it both blessed and holy), man shouldalso endeavor to rest one day out of seven. Hebrews4:9-11 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-restfor the people of God; for anyone whoenters God’s rest also rests from his own work,just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, makeevery effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fallby following their example of disobedience.” Fartoo many believers focus on the word Shabbat,not the word rest (menuach). After all, “Shabbat”sounds “Jewish.” So, whenever the issue surfaces,Christians immediately become concerned withthe “legal issue” of “keeping” the day rather thanwhat one “does” to release blessings and holinesson this special day. The result? Our Messiah’s bodyhas ignorantly missed out on the two huge benefitsof taking a God-like rest–blessing and holiness.We seem to forget that God, Moses, and Jesus allrested.DOING WHAT GOD DIDThe Lord does not ask believers to do somethinghe has not done. Since he rested (menuach)on the seventh day, he is free to invite all believersto share in his rest. He would not ask believers torest if he had not done so. This makes the issueclearly what he did, rested, not the day. Genesis 2:2straightforwardly establishes the act of rest(menuach) as the issue, i.e., the principle. Remember,all of God’s labor on the seventh day wasentering into rest. This is why Hebrews 4:11 (KJV)says, “Let us labour therefore to enter into hisrest, . . .” The labor is not spent in legally “keeping”the Shabbat. The labor should be expendedentering into God’s rest! The promise of that kindof labor is that its wages will be “blessing” and“holiness.” Are there any true believers who wouldreject an opportunity to be blessed by God andmade holy like God? That God rested on Shabbatand thereby blessed and sanctified it cannot bedenied. Shabbat exists. What should one do?NowAvailable!Dr. Karl Cokereveals how toput God backin education.Order your signedcopy today!Availableexclusively atAndyBooks.comA “must” read!352 pages,984 quotes,233 sources, plusmany language helpsWhat every student, parent and grandparent should knowabout education before choosing a college or university!A Proper Educationby Karl D. Coke, Ph. D.$25.00 plus shipping & handling @AndyBooks.combath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of theSabbath” (Mark 2:27-28). What a gift! What anopportunity! A day, given by God to mankind,designed to increase man’s blessings and to makehim like his creator. On page 110 of his Fundamentalsof Judaism Saul Spiro says, “The Sabbath isa joy to those who observe it; a perpetual praiseto God for His Creation. Lifeis to be delighted in and enjoyed.Many things make this impossiblea great deal of the time. God produced rest asThe Sabbath is the great exception.Life can be lived to its full-his work on Shabbat.est at least on one day of the He then gave man thatweek.”rest as a means toGOD’S GIFT TO HUMANITYreceive his blessingI realize that there are fewIn his book, The Sabbath, Heschel says, “The articles written about ShabbatSabbath is the most precious present mankind has upon which Jews and Christiansand holiness.received from the treasure house of God” (p. can agree. Both groups make18). Think of it, God gives one day per week to it the domain of one over theall mankind. Properly used, this gift allows mankindother. In this article, I am not seeking mutual apbathto gain in blessings and holiness. “The Sabproval.I cannot here waste time and space askingis given unto you, not you unto the Sabbath” such questions as “Why did God chose the seventh(Mekilta to 31:13). Jesus, our Messiah, said, “Theday and not the sixth or eighth?” Satan hasSabbath was made for man, not man for the Sab-diverted attention away from the real issue of Shab-SHABBAT ISSUE 21