Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Fifty-Two Memorial DaysCongregations are deeply affected by the anti-Sabbath drift today. Even some evangelical ministers havesaid the Fourth Commandment is not for the Christiandispensation. The answer is the question, "Why was it, ifonly ceremonial in character, set in the middle of themoral law?" The Sabbath holds a place of vast importancein the Bible. It is the longest of the laws in the TenCommandments. It is the only one which says,"Remember!" as if the inspiring Spirit was preparing longbeforehand against 20th Century mis-interpreters andforgetters. It is very significant that the Sabbath is not onlyin the "law" but also in the "prophets," and in no insignificantterms, usually related to social problems.Rev. Leland Miller, D.D.Our Master-Teacher by no means abrogated theFourth Commandment. He reaffirmed and confirmed itwhen He said in ringing tone, "The Sabbath was made forman." That is, Man needs it. God made it for him becauseHe knows that it is a requirement for man. Jesus came, notto destroy the moral law, but to light up its inherentusefulness. And when the Holy Spirit led His church toobserve the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath,thus remembering also the Savior's resurrection "upon thefirst day of the week" (giving us fifty-two Easter •memorials instead of just one!), the special spiritual andre-creative opportunities of the day"made for man" weretransferred and transfigured."Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy."Sacred, set apart, "different". This is the "bridge'' Commandment,between the Commandments that relate us toGod, and the Commandments that relate us to fellow men.This is the "technique" Commandment among the ten. Ifwe remember" the Sabbath as "set apart", "different",we'll remember the other nine. If we forget the Sabbath,we shall tend to forget all the Decalogue. Therefore it isthe "memory" Commandment. It is incomprehensible,except for the fact of sin, that the only Commandmentthat says, "Remember!", is the one our generation has sonearly forgotten. The devil knows where to attack. It is the"lost" Commandment—that is, together with hazy interpretationof Scripture, the Sabbath is regarded asoutmoded, trivial, to be left out of account.Hear then, first, the Scripture concerning this part ofthe moral law: "Watch your step!" The prophet Isaiahsaid(58:13). "If thou keep thy foot from the Sabbath. . ."Vou find that he is telling Judah not to trample it. Don'tdespise it. The prophet is declaring principles of socialethics here, and in the middle he warns, "Watch your stepabout the Sabbath. In the proportion that you honor it,you will be delighting yourself in God." And the inferenceis. only with the Sabbath will you heed socialrighteousness.Second, "Watch your clock!" The prophet Amos, soconcerned about social morality, says (8:4-5) "ThoseIsraelites want to hurry up and get the Sabbath over, sothey can get back to their shady business deals. The Lordpromises them that the end of it will be, 'the sun shall godown at noon'." Take care how you figure time with God.Watch your clock for the Lord. Then give the Sabbath itsfull value. How do you honor the time set by the Big Boss?Third, "Watch your Master!" He went habitually tothe synagogue on the Sabbath day. He gave us our Sabbathexample: church, do good, works of mercy andnecessity, fellowship. He said, "The Sabbath was made foryou." Who are you? What makes the real man? Psalm 147says, "You athletes, the Lord takes no pleasure in the legsof a man." God has plenty of men with good legs. What Hewants is more men with good hearts. 'The Lord takethpleasure in them that have reverence for Him, in thosethat hope in the reliability of His mercy." You who followChrist are in worship finding worth-ship—thinking thegreatest thoughts, recognizing supreme Worth, the worthof the Great God, of His great love, of His universalconcern, of His eternal plan—finding worth instead ofwrath!Fourth, "Watch your goal!" In football, hockey, inlife, keep in mind the goal. Hebrews 4:9 says, "Thereremaineth a Sabbath rest for the people of God." The NewTestament Church was believing in the Sabbath, andwatching for it in heaven. Sabbath in heaven teaches usfrom heavenly pattern, that we are to have a care aboutour Sabbaths on earth. Sabbath will be totally happy whilewe live in view of supreme worth and see the highestvalues. That is what Sabbath is for, to search for and findthe best!Most scholars believe that Pentecost, the birthday ofthe Church fell on a Sabbath. Now the Church marches onto her real Commencement Sabbath, in heaven. May 30this Memorial Day, once a year; but God has given us fiftytwoMemorial Days as He says, "Remember. . .don'tforget!"Christian StatesmanHe who has truth in his heart need never fear thewant of persuasion on his tongue.—John RuskinOF GROWING IMPORTANCEThe denominational college which is dominated byChristian aims and pervaded by a strong Christian spirit,preserving an atmosphere of true liberty, free from anarrow and sectarian spirit, and maintaining a staff ofinstructors who rank with those of other institutions, has aplace w hich is not only secure, but of growing importance.—John R MottJUNE 30, 1971 3