God picks up where He left off in chapter 27 with the elements of the Tabernacle. Through chapters 25-31 God has laid out a general blueprint of His expectations for the tabernacle and the priestly garb. He has given them a lot of work to accomplish, so it is interesting, knowing man’s heart, that God finishes His commands with… obey the Sabbath. Obey the Sabbath?
Ever gotten so busy that you didn’t take the Sabbath day off? OK… I’m not sure the last time I did take a Sabbath day off! I have been running like crazy! From Louisville, to Lexington, to Northern KY, to Louisville… from Seminary to family, to church, to the new house… from teaching, to preaching, to speaking, to studying… It has been one wild ride for a while now.
And do you know what “a while” produces… a habit! My routine hasn’t and doesn’t include rest! Are you like me? Have we completely forgotten the idea of the Sabbath day? In the NT, Jesus reminds us that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. What he was saying is that we need the Sabbath, the Sabbath doesn’t need us!
Ever heard the expression “work hard to vacation hard?” Many of us are so consumed by work that we are not regularly taking care of ourselves. We burn out quicker and have to take vacations (even if mini ones) to recoup. Is that what God intended? I don’t think so. God intended us to pace ourselves and He set the example for us in Creation to do so. Six days He worked, the seven He rested… God rested? And do you know what Scripture says… “On the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:17b, emphasis mine) God was refreshed!!! What does that tell us? The God of the universe has declared that rest is good, necessary, and … refreshing!
I wouldn’t know what that’s like right now. I have always used the excuse… well there are just going to be seasons of life where we have to buckle down and burn the midnight oil. But what is God saying in this passage? “I have given you a lot of work…(i.e. if ever there were a season…) but even still I don’t want you to kill yourselves completing it. Get it done as you may… six days for work… one day of complete rest.”(BJD translation)
I once got in an argument with my best friend in high school concerning the Sabbath. He questioned me for mowing my lawn on a Sunday?! I was a bit taken back and so, as every good “Sabbath Day Rationalizer” would do, I quoted Romans 14:5, “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.” And at that point, I was convinced each day was alike and so I chose to work as needed.
But now I look back and question myself. Yes, I was right, maybe in the letter of the law, but I have found myself far removed from the spirit of the law. As we will read on throughout the OT, you will notice that God takes the Sabbath day very seriously. Over and over again He mentions it. (It’s not surprising that the Jews in Jesus’ time were so hung up on it.)
“Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.” (Exodus 31:15b) This may not be a literal command we follow today… but I wonder how true it remains? Do we shorten our life, joy, and even our Biblical obedience and perspective as we work so hard everyday? And for what? How many of us will really get to the end of our lives and say, “I wish I had worked more!?” I doubt I will.
It’s time for me to plan to rest. Only if I demand it of myself will it get done. It’s time to be refreshed.
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