Keeping Sabbath has been called “the forgotten spiritual discipline.” It may be the most important discipline. In a way, it’s the easiest one to keep; there’s nothing to do…and yet most of us are so driven that we can’t possibly imagine doing nothing. We appraise our work and ourselves by what we do. We gauge our worth by quantifiable accomplishments…yet sometimes being is more important than doing.
How can an idle day be valuable? It’s all about sanctifying time. We don’t “keep” the Sabbath; the Sabbath keeps us. The commandment to “keep the Sabbath holy” has a built-in benefit--it keeps us holy and healthy. Sabbath rest is one of the most transformative blessings of the Christian life.
The Japanese are perhaps the most driven people on the planet, so much so that many are literally dying from overwork; they even have a name for it, karoshi, and it has become an epidemic. A driven person boasted, “I’d rather burn out than rust out”…but either way, you’re out! A minister who was told to slow down said, “The devil never takes a break; why should I?” Then he realized the devil wasn’t exactly his best example! Work is a gift from God, but work is not our God. The Sabbath is a safeguard, reminding us that there is more to life than work. We feel guilty when we don’t do enough, and resentful when we do too much. Do you want to get well, or do you want to be a martyr?
A friend of mine confessed that keeping the Sabbath was the commandment he violated the most. He thought about why, and he realized that busyness had priority in his life, causing him to rarely slow down. Life was all about working hard, producing more, never pausing to rest. And then he realized that he was also violating the first two commandments--he wasn’t putting God first, and he had made work an idol.
The Sabbath forces us to trust that God will provide for all our needs, and that He will somehow continue to manage the world without our help. The Sabbath is a practical reminder that we are totally dependent on God. Sabbath-keeping becomes a matter of faith, in that we can stop doing work without worrying if all we’ve built will fall apart. Do we really believe that God is in control? If God works all things together for good, we can relax. If not, start worrying!
This holy day sadly placed a wedge between Jews and Christians. The early church observed the Sabbath as a day of rest, but began worshipping on “the Lord’s Day”, the day marking three events: the first day of Creation where darkness became light, the day of Christ’s resurrection; and Pentecost, the birthday of the church. So is Sunday the “Christian Sabbath,” (as some call it/not Scripture) or should we be resting on Saturday? I’d like to propose that, whenever possible, we take Saturday as our day of rest, and then use Sunday as a day of worship and good deeds. After service and lunch, we could visit a shut-in, write a letter to a missionary, have someone over for coffee, or help a friend in need. We might read a Christian book, log onto some Christian websites, watch a religious video, and maybe attend an evening worship service.
Saturday (or some other designated day) could be our day to recover from the stresses of the week. Sadly, our society values working to the extent where weekends are no longer protected. People in non-essential jobs tell me they can’t attend church because they’re working. I can understand how people in health-care or law enforcement need to be on duty, but some companies that can take a break don’t. Nor do they respect the religious convictions of their employees. We have adopted what’s been called the “tyranny of the urgent,” which keeps us from shutting down.
Lest I get too legalistic, the principle is one day in seven. Many of us have no choice about when we get time off. When I was an Army Chaplain, during field training exercises I would visit units scattered throughout various locations. The joke was that, “In the Army, every day is Monday; but when the chaplain arrives, it’s Sunday.” We’d have an informal field service, I’d spend the night, and then take off for another field site the following day. I saw a lot of Germany that way.
The Sabbath is called a “creation ordinance”; it’ all about re-creation. By resting we’re following God’s example and receiving His blessing. The Sabbath is how we “get back to the Garden.” This holy day we set aside reminds us of God’s past provision and future salvation. The Sabbath commemorates the completed creation…the Lord’s Day commemorates our completed redemption. Scripture talks of Heaven in terms of rest; The Sabbath rehearses Heaven.
Legalists have made the Sabbath a burden, but as Jesus pointed out, the Sabbath is for us, for our benefit…as such it is a blessing, not a burden. To refuse it is to reject the gift of freedom. Rest is part of the liberating package God has for us. By His grace we’re freed from the penalty of sin, and by observing the Sabbath we’re given a break from the hectic pace of life; we have a chance to refocus; to refresh our souls and reorient our lives.
God has put a longing for Sabbath in us. Sabbath is that day over which all other days have no claim. The Sabbath is God’s invitation to stop doing what we think we ought to do and to embrace that which gives life. Sabbath-keeping mends our souls and brings balance to our lives.
When I began thinking of how to keep the Sabbath, I thought: “What would a good Sabbath look like? How do I make this special day sacred?” I was hoping to compile a checklist of ways--which misses the entire point! The goal of the Sabbath is not to come up with more things to do. Sabbath is not about doing. There’s a reason Scripture is silent about specifics; the Sabbath’s not about rules. All we’re given are guidelines: rest, cease from work, celebrate, remember, observe, delight yourself. We take time to direct our restlessness heavenward.
In Germany it’s against the law to mow your lawn or wash your car on the weekend; Germans take Sabbath seriously. All the stores are closed from noon on Saturday till Monday. When I lived in Frankfurt, people would go to the airport to shop on Sunday, since it was the only place that was allowed to have open shops. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day made the Sabbath a burden by piling on restrictions to the point of absurdity. For instance, you couldn’t carry a nail in your pocket because it was connected to work. If working in the yard relaxes you, it should be part of your Sabbath. If you’re in the landscaping business, yard work is probably not appropriate for your Sabbath. There’s no “one-rule fits all”; the principle is to make your Sabbath a time that’s set-apart from the hectic pace of your work-week.
God told Moses, “Above all, you shall keep My Sabbaths…that I the Lord, may sanctify you” (Ex 31:12-13). The Sabbath is an “above all” command; in other words, it is important. It is directly related to our spiritual growth. On the Sabbath we wake up in a world we didn’t make, into a salvation we didn’t earn, attuned to the rhythms of grace.
I don’t read a lot of poetry, but I suspect that poets are especially able to keep the Sabbath. The best definition of poetry I’ve read is that it’s all “about paying attention.” Busy people can’t write poetry. Journalists can pound out a news story under the pressure of a deadline, but poetry requires reflection, taking time to simply ponder. I know of a pastor north of here who schedules in his datebook time to think and reflect; otherwise, he won’t. We are best attuned to hear when we’re still; otherwise we may miss something God wants us to get.
Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy-burdened; and I will give you rest.” When we’re busy, we can’t focus on God. He wants our attention. We need to stop believing that we have no right to rest. We can relax without guilt. The Sabbath is not a reward for completing all our tasks and obligations. It’s the break we take in the middle of them, without apology, and for no other reason than this--God says we can. The Sabbath is grace.
