The Sabbath
The Sabbath. What is the Sabbath? Why do we keep the Sabbath?
G-d rested. He blessed the day and set it apart. He made it holy.
Note it says “remember the Sabbath.” One of the two sabbath candles is for “remember.” And also “in six days the L-RD made heaven and earth … and rested on the seventh day… blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
Wow. Not something that gets read out loud in church very often. Good thing there’s no Sanhedrin to enforce this one, huh? I’d be in trouble.
Seriously, could it be G-d did this to try to root out those who may pull others down by their disobedience? Who may belittle His commandments? I think this was for a time when He was trying to purify a people so that through them He could reveal Himself to the world. He put Israel at the crossroads of the world in their day. They were on a major trade route between Europe, Asia, and Africa and G-d put them there to influence the world. But to be a good influence He needed to eliminate those who were not obedient. Anyway… that’s another study.
These verses say “observe the Sabbath.” That is the second candle. Remember and Observe. That is why we light two candles before Shabbat starts.
This is to be a perpetual covenant - Sabbath is a sign of the covenant G-d made with us. Hmmm… a sign… could we call it, “a shadow”? A shadow of what?
Before we go there
Sabbath is to be a holy convocation; a set apart gathering; a day to come together with friends and family; a day to bless each other and honor G-d.
“…as was His custom…” so first we see Yeshua following all the rules. He is setting the day apart. He is remembering. He is observing and He is congregating.
Jews today use Nehemiah 8:1-12 as a basis for the structure of their Sabbath service — they have a Torah reading, then a reading from the Prophets (the Haftorah) then they sit down for an explanation of the reading — exactly what Yeshua did.
Mark 2:23-27 through Mark 3:1-5
Yeshua is shown with His disciples picking grain — not harvesting (working) — on the Sabbath. Then He is seen in synagogue (as was His custom) healing on the Sabbath. Both of these things are unlawfull according to the rules man had set up. However that is why Yeshua said, the Sabbath is for man not man for the Sabbath. The Pharasies were spending all day making sure they didn’t walk too far instead of blessing the widows and the orphans. They were not blessing their families. They were not blessing G-d and therefore they were missing the true meaning of His Sabbath.
Isaiah 58:13
Call the Sabbath a delight. That’s where Oneg Shabbat came in. Oneg is Joy in the Sabbath. It’s the little snack time we have at the end of our study. It came about because of this one verse. We are to remember the Sabbath as a delight to G-d as we rest and bless Him and each other in it.
Even the bread is to remember. In Exodus 16:4-5 G-d introduces His manna as food and tells Israel they will have a double portion on the sixth day which is what? Traditionally Friday is the sixth day of course. It is the day before the Jewish Sabbath which is on Saturday. So the two loaves let us remember the double portion in preparation for Sabbath.
Also this bread is braided. Now to form a braid you need at least 3 strands, correct? And yet cook it together and it makes how many loaves? Jewish Sabbath challah (bread) typically has 6 strands braided together and the two loaves together, consisting of twelve total strands, represent the twelve tribes of Israel. However, as a believer I also look at the challah and see a symbol of the Trinity by the braiding and baking making one loaf. They are taking many parts and making them one whole.
There are many more shadows in the Sabbath. I challenge you to find more. Ceasing from creation; eternal rest; remembering what G-d has done (creation) and what G-d will do (eternal life).
So now, enjoy the Sabbath and make it holy. Set it apart. Call it a delight. Remember and observe. Remember all that G-d has done and all that He has promised to do.
Tags: bread, day of rest, eternity, Sabbath (Shabbat), shadows