Remember the Sabbath Day. The Fourth Commandment.

Week 6 – Day 4 – Gods’ Law

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11 (NKJV)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

Devotional:

A relative of mine gave a dear friend of hers a birthday gift. This woman spent a great deal of time and thought into the purchase because she thought her friend would cherish it and hold it as a symbol of their mutual love for one another.

Imagine the horror she felt when she stumbled on that very gift for sale on Ebay? It damaged the relationship in a way that left scar tissue and brought distance into the deep friendship. It escalated in the argument that followed where things were said that both regretted.

The Sabbath day is a special gift given to humanity by God Himself. In creation, Refer to Genesis Chapter 2:2. God hallowed the seventh day and made it Holy. In the fourth commandment God said “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy.” It’s the only commandment that God tells us to remember!

Imagine being the Creator of the Universe and being the giver of a special gift to humanity. The people all say “thanks so much God for that special day, we love it, but hey….you know what? The Saturday doesn’t quite fit well with our schedule so if you don’t mind we will change it to Sunday.”

Whether we see God’s laws as imperial as in litigious or as design principles, because the come from God to us we can assume that they are in our best interest and are worth honouring for our good.

I am not denigrating anyones beliefs and customs when I emphasise this commandment. We must all walk the journey set before us. Some are convicted of the Saturday Sabbath and others are not yet so. But for me, if God emphasise something that man seems determined to change then it warrants my attention.

Let the Bible show you the truth and don’t rely on others including me. I love theSabbath day and not aSabbath day. If He says it’s a special day of remembrance and restoration then I know it must be good for me and my operating system. 

The fourth commandment serves as a not so gentle reminder from our Creator, urging us to set aside one specific day out of the week for rest and reflection. In a world that constantly hustles and bustles, this commandment calls us to pause, to disconnect from our daily tasks, and to reconnect with God and our loved ones.

I worship God every day but the Holy Sabbath is a special day each week.

Question 1: Do you think that a principle that God says to remember might be worth taking seriously?

Question 2: If God rested on the Sabbath day and made the seventh day Holy, do you think we should too?

Question 3: Can you think of ways to set aside the Saturday as the Sabbath day in your life?

In our pursuit of honouring the Sabbath, it’s essential to approach it with joy and gratitude. Instead of viewing it as a day of restrictions, we should see it as a gift from God—a day to delight in His presence and enjoy the blessings He has given us. By intentionally setting aside time for rest and worship, we can experience the fullness of God’s love and find true satisfaction in Him.

I look forward with joy to every Sabbath. Michelle and I love this day.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Papa God, thank You for the gift of the Sabbath—a day set apart for rest and worship. Help us to honour this day and to find joy in Your presence. Teach us to prioritise our relationship with You above all else and to trust in Your provision for our lives. May the Sabbath be a time of spiritual renewal and refreshment for us and for those around us. Guide us with your Holy Spirit as we study and contemplate the fourth and all your laws and design principles we pray In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Graham Hood