Sabbath Rest

Exodus 34:21 ESV  

"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest."  

The mirror of God's word is such a frightening thing. To look into this perfect mirror and see more and more of my deficiencies. That is a nice way to put it. The truth is to look into this perfect mirror and see more and more of my wretchedness and complete unworthiness. The recognition of our sin and seeing it for what it is helps to put the scandalous nature of the cross in perspective. The perfection of humanity traded places and died for the most reprobate person on earth.  

As we read through Exodus we like to hit the high points and forget the rest of the book. We review the Ten Commandments but skip the laws that clarify different aspects of it. This is where we find Exodus 34:21. Apparently farmers don't change. They are as stable as the dirt they work. I say this simply because God felt the need to clarify that plowing and harvest were not reason to break the Sabbath. I am well acquainted with "the harvest has to come in," "It is going to rain tomorrow,"… I enjoy the timeless nature of the law as it comes head on with the realities of life.  I am sure everyone listening has heard (or given) those reasons for why the Farmer can't make it to Church today.  

Yet, it would be wrong to leave it here. Farmers are not the only ones that use good quality reasons on why breaking the ten commandments is legitimate. How many images of Christ do we find in churches? The bible did not give a description for Christ, probably for a reason, and yet it gives firm command about making images of God. No matter what aesthetic appeal it may have you don't have to visit to many Christian sights to see those images worshiped and this is sin. No matter the intent of the individual they all eventually be come like Gideon's Ephod, and become a hindrance to those coming up behind us.   

As I reflect on the Sabbath I have to wonder if I am resting? It is easy to leave it with farmers, but the command is to rest. How often do I do that? Instead I fill the day with countless activities and rushing from place to place. Things that "have" to get done. Just like a quality farmer anxious about his livelihood. Do we really use the day to stop, rest, and be refreshed in the lord? Knowing my Sunday is different than most others, I take Monday as a day of "rest" yet is not the community ascpect of the command also important? The community resting together, Fathers separated from work to play with their children. (I say this as my daughter is praying we would move and get a dishwasher so we could play with them more!) Leftovers being served (also part of the clarifications of the law)  that mothers and servants might rest and enjoy the community. Can I really say Monday is my day of rest if I do so alone? 

What does a Sabbath's Rest look like for you? Maybe all those activities that have to get done refresh you and leave you praising God, if not I think you might need to re-evaluate your Sabbath. Remember Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, not you. Those ways I break the Sabbath are not so small as rolling some grain in my hands for a snack, nor so large as to free men from demonic possession. Are yours? 

Every Sunday we celebrate the fact that Christ rose. He paid for every commandment we broke and will break. That includes the Sabbath but should we rejoice in our sin? "Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, sin has left a crimson stain, Jesus washed it white as snow."   

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO