Taking Care Of Business
Six days you shall labor and do all your work and the seventh day is a sabbath to YHWH your God; you shall not do any work . . . Exodus 20:9-10
Six Days – Religion that takes away the Sabbath leaves us “with a life of weekdays.”[1] Doesn’t that sound appealing? One day just like the next, forever – until you die. That’s what we want, isn’t it? A life of continual work. Kauffman, a non-believer, recognizes that life without Shabbat is a flat two-dimensional existence devoid of beauty and rejoicing. No wonder Americans take more vacations than any other civilization. They are work-weary. They have removed Shabbat from life.
Six days – sheshet yamim – you shall labor. Why is that so hard to comprehend and apply? The Christian Church did nothing to relieve Man of a life of weekdays. It is responsible for this problem. With creeds that required denying Shabbath, the Church foisted upon the world one of life’s greatest tragedies – no rest for the wicked, or for the righteous. Once the law of God was stripped from the culture, it was only a matter of time before the culture’s religion reflected the culture’s true foundation. Man is the measure of all things. I will simply practice Sabbath in my own way on my own day. I’ll take an hour off for church. I’ll go to the annual retreat (unless I have to work). I’ll fit in some relaxation sometime – but not now. Now I am too busy with being a weekday warrior.
Burn, baby, burn! Burn up your life as quickly as you can. Burn the candle from both ends. Drink another cup of coffee and keep going. What’s the point of stopping? If I stop I will have to confront the futility of my life, the endless emptiness of “more is less” accomplishments. If I stop I might discover that I no longer know how to rest, how to rejoice, how to be still before my God. I am addicted to the pace. I am a “doer.” The idea of being still frightens me. Maybe that’s why a moment of silence in church is always accompanied by musical background. Silence is terribly traumatic for weekday addicts. Try silencing your mind and you will see.
Most Christians have no idea how to enter into the Sabbath. They have grown up on weekday mania. They were breast-fed from the city that never sleeps. Because the Church teaches nothing about God’s rest, believers are often so confused that they opt for whatever the priests suggest. It is better to tithe than to rest, right?
“Return to the covenant” is the word picture of Shabbat. Shuv + Tau. Return (shuv) has an additional picture – “destroy the house,” that is, “leave nothing behind.” Don’t carry over days 1 to 6 into the rest of day 7. Leave it behind. Return to the covenant empty-handed. Let God provide.
If we are going to stand up against the culture of accumulation, we must empty ourselves for this seventh day celebration. We must put aside the pace. We must return to our source, our deliverer, the one who rescues us from self-destruction, the one who puts life into living. Or maybe you’d rather be exhausted all the time. You might be used to that.
Topical Index: Sabbath, six days, sheshet yamim, Exodus 20:9
[1] Walter Kauffman, in the introduction to Martin Buber, I and Thou, p. 30.
“Work is good for you.” These were the very words of my thirteen year old son who just came home from his first “job,” covered with dirt from a twelve hour day laying sod. (green side up). Six days shalt thou labor is not a curse- it is a blessing. Work is a privilege and a blessing. It is as Martha would say (we all know Martha-don’t we?)-“a good thing.” As I sit here typing these words with my shoulder still aching from rotator cuff surgery- how I not realize how good and how pleasant it is-“just to be able.” I (along with many,many others) am crippled, handicapped, physically challenged- unable to perform. Last Saturday I was “able” to tie my shoes for the first time and what a milestone that was. I’m willing to say- not many people celebrate when they tie there shoes. We take much for granted. Forgive me Father for my hard-heartedness (or is it hard-headedness?)
G-d does have a way of “breaking” us. This usually involves (ouch) pain. No pain- no gain. My friends- any which way you want to slice it- facts is facts. Hebrew, Greek- or Chinese- there is no success without suffering. It is “part of the program.” Y’shua said- (are we listening?)- “In this world you will have tribulation.” -lol!- Oh- we “hear” this, don’t we? “I heard that!- I know that’s right! “Nobody knows the sorrow I’ve seen”- etc. Dear family,- “every home has its hush.”
The past few weeks I have been going to and (-ouch!-) through physical therapy. This is my first introduction to this. Welcome to the wonderful world of pain. Someone posted on the bulletin board this notice: “Pain is your only friend here.” When I read this, I had a “selah” moment. Every person present- with the exception of the PT people was in the “process” of pain and (praise G-d) of healing. Once again to reinforce, to confirm and to affirm,- “no pain-no gain.” I must-(I must) work through the discomfort and to the stretching point of pain.
As I look out my window at the beautiful October weather, how wonderful it would be to pick up a rake or use a leaf blower and to be able to “do!” Work, my friends, is a privilege and a blessing.
When I leave the house to commute to my job (which BTW was given to me by my Father) my wife and children will sometimes say- “thank you for going to work for us!” It does warm the cold cockles of my heart to hear them say this, but I am reminded quickly- this, my friends, is the gift of G-d. Tell Martha for me- “it’s a good thing!” Work is “both” a privilege and a gift. You don’t “see it” yet?- What you need is about nine months of unemployment- believe me (if you want to)- it’s a real “eye-opener.” lol! (We were discussing “blindness” yesterday- right?) lol!
Six days shalt thou labor. Six days out of seven we work. Brother Skip- our resident “linguistic champion” -please inform us of the Hebrew word for “work.” Is it not the very same word for love, serve and worship? What a “ko-inky-dink.”
The book of Hebrews tells us- “there is a rest that remains to the people of G-d”. This fella here is mighty interested in this “rest that remains.” I’m tired. (I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired- aren’t you?) -If you aren’t now- you will be. We all are “fallible.” We are not machines that can go and go- (have another cup of caffeine- put the whip to the tired horse!- lol!) Excuse me,- but what idiots we are.
What is wrong with our hearing? How many pounds of ear-wax clog up our ears? If any man have ears to hear.. What if Martha were to say it? What about good ol’ Ben? Ben Franklin said.. – yeah, we might listen to him..
What if the Son of G-d, the Word made flesh, El Gibbor Incarnate were to issue the invitation- “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give your rest?” -Would we listen? Who is speaking here? and what is being said? Why is it- I feel “thick as a brick” this morning? What were Y’shua’s words to the Talmudim (His disciples) as they encountered on the dusty streets of way back then,- the broken, the halt, the maimed, the deaf and the blind? “Bring them to me..”- Why? lol!
Because Mr. Turkeybrain- He is the Source of all blessing. He is the Healer of the nations- should we bow before Him? Should we tremble in His presence? Should we approach Him, reverently- bowing the knee and falling (as those before us who “saw” Him) prostrate ourselves (as in -on your face) before Him? The answer is-..”What is your answer? My answer is a resounding, loud and clear- absolutely, positively- “Amen.” He has my eternal, forever-“yes.”
“Rest”-Peace- “Shalom” is not found in any other person, place or thing than the LORD Jesus Himself. “Come unto me” is His gospel (good news) invitation. His eternal invitation to “whosoever will” (that’s us!) is “Come.”
“In this world you will have tribulation,” He said. That’s not very comforting, but at least we have been warned ahead of time to expect it. And now,- for the “rest” of the story..- Are we listening?- I wonder. “BUT”, I love these Big Bible Buts,- His words?-“Be of good cheer”- “rejoice evermore”- “I have overcome the world.” Through Him we are “more than conquerors.” Another great word study brother Skip! Yes, through our Eternal Victor who loved us with Calvary’s love, (-and loves us still-today!)
Read G-d’s Book people, – “Good News”- “it’s in there!”
SKip,
Why stop with the sabbath day? Torah also requires Sabbath year, and Jubilee. You can’t have one without the others. And today, if anywhere, only university professors continue the biblical sabbatical, without knowing its origins, and then for the wrong reasons.
Yes, exactly. Why stop with one when all are commanded? So, how do we live Torah-obdience when our world is so idolatrous. We need community, don’t we? It can’t be done by an individual alone. We life each other and press toward the goal, in spite of the stumbling.
“We need community, don’t we?”
There are certainly some issues that require community. But Sabbath day and sabbath year probably do not. Jubilee, certainly. Sabbath day and year just need me to manage my affairs, trust in God, and follow the “instruction manual.”
This community “problem” was identified by Jews in the 19th century after they were released from the ghettos of Europe. Inside the ghetto, Torah was easier. There was a meeting in Pittsburgh (I think) in the 1880s (?) to address this issue. The solution: Torah is to be kept only inside the borders of Israel. Now doesn’t that “escape” from Torah instructions sound familiar?
Unfortunately, it sounds all too familiar.
What if? – (just sayin’) we had the Author and the Teacher of the Torah living within us to encourage, enlighten, empower and enable us along the pathway of life?
What if? (just sayin’) the words of John 14.27 were true? “But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, He will remind you of everything I have said to you. “What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.
Now, (just askin’)- Who wrote the Book? Who wrote the Torah, the Tanakh and the B’rit Chadashah? And haven’t we seen in all of our studies- this amazing Book is all about a particular Person? And who might that be? -(just askin’)
-Who is this King of Glory?
-Who is the LORD that I should obey Him?
Yes, we all agree. We have the Ruach HaKodesh as our overseer and guide. But the problem is that the Ruach HaKodesh works through the agency of men, and men easily confuse, distort, ignore and abuse what the Spirit reveals. Any view of the history of the Church must draw this conclusion. Men of all ages relied on the Spirit, but that did not prevent them from perpetrating great errors and human tragedies. God’s hand is not so pressing as to prevent sinful abuse. So, while we all agree, we also must give sufficient weight to the power of choice to override the voice of the Spirit.
Agreed. We are fallible (exceedingly so) and must declare our “G-d-dependence.” “Without me, you can do nothing” needs to be forever before our eyes.
Our Bible was written by (shudder).. men. Every miracle in the Bible involves men. “Go fetch me a cruse of oil”. The little lad had a lunch. G-d and man- every time. We are His agents of change in this world. Whether Abraham, Moses, Noah, Buber, Skip or Carl- it is YHWH working in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. We are (today) the hands and feet of Christ and as G-d directs our paths we find ourselves in the common round of the every day- joined to a chariot somewhere and sharing with an Ethiopian as YHWH directs. lol!
Yes, brother Skip, I agree there is so much that is wrong with this world, but as my young son reminded his dad in the not to distant past- “dad,- G-d is in charge!” Out of the mouths of babes. G-d always (always) gives us what we need and when we need it. Sometimes not in the form we were expecting (He is the G-d of the unexpected) and sometimes in ways we had not even thought of- He is “so” outside of our little box! -but He always shows up to rescue and to redeem.
We are becoming more and more like Jacob- crippled and yet leaning upon his staff- worshiping G-d. YHWH’s strength is displayed and demonstrated in our weakness. This is G-d’s way, -not ours. Amen? G-d of weakness. Amen.
Meanwhile, (back at the ranch) place me in the middle of this choir- please!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y284YvkYrZo
Hi guys,
In our Western Culture (South Africa) it is very difficult to observe the Sabbath on a Saturday, and Sundays work better for us. We have a home church with a few friends. My view point is God worked for 6 days and rested on the seventh. We start working on a Monday, so our seventh day is on the Sunday to rest. Does it really matter on what day we have our Sabbath, even though the Jews have it on a Saturday? Isn’t the point to rest a day, rather on when it is?
God Bless