The Creative Sabbath (1)
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8 NASB
To keep it – Let’s talk about the Sabbath. Again and again the question comes up, “Am I allowed to do ________ on the Sabbath?” You fill in the blank. Of course, what you will fill in is not something specifically prohibited. Those actions are obvious. So you aren’t going to ask about sowing, reaping, plowing, threshing, etc. You are going to ask about typing on your computer, walking to the park, carrying a picnic basket, driving to a Shabbat service, playing a game of chess, hitting the tennis ball, swimming, buying an ice cream or a book about Shabbat, answering the telephone. Ordinary stuff of life not specifically prohibited. Like reading this Today’s Word on Shabbat. A good friend recently raised some concerns about the fact that Today’s Word is sent out on Shabbat. Of course, he was concerned that maybe it would be better for all if there were no Today’s Word on Shabbat. First, because I wouldn’t have to write seven TWs a week and secondly because people wouldn’t draw the mistaken conclusion that I actually wrote this TW on Shabbat (by the way, I don’t write TWs on Shabbat).
So that got me thinking. I quickly went to Judaism 101 and looked at the remarks about keeping the Sabbath. The first thing I noticed was the list of 39 prohibited activities. By the way, these 39 are not directly enumerated in Scripture. Only nine things are prohibited by direct Scriptural reference, but the rabbis have concluded that these 39 are implied in the story of the Tabernacle. Look here to see all 39.
This created a difficulty for me. I see the implied prohibition concerning writing, so not writing a TW on Shabbat seems appropriate. I settled that some time ago. But when I look at the list, I don’t see anything there that would automatically exclude some actions that confront me quite often in Shabbat circles. Obviously, one is travel. For me to teach in all the locations where I teach and where I am invited to teach, I often have to travel on Shabbat. But the Jewish site simply says, “The rabbis have also prohibited travel, buying and selling, and other weekday tasks that would interfere with the spirit of Shabbat.”[1] That means that rabbis determined that travel and buying and selling were prohibited. They did so on the basis of some connection they saw with the “spirit of Shabbat.” That means they defined the “spirit of Shabbat” and then passed a binding ordinance on their communities not to engage in these activities. Centuries later these rulings have become custom, but once (obviously) they were not since a counsel of rabbis had to decide what to do about these actions. It’s not like sowing or reaping. There are no questions about sowing and reaping. But there is nothing direct in Scripture about buying, selling or travel.
Ah, what to do now? I can decide to adjust my life according to the rulings of the rabbis (which one?) or I can note that these actions are not specifically prohibited and try to figure out as best I can what that means for me. I know that I am called to teach and that often I teach people who are not Shabbat observers. Should I refuse to travel to teach them because the rabbis have determined that travel is prohibited? When I teach, I offer my books and other materials for sale to those who wish to pursue the ideas. Often this is the only opportunity these people have to purchase a book or audio. Yes, of course they could order it later, but if you order from anywhere except the USA, the cost will nearly double with shipping. That hardly seems a reasonable thing to require of someone who is keen to learn, especially when the book is right there with me. What to do? Buying and selling isn’t on the strictly prohibited list either. In fact, it wasn’t even part of the extended Tabernacle implied list since all the materials of the Tabernacle were gifts. And speaking of gifts, when I teach on Shabbat are you not allowed to support what I do with a gift of money simply because the exchange of money is prohibited? By whom? For what reason?
So my friend and I are having a wonderful, lively discussion about Today’s Word on Shabbat. He worries that if people have to go to the computer to retrieve TW on Shabbat, I may have unintentionally suggested to them that using the computer is OK and/or that other associated activities might also be OK. He reminded me of maris ha’eyin, that is, “what the eye sees,” the idea that because you open and read TW on Shabbat even though I did not write it on Shabbat you will still be inclined to think that I did something prohibited on Shabbat and that might encourage you to do the same. Oy vey! It’s so complicated!
My friend suggested that I include this: “This TW is fully Shabbat compliant. It was not written on Shabbat. It was sent automatically on specially programmed Shabbat software set in motion before Shabbat in the sender’s time zone, operated without any human contact, and programmed so that it cannot be opened until Shabbat has gone out in the recipient’s time zone, all under the full approval and authorization of the American Rabbinical Council of Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth z”l of blessed memory. This notice is strictly Glatt Kosher Parve and can be digested!” What fun we are having!
I will continue not to write on Shabbat. But I will teach on Shabbat and, unless someone can show me the very compelling argument to the contrary, I will offer books for sale when I teach and I will hope that those who hear will be willing to offer support on Shabbat. Maybe I am wrong, but I am pretty sure that YHVH wants me to help others see His Torah and I am not yet convinced that all the rulings of the rabbis are the only way to look at life.
We will have to say a bit more about this on another day, when it is not Shabbat.
Topical Index: Shabbat, Exodus 20:8
[1] http://www.jewfaq.org/shabbat.htm
Ok, I am laughing. I was raised a Sabbath observer, and, believe me, I have heard this one debated from one end to the other, and I have seen some truly deadening conclusions – conclusions that ended up leaving NO room at the inn for the Christ to show up in.
The question for me, is, exactly WHO is Lord of the Shabbat? Is it me, or rabbis’ opinions, or the community’s carefully deliberated and democratically voted on conclusions? What is the Shabbat FOR? I think we get it so backwards so much. We try to be the lords of the Shabbat, and pass rulings on it, and forget that is was made for us, and what we needed out of it, which was communion with Him. So, I decided to let Him be Lord, and concluded that what He wanted out of me is, #1, SHOW UP. Present myself at the front door of Shabbat, like a proper guest. #2. Take my Lover’s hand, and hold on to it for the whole sacred Time we have together. #3. Do whatever my Lover is doing. If He is looking at needy, heartsick, or lonely people, then I should be, too. If He is trying to get to them, then I should be, too. If He is meeting them wherever they are at, then I should be, too. Whatever I find Him doing, then I am going to, too.
One of my precious friends was issued an invitation to come pick blueberries today at a local refugee halfway house, where large numbers of refugees come to learn the language and how to adapt to living here. They have been getting, for the last several years, many people from Africa, but mostly indigenous tribal people from the mountain areas of Southeast Asia, which includes the mountain tribes of northern Thailand, Laos, etc. Well, my older brother happens to travel there, because a friend of his is managing a private property in those mountains for someone. He goes to work there every winter, because apparently Thailand is short on people who are creative and know how to solve problems and fix things and design. Well, I told him about these totally precious people here, who have mostly been the Karan tribes. Over the years, my little farm has had the privilege of helping this community in a few ways. At one point, they decided, being the self-supporting enterprise that they are, to get a cow. Well, they knew nothing about milking a cow. I helped them, because I was already doing that. They would call me up, and ask questions, and when I had to go to work full time, and sold my cows, I donated my equipment to them, and they have shared back with me, too. My friend, likewise, helps them with their small goat herd. I have gotten desperate calls from this precious Mennonite community, asking if I had any hogs, or knew of anybody who had any, because they had gotten a fresh batch of indigenous people (who are animists, usually, if they are not Christian, and are truly being persecuted out of existence by the Muslims and Hindu in the area) and they had run out of chickens for sacrifices, and really needed a pig. Well, I was fresh out of pigs, but was sympathetic to the plight. It really sometimes is about meeting people wherever they are at. And, its a fuzzy line.
So my brother just flew back from Thailand this week, where he gets the privilege of working with these beautiful people on this estate, and loves them. Every morning, they come slipping down the mountain to work for a few dollars a day. These tribes have few rights, even though they were there before the Thai were, and most of them have never been to the next town; scared that, without papers, they could just disappear. Kelvin brought back some of the creatively fashioned cutting sickles that they use, intending to share them with this local community at the refugee camp, here. And, what do you know, I get that text message yesterday, that we have been invited to pick blueberries. This morning, only. With these people, as well as this precious, lost friend of mine. Do you really think this is about blueberries? I don’t. I mean, it COULD be, if I made it be. And, if I did, I think I would be totally missing the point. SO, I am going to nosh today, and take advantage of a truly rare opportunity to segue on a real basis with the farming communities that have started to spread out, as these people settle in my area. I want to reach out to them directly and be there to help them. This is a perfect opportunity to do that. Think I am going to miss it? Nope. I don’t think it is about blueberries.
I struggle with this, too. The only day I get to see my mom (with whom I’ve had a strained relationship in the past) is on Shabbat. She loves to garden, and it’s one of the few activities that we both enjoy. So when she comes over, we play in the garden. I suppose that this is technically a violation of Torah, but I also see it as a ministry and service to my mom (who is definitely NOT a believer in Torah, as she is a member of CRU, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). We don’t meet every week, but when she comes, I do go with her to plant or prune. I don’t really know whether Gd would approve or not regarding Shabbat, but I do know he wants me to love and honor my mom. And this is an opportunity for me to show her love.
Right on Amanda, YHWH is blessing you!
What’s the difference between what you are doing and helping a stranger pull his donkey out of a ditch? I believe you’re doing the right thing. Love trumps all.
Isaiah 58:13-14 (NKJV)
“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Every thought, observance and discussion about Shabbat would seem to have it’s foundation in verses like these. Amen? The Father knows how we are.
These verses are talking specifically about the Day of Atonement, not the weekly sabbath.
Amen, Skip!
Having come out of the “church” many years ago, I attempted to leave the garbage there and learn to live Torah the best I could. My understanding of Torah grows and I attempt to live in it and Keeping Sabbath has been and is a major cornerstone in my Torah observing/living life! These years have brought me close to many who have come out of the church but have chosen to adapt to the baggage that the Rabbi’s have practiced and taught in their belief system. Unfortunately, it appears that they have come out from one type of bondage to another. Personally, I try to filter as much activity through Torah and my understanding at the time as to how I do the things I do.
As you recall, Skip, I asked you at the end of the Sabbath at your last visit to Port St. Joe your understanding about buying and selling on Sabbath. I ask if it was some Jewish tradition and/or was there scripture that outlined this activity. You indicated that you have had those questions before and you were in the process of finding out. It appears you are in that process!! I was and am truly concerned and want to learn. I hope you did not think I was passing judgment on you.. LOL
I have a good friend out in Colorado whom I like to converse these kinds of matters with as well as other things we both share interest in. Having a long history outside the church and having served as an elder in a Messianic Synagogue, I posed this question to him after the Port St. Joe time. Below is his reply to me and I think it was well done.
Here goes:
Well, there are several scriptures which imply or are indicative that buying and selling on the Sabbath is to be restricted.
The Sabbath itself is described as a day of complete rest, do not do any work. Exodus 20:8-11; 31:14-15; 35:2; Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Buying and selling is “work”. One definition of “work” in Judaism is “expanding one’s domain”. Buying and selling is expanding one’s domain.
Nehemiah 10:31 “and that if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a set-apart day, and we would forego the seventh year and the interest of every hand.”
Nehemiah 13:15-22 “In those days I saw in Yehuḏah those treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the Sabbath day. So I warned them on the day they sold food. 16 And men of Tsor dwelt there, bringing in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Yehuḏah, and in Yerushalayim. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Yehuḏah, and said to them, “What evil matter is this that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 “Did not your fathers do the same so that our Elohim brought all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Yisra’ĕl by profaning the Sabbath.” 19 And it came to be, at the gates of Yerushalayim, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 And the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares spent the night outside Yerushalayim once or twice, 21 and I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Lĕwites that they should cleanse themselves, and they should come, guarding the gates, to set apart the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my Elohim, concerning this also, and pardon me according to the greatness of Your kindness! ”
Jeremiah 17:21-27 Here is what Adonai says: “If you value your lives, don’t carry anything on Shabbat or bring it in through the gates of Yerushalayim; 22 don’t carry anything out of your houses on Shabbat; and don’t do any work. Instead, make Shabbat a holy day. I ordered your ancestors to do this, 23 but they neither listened nor paid attention; rather, they stiffened their necks, so that they wouldn’t have to hear or receive instruction. 24 However, if you will pay careful heed to me,” says Adonai “and carry nothing through the gates of this city on Shabbat, but instead make Shabbat a day which is holy and not for doing work; 25 then kings and princes occupying the throne of David will enter through the gates of this city, riding in chariots and on horses. They, their princes, the people of Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim will enter; and this city will be inhabited forever. 26 They will come from the cities of Y’hudah, from the places surrounding Yerushalayim, from the land of Binyamin, from the Sh’felah, from the hills and from the Negev, bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, frankincense and thanksgiving sacrifices to the house of Adonai. 27 But if you will not obey me and make Shabbat a holy day and not carry loads through the gates of Yerushalayim on Shabbat, then I will set its gates on fire; it will burn up the palaces of Yerushalayim and not be quenched.” ‘ ”
And of course, Amos 8:5 which says:”5 You say, “When will Rosh-Hodesh be over, so we can market our grain? and Shabbat, so we can sell wheat?” You measure the grain in a small eifah, but the silver in heavy shekels, fixing the scales, so that you can cheat, ”
The biggie, Truett, is Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. 9 You have six days to labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work -not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the for eigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. 11 For in six days, ADONAI made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why ADONAI blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself.”
No, it does not come right out and say “don’t buy or sell”, but it is pretty clear!
I heard something that was interesting about Shabbat. It’s that the work that is prohibited on shabbat isn’t the type of work that we think of which is hard labor. It’s another type because I guess Hebrew has two words for ‘work’. The type that is prohibited is more like tinkering rather then heavy labor. The implications of that tinkering is an attachment to something that is pretty much done but you can’t stop to pull yourself away from it. Without separation their is not independence, without independence there is no appreciation for what you’ve made, otherwise you are just looking at an extension of you ie, no different then any other day.
Later he describes it as, when the mother and father walk a bride/groom down the isle for their wedding the second they leave their hands it’s a moment of mixed emotions. One moment they can laugh their face off, the very next they could go to a back room and cry. Why? Their ‘work’ on their child is ‘officially’ done. Their child is now independent of them and ‘work’ on their child is to seize to exist. The tinkering is done. It’s exciting, and yet their is a sadness, but it generally ends with a joy that cannot be experienced without tinkering being seized.
I think there is a difference between work and tinkering or in my mind ‘getting ahead’. I made coffee this morning, is it work? I guess some could say, but apparently they haven’t seen me without coffee.
I find there is more subjective/personal conviction then anything else. I figure the common thread that boils down to with everything is, “Are you doing activity ______ to get ahead?” If you are then it’s probably breaking Shabbat, if you are not then I doubt it.
I also talked to a Rabbi when I was working on Shabbat he said to me, “You have to support your family and that takes a higher spot then Shabbat”. There is merit in that, I don’t think someone is suppose to miss out on a job when they can’t get hired and turn down multiple ones when it’s for the reason they might have to work on Saturday. Again all of that is in my opinion.
I understand your point though Truett
It is never my intention to judge folks on these issues. The scriptures speak for themselves and if we take the time to go back to the original words like Skip and others do in getting the true meaning of the words, context, etc., then we come away from those studies understanding it better.
I worked most of my career in the medical/hospital business. The last few years was traveling from hospital to another working on short term contracts; helping fill in gaps for the full time staff person who needed to be off or at times when procedure loads needed another body to cover their immediate needs. In working through those contracts most would indicate a need for some weekend coverage. My goal was to tell them that I would work every Sunday if I could be allowed off on Saturday including the evening of Friday. Usually, the contracts meant working weekend times every other weekend. When hearing that I would work every Sunday, they were very happy to comply. Fortunately this happened to work for me but it may not work for others. Being in the healing profession, I had no problem working on Sabbath but I still tried to work some other arrangement if I could and in these situations, it worked out.
Folks, we are in Babylon! We need to keep the Instructions the best we can; living and prospering ourselves and others as a set apart people. I think back to the stories when there was a Temple in Jerusalem and how the Levites were killing all manner of livestock to sacrifice. Now, that had to be hard WORK! But, I guess that was not what the Father meant by work since it was in the service to Him. If we keep a keen sense of how we live in His Instructions (worship Him) at all times and not feel we are in bondage (light yoke) then we are doing the best we can do. Lighten up and LIVE!
I agree. Lighten up and live, also we are in Babylon. We can pretend that we are not in Babylon but it only makes life more stressful then it’s needed. Remember He took us out of Egypt and that He set aside the Shabbat apart then all other day. Past that do your best…and we’re in Babylon so it’s not going to be perfect.
This is one of those that I will have to sit and digest. Shabbat has always been tricky for me. Since it’s so vague (IMO) on what you can do in this modern world, I do a lot of shoulder shrugging. Example, “Should I watch T.V today. I haven’t watched T.V all week, so I would be making it different still?”.
A couple things that I can think of would be this: 1) He has to smile when He see’s His children trying to keep His Torah and even if we get it wrong at least we are thinking about it. 2) It proves to me the paradigm that ‘rules’ do keep anxiety down. If it was really specific there would be no, “can I do this that or the other”. 3) I figure it’s a day that I try to end all strife that might have been there in the week (causing shalom), setting it apart by praising Him more then I normally do, and also just trying not to get ahead in one sense or another.
I’m the type of person where I figure I’m doing it wrong, but I know I’m doing the best that I can. When it starts to feel like a burden, I need to check what I’m doing because I doubt that I’m doing it right or I need to change my thinking – since everything that comes from Him is good.
Interesting post Skip, would love to hear more on the subject. I bought Heschel book on Sabbath. It was a fantastic book but it still left me with a lot of questions.
Nehemiah has already been mentioned. But I’m so happy to read and learn from the conversation. I love the spirit inquiry, … and all I want is to be a part of a people genuinely seeking His will. I hope we do not get tired of the necessary questions and challenges necesary for growth.
I liked the references listed by Truett’s friend, but I have always just looked at Exodus 20:8-11 (the last but not least on the list) [with my observations listed in brackets]:
Exodus 20:8-11
8 “Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. [“…set it apart…”: if I do the same stuff on Shabbat that I do during the week, how is that setting it apart?]
9 You have six days to labor and do all your work, [What is “work”? Hence the reason for today’s Today’s Word. Is mowing the lawn work? For me, it is, but I have no problem with my wife playing in her garden…to her, this is relaxation and meditating time.]
10 but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work -not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. [I am not to work, and I should not cause others to work. If I buy something on Shabbat, then am I not causing someone else to work?]
11 For in six days, ADONAI made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why ADONAI blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself.”
If someone does not agree with me on how to keep Sabbath (or any of the mitzvot for that matter), I don’t see it as my job to brow beat them into what I feel is compliance. Of course, this is a whole separate topic that deserves more than this little comment section.
But in the meantime, Shabbat Shalom to all!
Thank you to all who have responded and given us much food for thought. I see one idea being presented over and over again. Yeshua more than once healed on the Sabbath day. What is it that the most of you are presenting in your choices for Sabbath behavior? Healing. Healing in relationships with loved ones, with neighbors. Healing in our own relationships with YHVH. Healing extended to those in need, man or beast. Happy Sabbath, everyone.
Everyone should read Isaiah 56: 1-8 afresh, with the Holy Spirit on their hearts ( i.e. Jeremiah 31:31), for it’s G-d’s word specifically to the Gentiles on Sabbath, which after all is G-d’s 4th Commandment. It is also preceeded by Isaiah 55:8 and remember that in the original text there were no chapters or numbered verses, so Isaiah clearly explains in ch 56 1-8 exactly how G-d’s ways are higher and different to our ways, which is lost because of the man made chapter break.
The first four commandments are between G-d & man, which Yeshua sums up as ” Love the Lord your G-d.” Commandments 5 to 10 are between man & man, which Yeshua sums up as “Love you neighbour”. Yeshua does a shortened precis of the 10 words of instruction. He is Lord of the Sabbath, which means he knew how to keep it properly.
Further, if you really want to know what G-d thinks about something, look at the punishment. In the case of breaking Sabbath, it is death; the sting in the tail! Why, because it is a form of blasphemy. That is why in the story of the man collecting sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32) he had to be stoned and why it immediately follows the laws on blasphemy (deliberate intentional sin Numbers 30-31). Breaking Sabbath is like blasphemy.
Teaching the word of G-d on the Sabbath, healing the sick, setting people free, is clearly NOT breaking G-d’s Sabbath. But as Isaiah says in Ch.58:13 we have to refrain our feet from doing what WE please & we have to actively (verb-like) make or call the Sabbath a delight in a way the Lord of the Sabbath would delight in, which is exactly how the Father would delight in, for the Father & Son are as one.
Isaiah 56 is specifically about the Day of Atonement, not the weekly sabbath. They are beautiful verses, but they are not about the weekly sabbath.
sorry, the reference should be Isaiah 58:13-14
I omitted to say in my previous post regarding Sabbath & the first 4 commandments, that the way we show that we love the Lord and ackowledge Him as as our only god, is by keeping Sabbath. That is the love He wants from us. If we can’t get our relationship right, first between ourselves & G-d, how will we be able to comply with the rest of the commandments between man & man?
Continuing……in Isaiah Ch 56 the emphasis is first keep my Sabbath, then second, abstain from evil. Likewise, it follows, first keep my Sabbath, then care for the widow, orphan & the poor. Keep my Sabbath, then heal the sick and set the captives free. G-d has an order to things. Let’s follow suit. Acknowledge Him in the first 4 commandments, then acknowledge your neighbour in the remaning 5 plus all the rest of G-d’s instructions. We were given the gifts of the Word of G-d & the Holy Spirit so we can work this all out. It is not up in heaven or across the seas!! ( Deut 30:12-13).
Well said Rick. I think a lot of it is subjective. Consider if I buy something on Amazon on a Thursday. I have opened and opportunity for someone at the warehouse to have to work on Saturday or Friday night to get the package to me by Monday. So it’s one of those I figure you do just the best that you can do.
Also agree with, “If someone does not agree with me on how to keep Sabbath (or any of the mitzvot for that matter), I don’t see it as my job to brow beat them into what I feel is compliance…”. I figure that even if you (anyone for that matter) or myself is doing a mitzvot wrong fortunately enough there would be 612 other ones that we could have the possibility of doing right.
Some mitzvots to me are hard to figure out and there is thought involved ie Shabbat (at least for me). Others like:
Not to wrong any one in speech (Lev. 25:17)
Not to bear a grudge (Lev. 19:18)
To learn Torah and to teach it (Deut. 6:7)
Are pretty straight forward, I know exactly what to do and I somehow fail to carry these out daily/weekly/monthly. I figure that I know what I know because of Him. If I’m doing something wrong and I’m not exactly sure how to do it – then so be it. I’m sure it will get clarified at some point in time. If I’m doing something wrong and I know it’s wrong, I figure that carries a different type of judgement. Put’s the discussion of Shabbat in perspective maybe.
Thanks for addressing this topic! My wife and I are having a dilemma on this very issue and would like all your input! We are on the local volunteer fire department and the training for wild land fire certification takes 40 hours all of which are on Sabbath. Thus far we have not participated in the training . Any thoughts out there?
I can understand your dilemma, for the training would be “work.” However, keeping in mind that Torah is all about LIFE, this training would better enable you to preserve life. If God has put this on your heart to learn, then learn it. Did not many people lie to preserve the Jewish people during WWII? Matthew 12:11-12: “11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (ESV) Similarly, I doubt God would be for all health care workers to stop working on the Sabbath, for many are needed to preserve lives, and lives are more important than not working. I applaud you for your willingness to do such an important and necessary job. If we lived in a country that kept the Sabbath, then the training would not be on the Sabbath. However, even a Sabbath-keeping country can not keep your skills from being needed on the Sabbath.
Great advice for Ron, and these are my sentiments precisely.
I find your conclusions very interesting. I’m writing this comment on Shabbat because there is no Scripture reference for NOT writing on Shabbat. I use the computer for reading, studying, etc. on Shabbat because it aids in my study which is something I completely enjoy on Shabbat.
However, I don’t buy, sell, or trade on Shabbat because I believe there IS Biblical support for this rule found in the book of Nehemiah 13:15-20.
From my reading, I’ve found only 7 restrictions on Shabbat.
No work (Ex. 20:10)
No kindling fire (Ex. 35:3)
No buying (Neh. 13:15-20)
No selling (Neh. 13:15-20)
No trading (Neh. 13:15-20)
No personal pleasure (Isaiah 58:13)
Do not forsake gathering in assembly (Lev. 23:3)
I’m curious to know how one identifies “writing” as a prohibition.
Opened and read on Shabbat. 🙂 and asking a couple of questions. Could someone please clarify the nine actions prohibited and it being okay to buy and sell? Thank you. Shabbat Shalom!
We have to keep in mind these commands for Sabbath were given to a redeemed people. They were not given to individuals living in isolation outside the land of Israel. We are in exile! Babylon is not conducive to the commands of YHWH (especially the ones regarding Sabbath)! Torah is a relationship, walking with YHWH and each other.
On a personal note: The job I work at requires that I work most Sabbath’s. Torah is an easy yoke, and is about this life and abundant living in the here and now. YHWH understands that I live in Babylon, and I am not in the ideal situation to honor the Sabbath. I believe I still honor the “spirit” of the Sabbath by supporting and taking care of my family.
You might try doing what the orthodox do. Which is- first make a really strict rule and then find a clever “legal” way to get around it. For example, the story of the Orthodox group which wanted to have a conference at a hotel over the weekend. In order to do this , since they were not to travel but so far from their ‘home’ on Shabbat, they went to the hotel manager and prepared a “purchase agreement” and bought the hotel. That made the hotel their “legal home” for Shabbat., Thus they were “obedient” to the Mitzvah. After the conference was over, they “sold it back” to its rightful owners. Folks do things like this for Passover … they “sell their chametz” to their Christian neighbor until after Pesach at which time they buy it back. TRhere are hundreds of stories just like this. Find one and you can do it too.
All the comments are interesting, and I think show that we are all grappling with this in some way. For me, I’ve had to work on the first part, “Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy.” I’ve had to renew my mind considerably about the Sabbath, since I lived a long time believing the Sabbath was the first day of the week. I was taught that Jesus was raised from the dead on “the first day of the week,” so we worshipped on Sunday. It took Skip and a few others to open my heart to the notion that none of that was accurate.
I thank YHWH for the each Sabbath I am alive, remember what HE did on the first Sabbath, not me, then try to set it apart in some way. I’ve recently read Mark Nanos’ book on Romans, and now think that Paul’s instructions in Romans are different than what I’ve always believed. In that context, I am trying to work that what that means for me, even in regards to the Sabbath. I am even having trouble deciding if I should be content to strive to be a “righteous gentile” or to convert to Judaism, while recognizing Yeshua as the Messiah in either case.. Right now, that internal struggle is more important to me that than whether I read TW on the Sabbath, or work in the yard today.
As a side note. I did notice that the Sabbath was never discussed by all the preachers that appeared on television to denounce the gay marriage decision. I heard a lot of talk about how we were supposed to live, the certain commandments we all had to follow, but zip on the Sabbath. I was sad that something we were specifically commanded to “remember” never got a mention.
Rusty, there is no stink worse than a good thing gone wrong, and I guess no one alive here remembers the huge fights that have gone on in the past over the Sunday “Blue Laws”, the worst being around the turn of the last century here in the U.S., I believe. Now, THERE’S a real problem! The original Sunday blue laws were initiated by Constantine, and they just went downhill from there. They eventually got so bad on Sabbathkeepers that they could not function at all, which was the design. Personally, I don’t want to hear the TV preachers talk about the Sabbath, ’cause for sure they will get the wrong one, and do us all in! Again! Great discussion.
Today I had to WORK at staying awake during the Rabbi’s sermon. Should I have been stoned? 🙂 All this reading and writing has made me tired, so I am now going to fulfill the intent of Sabbath and REST…as in a nap. Shabbat shalom.
Ah, now the Shabbat is over for me, let me say how great it is to see so many people commenting. I will write more about this in the next few days. Maybe we can make progress on this complicated and confusing topic. Hang on.
I don’t know the answer, but can I just say I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC. I desperately need to discuss the “how” in a neutral way, but most of the discussions I have seen on Messianic groups have turned ugly and judgmental. Or people absolutely refuse to talk about it because it *could* turn ugly or judgmental.
All I know is… no, God’s laws don’t change. But keeping this day restful and holy in “Babylon” in 2015 simply must be different than keeping it in Israel a few thousand years ago. I pray often for God to direct my steps and convict me somehow of the things I may be doing or not doing to keep this day in its fullness.
But my goodness I wish I could talk about it more than I have been able to!
There is scripture that talks about not buying or selling on Shabbat. Neh 10:31 and 13:15-21
Writing or erasing two letters…they’ve got to be kidding! When I study the Bible, I often write my thoughts “to remember” what I read and what I’ve learned. Since I read Scripture practically every day of the week (unless something has screwed up my day), I’m bound to write something every day. What you can and can’t do on Shabbat has always bugged me since I began attempting to remember and keep the Sabbath holy. I guess it always will. Sometimes I do things without thinking and later wonder, “should I have done that?” Well, what’s done is done. You can bet I’m going to drive somewhere on Shabbat if I want to gather with like-minded believers to study Scripture, sing, dance, and fellowship…I just try to make sure I’ve filled up the gas tank the day before so I can get where I’m going. I could go on and on but I think you’ve covered it quite well already.
Isaiah 58 doesn’t relate only to the Day of Atonement.
The first part of Ch 58 refers to ANY fast day. And 58:13-14 is well accepted as referring to ALL G-d’s Sabbaths and it is recited every Sabbath as part of the prayer for the sanctification of the wine on Shabbat, which is said immediately after the morning / additional service. It doesn’t make sense to restrict it to the Day of Atonement, which G-d does not declare to be a fast day, but rather a day of denying oneself. It is only in Zechariah 8:19 where it is included with the other fast days, as by that time it was well established that in order to deny oneself, you fasted.
I hope that helps.
Isaiah 58 is applied to Shabbat by the prophet. That does not mean, however, that the prohibitions in Isaiah are included in Torah as specific declarations. That is the point of this exercise. The prophets extended Shabbat protocols and the rabbis of the Second Temple Period extended them even further. But the question is what does Moses actually say. That’s where we must begin. I am more than willing to accept what the prophets say within the cultural context of their times, but I am beginning to worry about what the rabbis did with the extensions of Shabbat prohibitions (and continue to do). Halachah is a communal function. Adopting a particular community regulation is not the same as submitting to a direct statement from the Torah, in my opinion.
A very good point indeed. Yeshua also gets involved in Halacha in the making, just as all the prophets & rabbis do. His sermon on the Mount is Halacha and his declaration that he is Lord of the Sabbath is Halacha. His statement that Isaiah 61 refers to him is Halacha. What he does on Shabbat by healing the sick, is Halacha in the making. He makes Halacha by saying Sabbath is made for man, not the other way round. We constantly need the Holy Spirit to help us know how to walk in new situations and understand the heart of G-d behind the His Laws for life.
I meant that to be a reply to Aurora, but pressed the wrong button!
I admire your commitment to the Lord and his Son, whose name is the Word of God.The Lord said the Sabbath was made for man , it is a gift from God , and with all gifts we are steward’s to keep-shamar as we were in the beginning to keep the garden, we must always be on guard to the wiles of the evil one not to be tricked calling wrong right to conform that it appears to be of nessity . Shamar your Heart for out of it flow the issues of Life. God bless your work of what’s right on the Sabbath, and keep you in peace . My Brother in the Lord