Lesson Summary

The importance of the Sabbath.
Reorienting ourselves to the purpose of Sabbath.
Christ’s assertion that the Sabbath was made for humanity and not the other way around.

Rules about the rules

Have you ever made a big mistake that you really regretted?

Did you do anything to make sure you did not make the same mistake again?

Use checklists [URL:https://zapier.com/blog/the-checklist-manifesto/] to reduce mistakes

Takeoff and Landing Checklist Best Practices [URL:https://www.businessaircraftcenter.com/articles/small-airplane-take-off-landing-check-list-best-practices-art0317.htm]

Learn How to Avoid Making the Same Mistakes [URL:https://takenyahampton.com/how-to-avoid-repeating-the-same-mistakes/]

Read about the The Power of a Simple Chekclist to Avoid Mistakes [URL:https://checkify.com/blog/power-of-a-simple-checklist/]

Train yourself to pay attention to your errors. Keep a record of them. Then, review them regularly to avoid making them again. a

How about the Jews?

Following their exile b and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Jews determined not to repeat their forefathers’ errors that had led them into captivity – in particular, Sabbath observance, returning a faithful tithe, and marrying unbelievers.

They made rules about the rules to make sure that they would not fall into those sins again.

Not only would they refrain from marrying unbelievers, but they would avoid interacting with Gentiles altogether (cf. Parable of the Good Samaritan [the neighbour] Luke 10:25-37

KJV ²⁵ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? ²⁶ He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? ²⁷ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. ²⁸ And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. ²⁹ But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? ³⁰ And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. ³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, ³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. ³⁶ Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? ³⁷ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. CEV ²⁵ An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to have eternal life?” ²⁶ Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?” ²⁷ The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ ” ²⁸ Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.” ²⁹ But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, “Who are my neighbors?” ³⁰ Jesus replied: As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. ³² Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side. ³³ A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him ³⁴ and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵ The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, “Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.” ³⁶ Then Jesus asked, “Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the Law of Moses answered, “The one who showed pity.” Jesus said, “Go and do the same!”
).

They would be very careful and precise in returning their tithe, but neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness (cf. Matthew 23:23

KJV ²³ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. CEV ²³ You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either.
).

And they made many rules to point out what was and was not permissible behavior on the Sabbath, but lost the beauty of true Sabbath rest (cf. Healed man accused of sinning for carrying his mat on the Sabbath John 5:10

KJV ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. CEV ¹⁰ When the Jewish leaders saw the man carrying his mat, they said to him, “This is the Sabbath! No one is allowed to carry a mat on the Sabbath.”
).

Have you wondered what kind of rules the pharisees made up about the Sabbath?

Many Jews are still very concerned about these rules!

The rules look something like this:

The Shabbath Laws [URL:https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/95907/jewish/The-Shabbat-Laws.htm]

When people have learned that I keep the seventh-day Sabbath, they have often mistaken me for keeping the Jewish Sabbath.

Do we really keep the Jewish Sabbath?

By the time Jesus came to earth, the Sabbath was so weighed down by humanity’s requirements that He had to ask such a basic question as:

“Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” (Luke 6:9

KJV ⁹ Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? CEV ⁹ Then Jesus asked, “On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone's life or destroy it?”
, KJV).

The Sabbath was, for the Pharisees, more about what you ought not do than it was about what you should experience.

Do we sometimes make the same mistake?

Principle and practice

According to Genesis 2:2

KJV ² And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. CEV ² By the seventh day God had finished his work, and so he rested.
what did God do at the end of creation week?

God rested!

Yet God did not cease from all activity.

What didn't He stop doing?

He continued to make sure that the universe held together (Colossians 1:17

KJV ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. CEV ¹⁷ God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.
).

From the very beginning God introduced the principle that Sabbath is not a day for complete inactivity – activities that sustain life are appropriate on the Sabbath day.

Can you give me some examples of activities that sustain life?

Mark 2:23-28

KJV ²³ And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. ²⁴ And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? ²⁵ And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? ²⁶ How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? ²⁷ And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: ²⁸ Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. CEV (Matthew 12.
1-8; Luke 6.
1-5) ²³ One Sabbath Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields. His disciples were picking grains of wheat as they went along. ²⁴ Some Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!” ²⁵ Jesus answered, “Haven't you read what David did when he and his followers were hungry and in need? ²⁶ It was during the time of Abiathar the high priest. David went into the house of God and ate the sacred loaves of bread that only priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his followers.” ²⁷ Jesus finished by saying, “People were not made for the good of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for the good of people. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath.”

To eat the grain was permissible, to take grain from a field you do not own was permissible, but in an attempt to guard the sanctity of the Sabbath, the Pharisees had made it impossible for the grain to satisfy the need of its harvester, leading to a miserable Sabbath experience.

What the pharisees failed to remember was that the Sabbath and the sanctuary service were instituted for the benefit of humanity.

Outside of the context of a loving relationship with the Creator, the Pharisees found themselves serving the Sabbath instead of benefiting from its blessings.

They seemed to be idolising a false god they called Sabbath!

No rest can be experienced when the mind is continuously taxed with the burden of ensuring compliance with a set of rules.

The pharisees, in their attempts to keep the Sabbath holy with their supplementary rules, they disregarded what was plainly required in the commandment—to rest.

The ceremonial law (The 613 Commandments (Mitzvot) d ) was not the principle but the practice.

Care must be taken not to go against the principle in the name of preserving the practice.

How do you distinguish between principle and practice?

Illustration: Sabbath I went through a Bus Lane! I didn't reverse out of it, though I though about it. I didn't turn left into a small street because it said, "No left turn", but I thought about it. I didn't stop and cover the number plate, but I thought about it.

NSW Road Rules (353) [ID:1663967721878]

With so many road rules, I doubt anyone here knows all the road rules. So, can we assume that we drive guided by principle?

e.g.

A driver in NSW is required to wear a seatbelt at all times while in their vehicle unless the vehicle is parked. e

In a church environment,

Can you think of any situations where it is unclear what the principle is behind a practice required by God or by your church?

Freedom in action

Many hold the misguided view that surrender to God automatically results in a restriction of their freedom, a deprivation of “fun.”

In the Scriptures God outlines His justification for requiring the obedience of His people:

He freed them!

He did for them what they could not do for themselves. – Exodus 20:2

KJV ² I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. CEV ² I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves.

God freed the enslaved Israelites first, then He required of them compliance with His entire holy law of righteousness.

He freed them so that they might obey Him.

Obedience to God is freedom in action at the highest level.

Of the Ten Commandments, the freedom component is specifically attached to the fourth, thus associating it with the Israelites’ history.

After healing a woman from severe curvature of the spine, Jesus (who liberated the enslaved Israelites) said,

“And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16

KJV ¹⁶ And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? CEV ¹⁶ This woman belongs to the family of Abraham, but Satan has kept her bound for eighteen years. Isn’t it right to set her free on the Sabbath?”
, KJV).

The sons and daughters of Abraham, who were bound and bent over by Satan in Egyptian bondage, were made free by Moses (a type of Christ) that they might serve their liberator.

The Sabbath is a weekly celebration of God-given freedom from the ultimate bondage—sin!

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1

KJV ¹ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. CEV ¹ Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again.
, KJV).

How do you reconcile God’s requirement for strict obedience to His law with His promise of perfect freedom?

Freedom within rules sounds very much like a paradox, doesn't it?

Can strictly abiding by road rules give you the freedom to drive to Brisbane?

Do you think the opposite could be true?

That you are a free spirit – you don't follow rules – and get in your car and drive on any side of the road and at any type of speed.

When you see a truck coming towards you around a curve, you go faster than the speed limit and don't keep a safe distance from it or even drive on it's lane towards it?

The law of God is a law of liberty, a law of freedom made possible through the Spirit of God within us. f

All vacancies filled

“Nature abhors a vacuum.” – Aristotle

The phrase expresses the idea that unfilled spaces go against the laws of nature and physics and that every space needs to be filled with something.

Nature certainly does abhor a vacum!

After the summary statement of creation in Genesis 1:1

KJV ¹ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. CEV ¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
, the Bible describes the condition of the raw matter that existed:

“And the earth was without form, and void” – (Genesis 1:2

KJV ² And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. CEV ² The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.
, KJV).

Without form (tohu) and void (bohu).

Chaos and emptiness!

Creation introduced order and symmetry where there was chaos,

and vibrant life where there was emptiness.

Creation week lists three shining examples of God filling emptiness:

On days three and six, God filled the earth with three forms of life: plant, animal, and human. All vacancies filled!

“In the natural world God has placed in the hands of the children of men the key to unlock the treasure house of His Word. The unseen is illustrated by the seen; divine wisdom, eternal truth, infinite grace, are understood by the things that God has made.” (White, Child Guidance, 46.)

Are you spending enough time contemplating God's nature? Or are you more interested in the infinite scrolling left right of online virtual platforms?

The God of creation, the God of the seventh-day Sabbath, knows how to fill vacancies, and He stands ready to fill vacancies in the lives of His children.

The vacancy may have been created by death, by divorce, by unemployment, by romantic breakups, or by educational disappointment.

The situation may seem to be “without form and void,” but the loving Creator can fill those voids!

Nature abhors a vacuum, and so does God!

In what ways can Sabbath observance make your life more fulfilling?

If you feel lonely through the week, Sabbath is a day to mingle with your brothers and sisters in Christ. (Don't neglect meeting together Hebrews 10:25

KJV ²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. CEV ²⁵ Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.
)

Keep it Holy

As important as the Sabbath rest is, Ellen White tells us that

We should not feel it our duty to introduce arguments upon the Sabbath question as we meet people. Only when they surrender their heart and mind and will to God, only then will they be ready to examine the evidence in regard to these serious and testing truths. (White, Evangelism, 228.)

From a practical stand point, Ellen White also said that,

We should not provide for the Sabbath a more liberal supply or a greater variety of food than we do for other days. Instead of this the food should be more simple, and less should be eaten, in order that the mind may be clear and healthy to comprehend spiritual things.

In other words, don't aim to get food drunk on the Sabbath!

However, she also says to,

...let the meals, though simple, be tasty and attractive. Provide something that will be regarded as a treat, something the family do not have every day. (White, Child Guidance, 532.)

Do you have a special meal only reserved for the Sabbath

{big}Adventist Haystacks?

Jesus was a perfect pattern of what we should be. He was the strictest observer of His Father's law, yet He moved in perfect freedom.

He was elevated above the common affairs of the world, yet He did not exclude Himself from society.

Ellen White says that,

His zeal never degenerated into passion nor His consistency into selfish obstinacy. His benevolence never savored of weakness nor His sympathy of sentimentalism. He combined the innocence and simplicity of the child with manly strength, all-absorbing devotion to God with tender love for man. He possessed commanding dignity combined with winning grace of humility. He manifested unyielding firmness with gentleness.(Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1967), 54.)

After learning more about the Sabbath, are you inspired to make changes of your personal time?

How about changes in your social life?

May true Sabbath rest help us live daily in close connection with Jesus' perfect, faultless character and experience true freedom, that can only be found when fearing God and keeping His commandments.

Questions / Summary

How have you had a miserable experience by keeping the Sabbath “in your own way”?

How would the principles of the Sabbath be broken by keeping it “in your own way” as well?

What are examples of practice following principle? What are examples of principles erroneously following practice?

What are the current vacuums that you have in your life?

How does Sabbath point to them?

How has or how can the Creator fill in these vacuums?

What Sabbath traditions do you hold, and what are the principles behind them?

Why does humanity need the Sabbath?

How has this topic increased the quality of your spiritual development and biblical understanding?