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Sabbath, a Gift to
Recover by Peter L. DeGroote |
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Notes for Bible Talk: September 14, 2005 Please read: Exodus 20: 8-11 |
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Bible Talk is an informal
discussion of biblical passages, ideas, and related material. The discussions are on Wednesday
evenings at 7:30 pm, following the Service of Word and Table. Occasionally,
they will not be held due to special events. These Notes are intended to
assist participants in thinking about the passages and some of their
implications prior to the gathering. Usually, the Notes are
prepared and the discussion is led by Rev. Peter L. DeGroote The sources for biblical quotations are
labeled as follows: NRSV: The New
Revised Standard Version, Copyright ©1989, The National Council of
Churches of Christ in the SV: The Scholar’s Version; i.e., The Five Gospels, The Search for the
Authentic Words of Jesus, Robert W. Funk and Roy W. Hoover, and The Jesus Seminar, Copyright © 1993 by Polebridge Press. TM: The
Message, The New Testament in Contemporary Language, Copyright ©
Eugene H. Peterson 1993. navpress,
M: My paraphrase. |
1. The Ten Commandments are commonly broken into two
parts, the first three concerning our relations with God, the remainder our
relations with each other. Some place the fourth commandment in the first,
others in the second category. 2. The fourth commandment requires a Sabbath. It
contains three elements: First, the necessity of human work is acknowledged.
Second, one in every seven days is to be a Sabbath day wherein no one and
nothing works, including the animals. Third, we are to do it because God
rested on the seventh and we are to live in harmony with God. 3. In early Israel Sabbath meant a complete work
stoppage for the whole family, clan, and village. One portion of the passage
is addressed to those in charge: you shall not work—you, your son or your
daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in
your towns. (NRSV) Knowing the penchant for some to relax while others
continued to work for their benefit, those in charge, the owners, managers,
and administrators were expected to make the Sabbath possible. Do not require
anyone to work, not even your animals, but let all celebrate God's creation
and activity among us. Sabbath involves several underlying themes, including
the following: A.
Sabbath is the opportunity to both declare and celebrate human equality
before God. Human distinctions based on being the boss, wealthy, or powerful
are cast aside. No one may give orders or directions; all are to rest and be restored in God's presence. It is done to honor and
respect (or love) God and, as Jesus later pointed out, to truly honor and
respect (love) God, we inevitably honor and respect (love) others. Sabbath
was a tool of spiritual discipline reminding all of their equality before
God. B.
Sabbath was also a proclamation of freedom. The economic, political, and
social structures that control our day-to-day existence always want more from
us than we can give and we are often lured into expecting from them more than
they are able to give us. A Sabbath day sends the message that our safety,
security, even our rest and well being do not come from endless productivity
and social activity but from our trust in God. Sabbath demonstrated that
human wisdom and strength ultimately rest in one's being able to rest in the
presence of God. C.
The biblical Sabbath has little to do with going to Church on Sunday. Nothing
is said about worship. Worship with a community is essential to spiritual
health, but, originally, it was not a Sabbath activity. Actually, worship and
other Sunday activities usually mean work for quite a number of people. 4. When introduced, Sabbath was revolutionary; becoming
one of the several unique characteristics differentiating the Israelites from
others in the ancient world. For them, it served several additional
functions, including: A.
Sabbath was a symbol of identity for the Israelites, an identity that also
reflected a singleness of purpose that often infuriated others. B.
Sabbath was also a sign by which a whole people pointed to their
understanding of God and God's relation to humanity. C.
Despite it sometimes being taken to the extreme, and at other time very
casually, Sabbath was a way that a faithful people could share (witness)
their experience of God to others. 5. In a multicultural society, it seems pointless to
even dream of recapturing this ancient sense of an entire society keeping
Sabbath. Even when we seek a Sabbath of our own, we are usually looking for
relaxation and recreation, not contemplation of our relationship with God and
God's creation. Likewise, most of our Sabbath activities require that someone
else work, even if it is just watching the football games. Nevertheless, the functions of ancient
Sabbath place before us questions we need to answer. What is it that is used
by Christians to identify a singleness of purpose? What behaviors (not words)
do we use to demonstrate our experience of God? By what behavior (not words)
do we share (witness) our experience of God to others? Peter L. DeGroote |
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