The Fourth Commandment: A Sabbath Rest

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work-you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock or the foreigner who is within your gates.-Exodus 20: 8-11

The fourth commandment is based out of creation (v.11). It describes how God made the heavens and the earth and then rested on the seventh day. This Sabbath commandment is found in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 as well. In Deuteronomy the commandment is modeled after God's provision in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. So in Exodus it is related to God's model of rest in creation, and in Deuteronomy it is related to redemption. God's people are therefore called to remember God, the Creator and Redeemer, on the Sabbath.

While there are a number of views on what it means to keep the Sabbath today, it seems that the focus is on the rest, remembering, and worshiping. God said, "Remember the Sabbath day." This calls us to think back to creation, as pointed out in verse 11, and to remember redemption, as pointed out in Deuteronomy 5. God's people are to remember God's creating and redeeming work and God's rest. Further, the Sabbath ultimately points us to a final resting day, which is affirmed in the New Testament (Heb 4:9-10).

Some are very strict in insiting that this happen on the seventh day of the week. However, I do not think the moral demand is on the seventh day of the week. I think the responsibility that is laid on us is to follow the biblical pattern of working six days and resting and worshiping one day.

When Paul wrote to the Colossians he said, "Therefore, don't let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah" (Col 2:16-17). These verses, along with Romans 14:5-6 and Galatians 4:10-11, also demonstrate that Paul seemed to lay aside the seventh-day Sabbath with all the Jewish ceremonies as shadows. But I do not think Paul intended to abandon the principle of the Sabbath. What seems to have happened is that the early church chose the first day of the week as their day for rest and worship. After the resurrection, the Jewish Sabbath almost disappeared; the seventh-day Sabbath is never mentioned except as to be tolerated by Jewish Christians (Rom 14:15).

We worship on the Lord's Day (first day of the week), following the early church (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2). In so doing, we recognize the resurrection. The Christian Sunday comes at the beginning of the week symbolizing the "rest" that Jesus Christ has won for those who trust in him.

You need a Sabbath. It is rooted in creation and redemption. Some may argue over thee day, but no one should argue over the principle. The Sabbath is God's gift to us. It benefits us to keep it, and it helps us to anticipate the final rest to come.

Next notice that verse 9 says, "You are to labor six days and do all your work." Remember also that God created us to work! If you work hard during the week, you should be able to take a Sabbath. Your body and heart and mind will need it as well. Work hard to the glory of God, and enjoy the worship on the Lord's Day.

In conclusion, what do we learn about God here? He is a working and resting God. He is creator God. He is sovereign God. He is eternal God. He is the redeeming God. Like God we should work six days and rest on the Sabbath.