The Sabbath of YHWH ~a personal blog thought
*YHWH probably always intended for His creation to "keep" the Sabbath
Read Genesis 2:1-3
YHWH blessed the animals, man, and the seventh day (Sabbath). He also sanctified it (set it apart for Himself).
This was done in the very beginning- before what is called the "Law". Clearly this matters to Him... He "set the pattern"
for life/living from the beginning.
Read Exodus 16:11-30
The context of this portion of the Scripture is telling about what happened shortly after YHWH brought the children
of Israel out of Egypt through Moses-- and they just witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, and then murmured because they had nothing to drink or eat in the wilderness... when YHWH gave them manna to eat, He gave them instructions about gathering and eating it (this is happening- again- before the "Law"): He explicitly commanded them (v.16) to do "double the work" on the sixth day, in preparation for the seventh day- which is called "the rest of the holy Sabbath unto YHWH" (vs.23, 25-26). After some did not heed, verses 28 and 29 record: "And YHWH said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that YHWH hath given you the Sabbath,..." (this is BEFORE Ex. 20--when the "10 Commandments" were written on the tablets) Once again, I find this to be a very clear picture of YHWH's heart. This must be important to Him... this, also, makes more sense to me about why when the "10 Commandments"
were given (a little later) that it was worded "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (Ex.20:8). This wasn't something new to them that they were hearing for the first time, it was something they were already doing, and He made it clear that He wanted them to remember it as their way of life-- not forget-- but remember, and keep it holy. It's His Sabbath... and He gave instruction "how" to "keep it" (Ex. 20:9-11). The Sabbath rest is YHWH's wisdom. He even made provision for the land to "have a Sabbath rest" every seven years (Ex. 23:10-12).
*A very important note:
Read Exodus 24:11-18
YHWH calls Moses up on the mount to receive "tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which He (YHWH) had written to teach them" (v.12). Moses stayed in the mount "for forty days and forty nights" (v.18) receiving the
"10 Commandments", among other instructions concerning the priesthood and tabernacle, etc. When Moses was ready
to come back down to the people, YHWH pointed out this very important thing to him: READ EXODUS 31:12-18... YHWH
didn't even emphasize 'Commandments 1,2,3' (concerning Himself) before Moses left the mount-- but He emphasized the Sabbath. That really caught my attention. The very last thing YHWH said to Moses to "remind" him to make sure he didn't forget to tell the people, was about the Sabbath. For His own reasons, the Sabbath seems to be very important to Him.
I realize it is very common for "New Testament Christians" to say (believe) that "THAT was for 'THEM'". Well, were the other 9 Commandments only "for them"? Of coarse not. The "10 Commandments" are "WHO" YHWH 'IS'... it's "Him". I can't see separating Him from His word, His will, or His ways.
It is also very commonly said/believed among "New Testament Christians" that the Sabbath was fulfilled "in the Messiah", therefore we no longer have to keep it (or that it is 'okay' to switch it to the first day of the week, and "kind of" keep it-- our 'own' way). The Sabbath is a physical rest for our physical bodies that live in a physical world. If YHWH didn't intend for mankind to abide by it (always), why did He make it important and emphasize it even before the "10 Commandments" and "the Law" were given? And, why did He include it in the 10 Commandments... if it were going to be "done away with" at some point in time (knowing the other 9 commandments would remain)? The more I've read and considered it, it doesn't make sense to me any other way.
This is my understanding at this point in my journey to further understand YHWH, the Almighty (Elohiym) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...
Read Genesis 2:1-3
YHWH blessed the animals, man, and the seventh day (Sabbath). He also sanctified it (set it apart for Himself).
This was done in the very beginning- before what is called the "Law". Clearly this matters to Him... He "set the pattern"
for life/living from the beginning.
Read Exodus 16:11-30
The context of this portion of the Scripture is telling about what happened shortly after YHWH brought the children
of Israel out of Egypt through Moses-- and they just witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, and then murmured because they had nothing to drink or eat in the wilderness... when YHWH gave them manna to eat, He gave them instructions about gathering and eating it (this is happening- again- before the "Law"): He explicitly commanded them (v.16) to do "double the work" on the sixth day, in preparation for the seventh day- which is called "the rest of the holy Sabbath unto YHWH" (vs.23, 25-26). After some did not heed, verses 28 and 29 record: "And YHWH said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that YHWH hath given you the Sabbath,..." (this is BEFORE Ex. 20--when the "10 Commandments" were written on the tablets) Once again, I find this to be a very clear picture of YHWH's heart. This must be important to Him... this, also, makes more sense to me about why when the "10 Commandments"
were given (a little later) that it was worded "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (Ex.20:8). This wasn't something new to them that they were hearing for the first time, it was something they were already doing, and He made it clear that He wanted them to remember it as their way of life-- not forget-- but remember, and keep it holy. It's His Sabbath... and He gave instruction "how" to "keep it" (Ex. 20:9-11). The Sabbath rest is YHWH's wisdom. He even made provision for the land to "have a Sabbath rest" every seven years (Ex. 23:10-12).
*A very important note:
Read Exodus 24:11-18
YHWH calls Moses up on the mount to receive "tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which He (YHWH) had written to teach them" (v.12). Moses stayed in the mount "for forty days and forty nights" (v.18) receiving the
"10 Commandments", among other instructions concerning the priesthood and tabernacle, etc. When Moses was ready
to come back down to the people, YHWH pointed out this very important thing to him: READ EXODUS 31:12-18... YHWH
didn't even emphasize 'Commandments 1,2,3' (concerning Himself) before Moses left the mount-- but He emphasized the Sabbath. That really caught my attention. The very last thing YHWH said to Moses to "remind" him to make sure he didn't forget to tell the people, was about the Sabbath. For His own reasons, the Sabbath seems to be very important to Him.
I realize it is very common for "New Testament Christians" to say (believe) that "THAT was for 'THEM'". Well, were the other 9 Commandments only "for them"? Of coarse not. The "10 Commandments" are "WHO" YHWH 'IS'... it's "Him". I can't see separating Him from His word, His will, or His ways.
It is also very commonly said/believed among "New Testament Christians" that the Sabbath was fulfilled "in the Messiah", therefore we no longer have to keep it (or that it is 'okay' to switch it to the first day of the week, and "kind of" keep it-- our 'own' way). The Sabbath is a physical rest for our physical bodies that live in a physical world. If YHWH didn't intend for mankind to abide by it (always), why did He make it important and emphasize it even before the "10 Commandments" and "the Law" were given? And, why did He include it in the 10 Commandments... if it were going to be "done away with" at some point in time (knowing the other 9 commandments would remain)? The more I've read and considered it, it doesn't make sense to me any other way.
This is my understanding at this point in my journey to further understand YHWH, the Almighty (Elohiym) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...