Abounding Grace: The Grace of the Law - Find Rest

Sunday, we’ll consider together the Fourth Commandment, where God’s people are charged to remember and keep the Sabbath. One of the first things to notice is that Israel is told to “remember” the Sabbath. This was not the first time they heard of the sacredness of this day. Even as they were exiting Egypt, they were told not to collect manna on the seventh day because it was holy. Moses connects the Sabbath with the Creation narrative where God rested on the seventh day.

Another immediate thing to recognize is the egalitarian enforcement of rest: “On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner (foreigner) who is within your gates.” The sabbath was not for men, nor was it for only Jewish people, but for the entire population, even working animals are given rest.

The “dual engines” of the commandment, as Kevin DeYoung says, “are worship and rest.” (DeYoung, The Ten Commandments, pg. 67) That hasn’t changed, but the New Testament practice has clearly changed. We gather on Sunday, called the Lord’s Day, and we no longer have similar restrictions, as Paul says, “let no one pass judgment on you in questions of…Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come.”(Colossians 2:16-17).

Join us Sunday as we consider the goodness of God in giving us rest!