SHABBAT PART 1

The word “Shabbat” comes from the Hebrew word that means “cease” or “stop.” The Shabbat was a day (from Friday evening until Saturday evening in Yeshua’s time) when all ordinary work stopped. The Scriptures tell us that YHVH gave His people the Shabbat as an opportunity to serve Him and as a reminder of two great truths in the Bible: Creation and redemption. The Shabbat was to be a day of rest and worship --- a day set aside for spiritual, mental and physical refreshment. After Yeshua’s resurrection, the believers began to worship on Adonai’s Day, the first day of the week, the day of our Adonai’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). But the model for our Adonai’s Day was the Shabbat.

THE SHABBAT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
The relationship between Creation and the Shabbat is first expressed in Genesis 2:2-3. YHVH “ceased” His work in Creation after six days and then “blessed” the seventh day and “declared it holy.” In the fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11), YHVH’s “blessing” and “setting aside” of the seventh day after Creation form the basis of His demand that the Israelites should remember the seventh day as a day of Shabbat rest.

YHVH’S REST
The idea of YHVH resting from His work is a startling one. It comes across even more vividly in Exodus 31:17, where YHVH tells Moses how He was refreshed by His day of rest. This picture of the Creator as a manual labourer is one the Bible often describes. There is no doubt that YHVH talks about the Shabbat in this way to show people that they must follow the pattern the Creator has set for them. A day of rest is necessary for individuals, families, households and even animals (20:10). The Shabbat’s setting in the biblical account of Creation implies that it is one of the rules in the Old Testament that is meant for all people and not just for Israel. When YHVH included the Shabbat law in the Ten Commandments, it emphasized its importance. The Ten Commandments had a special position in Old Testament law. It was the only Law spoken by YHVH’s voice (Exodus 20:1), written by His finger (31:18), and placed in the ark of the covenant which was a very important part of Israel’s worship services (25:16). The New Testament also emphasizes the fact that the Ten Commandments describe principles that are important for all people in all places at all times. Whether or not Sunday is recognized as the Christian Shabbat, all believers should accept the importance of the Shabbat described in the Bible. YHVH’s instructions require all people to observe a regular weekly break from work.

YHVH’S LAW
Significantly, the second idea behind the teaching in the Bible about the Shabbat --- the idea of redemption --- is also featured in the Ten Commandments. YHVH’s Law about the Shabbat, which was already described in Exodus 20:8-11, reappears in Deuteronomy 5:12-15. However, in this passage, YHVH gives the people a different reason for observing the Shabbat day: “Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt and that Adonai your Elohim brought you out with amazing power and mighty deeds. That is why our Adonai your Elohim has commanded you to observe the Shabbat day” (5:15). The differences between these two accounts of the Sabbath are important. The first (Exodus 20) is addressed, through Israel, to all people as created beings. The second (Deuteronomy 5) is directed to Israel as a nation of YHVH’s redeemed people. Because of this, the Shabbat is YHVH’s signpost. It points not only to His goodness toward all people as their Creator but also to His mercy toward His chosen people as their Redeemer.

YHVH’S JUSTICE
There is one other significant point in Deuteronomy’s version of the Shabbat Commandment that must not be missed. After YHVH prohibits all work on the Shabbat day, He adds an explanatory note: “On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do” (Deuteronomy 5:14). Practical concern for others is an idea found in all of YHVH’s Laws in the Old Testament. Because YHVH was merciful to the people of Israel while they were slaves in Egypt, he expected the Israelites to show loving concern for the people who served them. The Shabbat Day offered the Israelites a perfect opportunity to show this loving concern. During Yeshua's time, many of the Israelites had forgotten this very important idea behind the Shabbat Day. Because of this, Yeshua was especially sure to emphasize the humanitarian side of the Shabbat observance (Mark 3:1-5). When the Old Testament describes a “shabbatical year,” it develops this humanitarian theme even further (Exodus 23:10-12, Leviticus 25:1-7 and Deuteronomy 15:1-11). This Law stated that every seventh year the land was to lie fallow and be uncultivated (Leviticus 25:4). It needed a regular rest just as much as the people it sustained. The primary purpose of this Law was to show loving concern for the people who worked the land: “But you, your male and female slaves, your hired servants, and any foreigners who live with you may eat the produce that grows naturally during the Shabbat year. And your livestock and the wild animals will also be allowed to eat of the land’s bounty” (25:6-7). Deuteronomy 15:1-11 extends the same humanitarian principle into the world of business. The Law of the sabbatical year commanded that the people of Israel must cancel all of their debts. For people who refused to loan money out because the sabbatical year was approaching, the Law added a warning and a promise: “Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year of release is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to our Adonai, you will be considered guilty of sin. Give freely without begrudging it, and our Adonai your Elohim will bless you in everything you do” (Deuteronomy 15:9-10). The shabbatical year was obviously a great test of the Israelites’ obedience to YHVH. It also required them to depend on YHVH for their livelihood and food during that year. In some cases, the temptation to turn a blind eye was too strong. However, history shows us that Israel was usually courageous by observing the Law on many occasions, despite threats of invasion and famine. Both Alexander the Great and the Romans excused Jews from paying taxes every seventh year because the Jews were so faithful to their religious beliefs.