Day 314 - The Sabbath a Delight

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 20-21 and 1 Pet. 2

Today is Sabbath, and how fitting that I should read about God's covenant with his children.

"Forever all I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." (Ezekiel 20:12)

But did Israel remember the Sabbath. The next verses share the sad commentary:

"And my sabbaths they greatly polluted... and their heart went after their idols" (vs. 13, vs. 16)

"Before entering the Promised Land, the Israelites were admonished by Moses to “keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” Deuteronomy 5:12. The Lord designed that by a faithful observance of the Sabbath command, Israel should continually be reminded of their accountability to Him as their Creator and their Redeemer. While they should keep the Sabbath in the proper spirit, idolatry could not exist; but should the claims of this precept of the Decalogue be set aside as no longer binding, the Creator would be forgotten and men would worship other gods." (Prophets and Kings, p. 181)

"The institutions that God has established are for the benefit of mankind... Since He made all things, He made the Sabbath. By Him it was set apart as a memorial of the work of creation. It points to Him as both the Creator and the Sanctifier. It declares that He who created all things in heaven and in earth, and by whom all things hold together, is the head of the church, and that by His power we are reconciled to God. For, speaking of Israel, He said, “I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them,”—make them holy. Ezekiel 20:12. Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ’s power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God.

To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. (Desire of Ages, p. 288-289)

Let us never forget the sacredness of our Sabbath! May our reverence of this holy day be a testimony to the world of the God who created us, redeems us, and calls us to His side for rest.

Tomorrow's Reading: Ezekiel 22-23 and Psalm 120-122