As I think about the struggle with humanity and our battle to be righteous vessels, I often think about how we wrestle with YAHWEH and oftentimes are unaware that we do so. We wrestle with HIM when we do not trust His WORDs, when we do NOT SEEK HIM and when we do not OBEY! So it is, with the honoring of the Sabbath Day.
This article will address three key points regarding the Sabbath or rest day in scripture.
1. Is it required today?
2. When is the Sabbath day?
3. How should we keep it?
I. Does our Heavenly Father admonish and require us to Keep the Sabbath Day (A Holy Convocation) in this modern area.
a. Genesis 2:2-3 – Describes how YAHWEH rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth. YAHWEH blessed the seventh day and made it holy! (YAH is Holy and requires His chosen to BE HOLY).
b. Exodus 31:13, 16-17 – States that keeping the Sabbath would be a distinguishing characteristic of YAH’s chosen people. The designation states throughout your generations. Which means this is to be kept in perpetuity and a sign between the Father and His children.
c. Luke 4:16’ 13:10-17 – gives a New Testament example of how the Mashiach kept the sabbath as it was His custom. Acts 13:14 shows that Paul kept the sabbath.
d. According to Isaiah 58:13-14, this is a future prophecy related to keeping the Sabbath and describes a day where people will delight in the Sabbath, honoring it by not pursuing their own interests, speaking of it with joy, and treating it as YAH’s holy day: essentially a future where people will actively and joyfully observe the Sabbath as a Day of Rest and Devotion to our Elohim.
e. Mark 2:27 – the Sabbath was made for man (or to benefit man). One of the ways that YAHWEH shows His love for humanity. When someone gives a gift, it is impolite not to take it!
II. When is the Sabbath Day?
a. This is likely one of the greatest dilemmas of all time. Most Christians believe that the Sabbath is always on a Sunday. They believe Christ resurrection day was on Sunday and thus they should make Sunday their day of worship and homage.
i. History – Roman Emperor Constantine issued a civil decree in 321 that made Sunday a day of rest. The enforcement of Sunday rest, although it is waning in some respects, is still pushed and urges parishioners to observe Sunday which is in direct opposition to what the Creator says.
ii. Most 7th Day Adventist, 7th Day Church of God and a large segment of the Israelite population believe that the Sabbath is on each Saturday.
iii. Let’s examine the scripture to see what it says:
1. Genesis – in the beginning YAHWEH called everything into being and the creation and specifics of what was created were numbered by the days. In the evening and the morning was the first day… second day. etc. We fast forward to Genesis 2 – it states that YAHWEH rested on the 7th day and sanctified it and made it Holy. No where do we see in scripture that YAH called the 7th Day of the Week “Saturday.” In that manner He only numbered the days, He DID NOT name them!!
a. Sirach 33:9-13 – By YAHWEH’s wisdom they were distinguished, and He appointed the different seasons and festivals. Some days He exalted and hallowed, and some he made ordinary days. The 6 working days are ordinary, but the 7th day is an example of a day that is hallowed. There are others and we will touch on this. So, it is according to YAHWEH’s wisdom that He has separated the days and it is not for us to decide. Everyday IS NOT the Sabbath as some incite. So, if YAHWEH numbered the days, then where did the names of the days of the week come from?
i. YAHWEH’S Calendar vs. Man’s Calendar – YAHWEH’s calendar is in Genesis 1:14. This is a very crucial scripture in understanding the Father’s calendar versus a man-made calendar. Genseis 1:14 – states “And YAHWEH said “let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years. So, this is how the Creator gave us our time keeping system. The SUN has been designated to rule the day and the MOON to rule the night. Those are the two great lights and the expanse. Our time keeping system was based on the Sun, Moon and Stars and not a man-made calendar. Daniel 7:25 – He shall speak great words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and shall think to change the times, and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and a half a time.
1. The calendar that we live by today in modern society is the Gregorian calendar and was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII. This was an invention and the last of a series of other man-made inventions to give us a time keeping system. Remember those that be “in power of this present world” are in direct opposition to the Most High YAH. I hope you can see the link between the changing of times and laws and how the mix of Catholicism/Greek has infiltrated the truths of Hebrew scripture. Therefore, we can safely conclude that since the Gregorian Calendar was nonexistent at Creation, it is NOT to be used and followed to discover those special days that we mentioned from Sirach 33.
ii. Let’s introduce the concept of another special day in scripture called the “New Moon Day.” The WORD Month comes from the word “moon.” The moon cycle is roughly 30 days in length. So, the month in scripture is regulated by the moon.
1. Numbers 28:11-15 “At the beginning of your months (or when a new moon comes in).
2. Ezekiel 46:1 “Thus says YAHWEH: the gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the NEW MOON it shall be opened.
a. Now, we have established that a new moon establishes or brings in a new month and that this is a special day.
b. Sabbaths in scripture fell on the 8th day of the MONTH or NEW MOON. Stay with me on this.
i. New MOON Day is the beginning of the month. So, this is DAY 1. Days 2- 7 of the new calendar month are your ordinary working days. The 8th day of the month is actually the 7th day to end the work week is thus is the day of the rest. Notice the scripture DOES NOT say the 7th of each week. It referenced the 7th day not the 7th being the DATE.
