21-Sabbath Keeping - RSV

1. God Grants a Special Blessing to Those Who Keep the Sabbath.
Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the _sabbath_, not _profaning_ it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

2. God Offers Blessing to Those Obedient to His Commandments.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 "And if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments which I command you this day, the LORD your God will set you high above all the _nations_ of the earth. [2] And all these _blessings_ shall come upon you and _overtake_ you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 28:15 "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his _statutes_ which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and _overtake_ you.

3. The Sabbath Is a Sanctified Day Set Apart for Rest.
Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; [10] but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your _daughter_, your _manservant_, or your _maidservant_, or your cattle, or the _sojourner_ who is within your gates; [11] for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; _therefore_ the LORD blessed the sabbath day and _hallowed_ it.

4. The Sabbath Is Called a Holy Convocation, Or Gathering, of God's People
it Is a Special Designated Day of Worship.
Leviticus 23:3 Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, a holy _convocation_; you shall do no work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your _dwellings_.

5. Jesus Kept the Sabbath.
Luke 4:16 And he came to _Nazareth_, where he had been brought up; and he went to the _synagogue_, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read;

6. Paul Kept the Sabbath.
Acts 18:4 And he argued in the _synagogue_ every sabbath, and _persuaded_ Jews and Greeks.

7. Sabbath Begins at Sunset Friday Evening and End at Sunset Saturday Evening.
Leviticus 23:32 It shall be to you a sabbath of _solemn_ rest, and you shall afflict yourselves; on the ninth day of the month _beginning_ at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your sabbath."

8. The Sabbath Is Not a Day for Secular Work.
Exodus 20:8-10 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; [10] but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your _daughter_, your _manservant_, or your _maidservant_, or your cattle, or the _sojourner_ who is within your gates;

9. The Sabbath Is a Day to Delight Oneself in the Lord. Sports, Secular Games, Or Entertainment Are Not in Harmony with the Holiness of the Sabbath.
Isaiah 58:13-14 "If you turn back your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or _seeking_ your own pleasure, or _talking_ idly; [14] then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the _heights_ of the earth; I will feed you with the _heritage_ of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has _spoken_."

10. The Sabbath Is Defiled When We Buy, Sell, Or Trivialize the Sabbath with Ordinary Worldly Activities.
Nehemiah 13:15-22 In those days I saw in Judah men _treading_ wine _presses_ on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and _loading_ them on asses; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them on the day when they sold food. [16] Men of Tyre also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of wares and sold them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem. [17] Then I _remonstrated_ with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing which you are doing, profaning the sabbath day? [18] Did not your _fathers_ act in this way, and did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath." [19] When it began to be dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be _opened_ until after the sabbath. And I set some of my _servants_ over the gates, that no burden might be brought in on the sabbath day. [20] Then the _merchants_ and _sellers_ of all kinds of wares lodged _outside_ Jerusalem once or twice. [21] But I warned them and said to them, "Why do you lodge before the wall? If you do so again I will lay hands on you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. [22] And I commanded the _Levites_ that they should _purify_ _themselves_ and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. _Remember_ this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me _according_ to the _greatness_ of thy _steadfast_ love.

11. Jesus Did Good on the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:11-13 He said to them, "What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? [12] Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is _lawful_ to do good on the sabbath." [13] Then he said to the man, "_Stretch_ out your hand." And the man _stretched_ it out, and it was _restored_, whole like the _other_.

12. Jesus Provided for the Physical Needs of His Disciples on the Sabbath.
Mark 2:23-28 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his _disciples_ began to pluck heads of grain. [24] And the _Pharisees_ said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" [25] And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was _hungry_, he and those who were with him: [26] how he _entered_ the house of God, when Abi'athar was high _priest_, and ate the bread of the _Presence_, _which_ it is not lawful for any but the _priest_s to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" [27] And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; [28] so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."

13. God Rebuked Those Who Tried to Gather Manna on Sabbath.
Exodus 16:26-30 Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is a sabbath, there will be none." [27] On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found none. [28] And the LORD said to Moses, "How long do you _refuse_ to keep my commandments and my laws? [29] See! The LORD has given you the sabbath, _therefore_ on the sixth day he _gives_ you bread for two days; _remain_ _every_ man of you in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." [30] So the people _rested_ on the seventh day.

14. The Divine Invitation Is to Find Rest in Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am _gentle_ and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my _burden_ is _light_."

Next Bible Study: 22-Faith

c:\a-\bibsty\_redo_st\updatefi\k_21_rs.htm