Chapter Five – The Perpetual Sabbath Covenant

When it comes to God’s command to “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exod. 20:8; Lev. 23:3; Deut. 5:12), practically all church-goers find a way to relegate the Sabbath to “something that the Jews do,” or “something lost in antiquity.” Or they claim, “It doesn’t matter what day you keep, as long as you keep a day.” Others say, “Sunday has replaced the Sabbath.” Most simply believe it has been “done away.” They concoct endless arguments as to why the Sabbath command no longer applies. But God’s Word reveals that the Sabbath was made for all people, for all time.

Be willing to open your Bible and honestly accept what it says about the Sabbath. Many have supposed that Christ “nailed it to the cross” along with most everything else in the Old Testament. Yet, no one can be guilty of sin—of any kind—where there is no law: “Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15). No one can be guilty of sin, or be under the death penalty, if there is no law—if it was nailed to the cross.

The Additional Sabbath Covenant

Recall that after giving the Ten Commandments, God “added no more.” His Law was complete and anything that came later could not be considered part of it. Even agreements (covenants) between men cannot be amended or changed in any way by either party alone: “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannuls, or adds thereto” (Gal. 3:15). Yes, even men’s contracts are binding as is, once agreed upon. Exodus 24:4-8 describes the confirmation of the Old Covenant, of obedience between God and Israel in Exodus 19:1-25 and 20:1-26.

The Sabbath originated (long) before the Old Covenant was established. The Ten Commandments did not come into existence along with the Old Covenant, but pre-dated it. They had been in force since creation.

After God had completed His covenant with Israel, He introduced another very special and unique covenant. It pertained solely to the Sabbath: “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths you shall keep ...” (Exod. 31:12-13).

Make no mistake. All Sabbaths belong to God—He calls them “MY sabbaths.” This connotes ownership—they are His. They belong to no man, including the Jews.

The Sabbath Is a Sign

In Exodus 31:12-17, God made a special covenant with Israel regarding His Sabbath. Continue in Ex 31:13: “For it is a SIGN between Me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify [set apart] you. You shall keep the Sabbath.... the seventh [day] is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD.... Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath ... for a perpetual covenant. It is a SIGN between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested.” Recall that this last phrase proves the Sabbath was established from the creation week, over 2,500 years prior to Exodus 31:1-18.

God explains that His purpose is that the Sabbath “sanctifies” those who keep it. They are set apart as belonging to—being owned by—God. Christians are told, “You are bought with a price; be not you the servants of men” (1 Cor. 7:23) and “You are bought with a price: therefore glorify God” (1 Cor. 6:20).

Those who observe the Sabbath are signified as God’s people—and that He OWNS them. They are also publicly identified as people who keep the Commandments. Civil laws require people to keep several of the other Commandments (against stealing, murder, lying [perjury], etc.). Therefore, obedience to most or all of the other Commandments, which the world at least generally acknowledges in one form or another, does not identify one as a commandment-keeper!

The Sabbath does! It is a sign that people are of God, since no human would ever think or choose to keep this law without it having been revealed by God.

Understand. God had to reveal this sign so that people would appreciate how it functions, what it represents. Take a drive down the street. You will notice all kinds of signs connoting ownership of various businesses and retail establishments. If you are looking for something in particular, the signs are important to you as a shopper. When God says the Sabbath is a SIGN, He intends and uses His sign in the same way the proprietor of a business does.

Notice that God established the Sabbath as a “perpetual covenant” to be kept “throughout your generations”—and “forever.” This is ironclad. God’s command is for all time. The Sabbath was to be kept forever! Doing this keeps people in touch with the true God. It is the way God intended that people never lose sight of who He is (their God)—and who they are (His people)! If all peoples and nations kept the Sabbath, as Israel was commanded to do, no one would have ever fallen into idolatry and the worship of other gods—which has happened to all nations who have not kept it!

The Sabbath identifies God for who—which God—He is!

Someone will surely ask: “Couldn’t Sunday point to the true God?” Absolutely not! Here is why. Recall that God tied the Sabbath to the creation week: “It is a SIGN between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the SEVENTH DAY He rested” (Exod. 31:17). God’s rest was on the SEVENTH DAY, not the first. Only by keeping the Sabbath are people forced to look back to the creation, and this forces them to focus on which God did the creating. Sunday-worship and Sunday-keeping does not do this, and obviously no other god but one created all things!

All others thought to be “gods” are made of things that God made. The Sabbath points to God as Creator, and the creation is a proof that GOD EXISTS!

Next Part “That Does Sanctify You”

Back to Saturday or Sunday

Back to By David C. Pack