The Sabbath as a Covenant That Identifies

Next Part Christ’s Teaching and Example

In addition to being one of the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is so important to God that He made a special covenant (agreement or contract) with Israel for keeping it: “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you” (Ex. 31:12-13). Thus, the Sabbath was a sign identifying Israel, setting them apart for a special purpose!

Exodus 31:14-15 reveals the consequences of ignoring God’s Sabbath command: “You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever does any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” God then presented the perpetual Sabbath covenant: “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed” (Ex 31:16-17).

Notice that the Sabbath command here derives its authority from the time of Creation, not from Moses.

Proof that the Sabbath is the sign between God and His true people is found in Ezekiel 20:11-13: “And I gave them My statutes, and showed them My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctifies them. But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness: they walked not in My statutes, and they despised My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and My Sabbaths they greatly polluted.”

God was so passionate about Israel’s rebellion and Sabbath-breaking that He inspired Ezekiel to emphasize the seriousness of their actions: “I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them; And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God. Notwithstanding the children rebelled against Me: they walked not in My statutes, neither kept My judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted My Sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out My fury upon them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness” (Eze 20:19-21).

The word “sabbaths” refers to both the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days, which God also describes as sabbaths. In every case above, God referred to the sabbaths as “MY” sabbaths—not “YOUR” sabbaths or “THOSE JEWISH” sabbaths. The Sabbath belongs to God. People who reject it are rejecting Him!

No Different Today

Even today, the modern-day descendants of ancient Israel continue to rebel against God and break His sabbaths. There will come a time, after God’s fury is poured out on them, that they, along with the rest of the world, will keep His sabbaths. Notice this: “As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: and I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out” (Ezek. 20:33-34).

These verses depict the arrival of the now soon-coming Millennium, when Jesus Christ and the saints will rule in righteousness and equity. He will gather the Israelite survivors of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord and bring them back to the land He has reserved for them. This time, Israel will obey. (Read our booklet Revelation Explained at Last!)

The following scriptures should help you appreciate the unique opportunity that Israel was given by God. Psalms 147:19-20 reads, “He shows His word unto Jacob, His statutes and His judgments unto Israel. He has not dealt so with any nation: and as for His judgments, they have not known them.” Now notice Amos 3:1-2: “Hear this word that the LORD has Spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Throughout Israel’s history, both the northern ten-tribe nation of Israel (“the house of Israel” or Northern Kingdom), and Judah (“the house of Judah” or Southern Kingdom) have been guilty of breaking the Sabbath. The house of Israel abandoned the Sabbath and most of God’s other laws. As a result, these tribes went into captivity for many centuries, lost their identity, and became lost to history. The nation of Judah also went into captivity because of Sabbath-breaking and idolatry. Jewish leaders such as Ezra and Nehemiah, who returned after their captivity, were diligent in keeping the Sabbath. They realized that neglecting this vital command was the main reason for their captivity (Neh. 13:17-18). Turning away from observing the Sabbath always leads to idolatry and worshipping false gods. Sabbath-keeping shows God the course one has chosen to follow.

(My vitally important book, America and Britain in Prophecy, carefully explains why Israel was taken into captivity, and what the twin sins of Sabbath-breaking and idolatry mean for these nations today. This book is not to be missed.)