One of the biggest misunderstandings in Christianity is the subject of the Sabbath. This is mainly due to the man-made doctrine of Dispensationalism as I have learned in my studies. This means that all the “old testament” is for the jews and the “new testament” is for the Christians as if they are two separate groups. There is no scriptural basis for this divisive thinking. Then there is Replacement Theology which is the thought that the “church” has replaced true Israel instead of being grafted in.

Many have the idea that the 4th commandment is no longer in effect as if YHWH suddenly changed His mind of the importance of this day but forgot to mention this change in the scriptures. Another misunderstanding is that one must be Jewish in order to honor the Sabbath and set this day apart from all others as commanded. This could not be farther from the truth. Let’s look at a few scriptures together concerning the Sabbath or Shabbat in Hebrew.

“With the seventh day, YHWH finished all the work that He had done… YHWH blessed the seventh day, and He declared it to be set-apart (holy)…”
Breishith (Genesis) 2:1-3.

Here we see that from the beginning of creation the seventh day was set apart and to be treated differently from the rest of the week.

“Remember the Sabbath (Shabbat) to keep it set-apart (holy). You can work during the six weekdays and do all your tasks. But Shabbat is the Shabbat to YHWH. Do not do anything that constitutes work… It was during the six weekdays that YHWH made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the Shabbat. YHWH therefore blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart (made it holy).”
Shemot (Exodus) 20:8-11

Notice this 4th commandment begins with the words “remember.” Do you think He knew we would forget?

“Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest: that your ox and your ass may rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the stranger and alien, may be refreshed.” (Shemot) Exodus 23:12

This scripture is important because it shows that the Sabbath was to be kept by anyone (stranger or alien) who tied themselves to Israel and YHWH their Elohim (God). Even the animals must be given rest.

“Say to the children of Israel ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.’ This will be a *sign* between me and you through all generations to come, so you may know that I am YHWH, who sanctifies you and sets you apart. It is a sign between me and you ** FOREVER**.” Shemot (Exodus) 31:13;17

If you are thinking that the sign was only between YHWH and Israel but not the christian, remember that at the time the commandments were given there was no such thing as a “christian.”
Keeping the seventh day set apart is the only sign that shows the world that we are in covenant with our creator! Chew on that for a moment…

We tried for over a year to get answers to these scriptures from our deacons, pastors and body of believers in the church building but to no avail, we were left with nothing that satisfied our questions for the truth. We tried to get others to see the importance of this day that had now become replaced with sun-day worship (more on that in my next post) but this message of truth was not well received. We stepped out in faith and left to set out on the narrow path. Once we began honoring HIS Shabbat, the door to intimacy was opened! This led us to being obedient in other areas such as keeping the biblical feasts and appointed times as well as being Torah observant.

Listen to what I recently found out through another Torah observant Mother and friend. She shared that in Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value as well as a word picture based on its shape.

The word picture for dalet is a door and dalet is a door. The symbolic meaning is a pathway, or a place to enter.

Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it ‘set apart’. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your God.”

“Then Yeshua said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5).

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work (of creation), just as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9,10).

Yeshua stands at the ‘dalet’ and knocks and to anyone who opens the door, he enters in and feasts with them (Revelation 3:20). Sabbath is the first feast listed in Leviticus 23. Through the Sabbath we enter a door into a more intimate relationship with the Father.

I found this to be so beautiful! I wanted to learn more! My friend Julie gave me the information so I could order and start teaching our children the ten commandments through Hebrew word pictures. You can order here if interested.

For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says YHWH, “ So shall your descendants and your *name* remain. And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says YHWH. “ And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” (Isa 66:22-24)

That last verse and the consequences associated with it should make a person stop and think and then ask if they are transgressing against YHWH by not doing what He says to do. According to this passage in the Scriptures, we will be keeping Sabbath when our Messiah is ruling from Jerusalem! Not only that, we will be keeping the feasts, new moons and Sabbaths forever!
Yeshua our Messiah affirmed in every way the truth and importance of keeping the Sabbath set-apart. Since He is the Lord or Master over the Sabbath it would make sense that we would keep it as instructed.

I’ll share in my next entry how the changes from Sabbath to sun-day observance came about. To give you a hint, there was no scriptural basis for the change. Go ahead and start looking for the answers if this is new to you.

 

I’d love to hear what you find. I always welcome the dialog! Until then have a blessed week !!