Exodus 31: 15-17, King James Version (KJV): 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 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.
Isaiah 56: 6-7, KJV: 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Exodus 16: 28-30, KJV: 28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
John 4: 23-24, KJV: 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Isaiah 55: 8-11, KJV: 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Hebrews 4: 15-16, KJV: 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Larry Fine” (Level 7 with 74,366 points, a member since August 29, 2013) posted the following:
If God is so strong, why did he have to take a day off?
There's lots of time I work 7 days straight.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (Hebrews 4: 1-10, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Sabbath, Power, and Rest? (07/17/2015); Sabbath Transferred to Sunday? (04/05/2015); Divine Sleep (03/28/2014); The Storm-battered City? (03/29/2014); To Keep It Holy (02/23/2014); 7 “Godly” Sins? (02/24/2014); About Sabbath (10/16/2013); We Shall Behold Him (10/17/2013)
“Larry Fine”, because we are to understand mankind is “made in the image of GOD,” even many who are just becoming Christian believers repeatedly make the mistake of thinking that GOD is also a physical being like themselves with brain, mind and muscle that need regular exercise, nourishment, and rest. All must come to understand Deity and the things of divinity in a very different way. GOD is a spirit whose existence is known by aspects and qualities that impress mankind as character, person, active presence, sacred operations, and eternal purpose.
Believers in Jesus Christ are to accept that GOD paused from the ongoing exchanges and interactions that appeared in the work of Creation. The “rest” proclaimed by divinity, then, was a “one-time event” only in the sense that it is perpetual and unending. Believers today acknowledge the same meanings and values of the “first” Sabbath, and its various presentations through changing covenants with mankind. Sabbath now continues the same sacred processes as at Creation including assessment (we say, evaluation, judgment), celebration, communion, covenant, fellowship with GOD, revelation (making Deity known to created beings and living creatures), sanctification, and worship. Consider again how this is stated using the language of the Bible:
(1.) Isaiah 58: 13-14, KJV: 13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
(2.) Hebrews 3: 16-19, KJV: 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
(3.) Isaiah 66: 22-23, KJV: 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended. (Sixty-six books of the Bible can not be reduced to 4 verses. Yet, for example, it should be shared, (4.) Romans 5: 1-2, KJV: 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.) I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment