Restoring The Sabbath

What this episode covers

Since 1937 Gallup has tracked the decline in church membership in America. 2020 marked the first year that membership dropped below 50%. This trend applies across every demographic and subgroup of America. We cannot point the finger at one particular generation or denomination. We are simply becoming less and less religious across the board. Surely, the decline in Church membership is the product of a decline in church attendance. Only 22% of Americans say they attend Church every week, and another 9% say they attend almost every week. Our commitment to weekly Church attendance reflects our willingness to prioritize what God prioritizes. To the degree that we justify working or treating Sunday like any other day of the week, is the degree to which we have become conformed to the patterns of this world (Rom. 12:2). To suggest that there are 365 holy days, that every day should be treated as the Lord’s Day, is to suggest that none of them are holy. This morning’s passage is a call to restore a right observance of a day that God has set apart from Creation. Yes, there are some differences in when and how it is observed under the New Covenant, but I hope to provide a bit more clarity about its ongoing relevance for believers today. Let me be clear, the Christian Sabbath is a secondary matter that should not disrupt fellowship. A firm stance still allows room for disagreement about the particulars. In fact, there have been significant differences among reformed Christians throughout history. The Second Helvetic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Westminster Catechisms all have different interpretations regarding the Sabbath. However, none of that implies that we should ignore the issue altogether. It is a subject of tremendous import to God. “Sabbath” is mentioned in at least 159 verses of the Old Testament. Dr. John Gerstner would simply read those passages out loud to his students so none could say it was an insignificant topic. In this passage, the Israelites exhibit a readiness to desecrate what God made holy, namely the Sabbath day. Unfortunately, the modern church falls into the same worldly patterns. We have a tendency to compromise rest and worship on the Lord’s Day for personal and selfish gain. Rightly understood, Sabbath observance serves to sustain our faith and restore our joy in worship. Read Nehemiah 13:15-22 I. How to Observe A Holy Day Derek Thomas Our view of the Sabbath—even the Old Testament Sabbath—is often so negative that we can see no reason for these draconian threats from Nehemiah. In Genesis 2:1-3, on the seventh day, God rested from his creative work the previous six days. As a creation ordinance, the Sabbath is on par with work and marriage. They were not merely commands given to a single nation or only to be observed during a particular era. They were pre-fall commandments universally and perpetually binding upon humanity. This instruction was passed on and practiced by the patriarchs. Cain and Abel offered their sacrifices at the end of the week, on the seventh day. Saturday was a significant day of worship. The Sabbath was explicitly mentioned in Exodus 16 and reflected in the details regarding the collection of manna. When the Israelites rebelled against the Lord and broke the Sabbath command by going out to gather manna, the Lord said, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?” (Exodus 16:28). This implies that Sabbath-breaking was one of their repeated failures—prior to receiving the Ten Commandments! The Sabbath is not complicated, but we oftentimes make it confusing in order to minimize it. Consider the simplicity of the commandment (Ex. 20:8-11). The Fourth Commandment contains four general principles, two positive and two negative: Remember the Sabbath Day – Implies prior knowledge, not forgetting, observing, and celebrating.Keep it Holy – Set apart. Not common. When the Lord declares something to be holy, who are we t

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