"Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands, but our soul belongs to Someone Else. Six days a week we seek to dominate the world; on the seventh day we try to dominate the self. . . Is there any institution that holds out a greater hope for man's prgoress than the Sabbath?" - Abraham Heschel, I Asked for Wonder.
The Sabbath is the most sacred time for the Jew, and it is the most enigmatic commandment for the Christian. It is a time set apart by God as an eternal covenant with Israel (Ex. 31:16) and Christians alike (Heb. 4:1-11) where we cease from work, in deed and thought, and find rest in turning our souls towards God alone. For the Jew, the Sabbath is a covenant based on time - their Sabbath is not a place but a day. For the Christian, the Sabbath is a covenant based on the Gospel - our Sabbath is not a time but an essential quality in our new life.
God commanded the Sabbath as a day for holiness. He set apart this day as holy in order that we may cease from our role as cultivator and subduer of the earth, and find rest in the pursuit of God and holiness. The rituals for the Sabbath are all based on de-cluttering your life to focus. It is a command to leave behind the vanity, vulgarity, and business found in the world for the solitary and holy pursuit of God. It is a time for the work of the body to cease and the soul to flourish.
Sabbath is not a daily devotional for the Christian. It is not prayer, reading scripture intentionally, and reflection alone - although it contains all of this. Sabbath, I believe, needs community as well. The Jews practice the Sabbath, rest and ceasing of subduing and cultivating the earth, by spending it in community. It is the ceasing of utility in our lives for the sake of the quality of the essence of ourselves and those around us. We most certainly can and should retreat in solitude during our Sabbath, but only to prepare for the community that equally needs to be embraced. If human beings by nature are relational, we must not neglect one relation (man) for another (God). It is a time to refresh or souls in both love for God and neighbor.
As you go about your day remember the significance of the Sabbath, a day specifically for the flourishment of our souls. Whether your Sabbath is the whole day, an hour, or 15 minutes, focus singularly on nourishing your soul at some point today. As Jesus said, the Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He makes it clear that ultimately the Sabbath is not a command to be obeyed but a gift to cherish. Fathers gather your family and cherish the gift of the Sabbath by communing with one another in study, prayer, and relaxation. As you meet with your friends, spend time with them in fun and reflection of your souls before God. Keep God and holiness in the forefront of your mind whether or not you are working today. This is about being intentional for the sake of your soul. In the middle of our to-do lists, let us not forget about our souls.
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This weekly installment is a call to claim the seventh day (or at least a morning or hour) towards holiness and God. For the Christian, while our Sabbath or rest is found in the Gospel and not a day (Heb. 4), I think it is prudent for us, in this modern age, to claim a day a week solely for the pursuit of holiness. These devotional, conversational, and thought-provoking installments are meant to jump start your day in the direction towards remembering your soul's condition.
1 comments:
Great post! You have great insight into what is typically only seen as a "no work" day. How do you make up for lost sabbaths?
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