The Fourth Commandment: The Priority of God - Dedicating Time for Worship & Rest

The Fourth Commandment

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The= Priority of God<= /b>

Dedicating Time for Worship & Rest

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Exodus 20:8-11=

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Isaiah 58:13-1= 4 NLT

    "Ke= ep the Sabbath day holy.

Don't pursue your own interests on that day,

but enjoy the Sabbath

and speak of it with delight as the Lord's holy day.=

Honor the Lord in everything you do

and don't follow your= own desires or talk idly.

If you do this, the Lord will be your delight.

I will give you great honor and give you your full share of the inheritance I promised to Jacob, your ancestor.

I, the Lord, have spoken!"

The Importance of This Commandm= ent

The demise of our nation and its spiritual values and moral power began

NOT in 1962 when the Supreme Court in Engle vs. Vitale struck down prayer in schools

NOT in 1963 when the Supreme Court in Abginton School   Dis= trict vs. Scheemp struck down Bible reading in the sc= hools

BUT before the first one of those decisions, when, in 1961 the Supreme Court failed to uphold Blue Laws protecting a day of the week for worship and rest on secular grounds rather than as a religious day. By sidestepping the real issue, the Supreme Court threw the decision to state supreme courts and the erosion of= the protection of the Lord’s Day began.

In their book Blue Laws: The History, Economics, and Politics of Sunday-Closing Laws authors David Laband and Deborah Heinbuch give an historical account from the year of 1789, 13 yrs. after birth of our nat= ion and 2 yrs. after the Constitution was written:

Conne= cticut and needed to get to New York = City. He and his entourage got up at daybreak, saddled their horses, and set off = down the dirt roads leading south. They had not gotten very far before they were stopped by a local constable. Why, he demanded to know, were they taking a = long journey – which he could see by the fact their horses were laden with traveling gear – on the Sabbath day? Everyone in the party knew, of course, about the laws that had been in effect since colonial days prohibit= ing “unnecessary travel, either by walking or riding” on the Sabbat= h. The travelers narrowly missed a stay in a cold jail cell by explaining – truthfully, we hope – that while they were intending to carry on to N= ew York the following day, they were going to break up their trip by stopping = at the next town, where they planned to attend church services. Apparently, the constable bought the story because he allowed the men to continue on their journey. What makes this account most extraordinary is that this party was headed by none other than the newly elected president of the United States, George Washington. It also demonstrates how solidly our nation was built on= the laws of God and on honoring God.

The Application of This Command= ment

Acts 20:7

On the first day of the week,<= span class=3Dfn1>[3] Lit On one between the Sabbaths; that is, Sunday we[4] Other mss read the disciplesassem= bled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next = day, he extended his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 16:2

On the first day of the week, each of you is to = set something aside and save to the extent that he prospers, so that no collect= ions will need to be made when I come.

The Sabbath, accordin= g to the Chemosh, was the day that proclaims God as the Creator.

To the Christian, the= first day of the week is the day that proclaims Christ as Lord.=

“The universal and un= contradicted Sunday observance in the second century can only be explained by the fact t= hat it had its roots in apostolic practice. Such observance is the more to be appreciated as it had no support in civil legislation before the age of Constantine, and m= ust have been connected with many inconveniences.”    - Philip Schaff, Vol= . 1, Article 57, p. 479, History of the Christian Church

The Didache (ca. A.D. 120) directs Christians to assemble on the Lord’s Day to worship (14:1). The Didache was an early manual of church instruction. The strength of this position was founded on the first day of the week being the day of resurrection of Chris= t, and thus the day declaring and demonstrating his Lordship.

We should not approach this commandment with a legalistic tone.

The Pharisees discovered 1500 ways a person could break the Sabbath.=

      Turned day of gladness to gloom

Our viewpoint should be:

= 1)&n= bsp;     The Law hav= ing been fulfilled by Christ, he is the substance of the Law, and therefore our worship of him is superior to adherence to the ceremonial Law and works of = the Law as a religious system.

In the words of Keil & De= litzch:

“At the same time, as an . . . ingredient = in the Siniatic Law, it belonged to the ‘shadow = of good things to come’ (Col. 2:17, cf. Heb. 10:1), which was to be done away when the ‘body’ in Christ had come. Christ is Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8), and after the completion of His work, He also rested = on the Sabbath. But He rose again on the Sunday; and through His resurrection, which is the pledge to the world of the fruit of His redeeming work, He has made this day the Lord’s day for His Church, to be observed by it.= 221;

= 2)&n= bsp;     However, the primary and important principles of this commandment should be appreciated = and followed: <= /p>
work and rest, reverence and worship.=

The Principles of This Commandm= ent

1. TEACHING SALVATION

Hebrews 4: 1-11

            Hebrews 8, 9, 10:1 = 211; law shadow of things to come – Christ

            Matthew 11:28-30

            It is a spiritual rest:

It is ceasing from self-effort, self-sufficiency, and dependency on the flesh = and our own works.

God doesn’t need us in terms of our work f= or Him.

It refocuses us on God. It is a time out in a go= od way.

It retunes us to God and realigns us with Him.

It results in spiritual renewal and refreshment.=

It results in a heart and life now prepared to live for God and to serve Him.<= o:p>

2. HONORING GOD=

The Sabbath is a direct indication= of God’s consecration of Israel, as well as of his creation.

This was a distinguishing mark of God’s choosing the Jewish people. <= /o:p>

  &nbs= p;         Sabbath – “holy day” –

time to pause and honor God with our time.<= /o:p>

Ti= tle is part of what really belongs to God – Sabbath also.<= /p>
            Refoc= uses attention – meditation & worship

  &nbs= p;         God honors those who honor Him.

  &nbs= p;         He blesses those who obey Him.

  &nbs= p;         Truett Cathy – Owner of Chick-fil-A.

  &nbs= p;         Cathy Christian who believes in Sabbath principl= e.

            Malls: rent plus percentage of gross rece= ipts

            Wanted Cathy to be open on Sundays.

Cathy challenged them: His restaura= nts would have as much sales in six days as any other similar fast food restaur= ant has in seven.

Cathy prayed and his restaurants became so popular that in six days each week the= ir gross revenues far exceeded the seven-day comparables.

To this day, Chick-fil-A, which now has over a 1,0= 00 restaurants, is a booming business.

3. WORKING PRODUCTIVELY

  &nb= sp;       = &nb= sp;    2 Thessalonians 3:10-11   &nb= sp;

In fa= ct, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’= ;t willing to work, he should not eat.”
For we hear that there are some am= ong you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the wo= rk [of others]*

1 Timothy 5:8

Now i= f anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.=

The bracketed text has been added for clarity.

4. RESTING SUFFICIENTLY

            =       This commandment has an enlightening background.

The children of = Israel had been slaves in E= gypt.

They had been cruelly forced to work seven days a week with no break.=

Then God gave them the 10 Commandments = and reminded them that they had been slaves in Egypt.

Deut. 5:12-15 not only repeats the Fourth Commandment, but in addition gives in v= erse 15 the precise reason for the Commandment, i.e., the humanitarian reason ab= ove due to their previous slavery and toil in Egypt as slaves.

God made it clear that Sabbath keeping meant no plowing, gathering, gardening, construction, light or heavy labor, commerce inside the cities and towns, or work outside.

Their slaves were to rest, their animals were to rest, and their tools were to re= st.

I shudder at the expression, “24-7.”=

Humans cannot work seven days week-in and week-out without serious mental and phys= ical exhaustion.

We call it “burnout.”

We v= iolate God’s Fourth Commandment at our peril!

            =       Jesus made a significant statement about this commandment:

Man was not made for the Sabbath, = but the Sabbath was made for man.  &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;    - Mark 2:27

It Is a Mental Rest:

=

It is allowing our minds to relax and unwind by changing pace and focus.<= /o:p>

It allows us to pause and reflect on what we have accomplished.

It allows us to step back and see the forest rather than just the trees.<= /o:p>

It allows us to use our minds in enjoyable ways.=

It Is a Social Rest:

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; It is time for family and friendships.

It is time to cultivate those special relationsh= ips.

It refreshes us in those meaningful relationship= s.

But It Is Also a Physical Rest= :

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; It is relaxing and restful for our bodies.<= /o:p>

It is slowing down and not pushing.

Rest is essential and necessary.

            &n= bsp;           We must take time to sharpen the axe.=

You can never accomplish what you need to unless you are rested and refreshed!<= o:p>

We create too many activities that take away from time to worship, reflect, re= st and renew relationships.

We go to ballgames, work, shop, and keep ourselves busily active doing everyth= ing except what we should be doing.

Sometimes we go to an extreme and become too lazy to take time to worship and reflect. A day of total rest = can occasionally be a good thing, but when worship and relationships are abando= ned for rest, then we are not taking enough time off to rest and do the other.<= o:p>

Mark 6:31

Come = with Me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest.

We need to come apart before we come apart!=

Rest and refreshment must be intentional, planned, and designed.

The LORD is my shepherd . . . He m= akes me lie down in green pastures.

God’s plan and design is for us to get res= t.

He wants us to experience and to enjoy quiet pastures and still waters.

=

Psalm 127:1-2 NLT

  &nb= sp;       =             &nb= sp; Unless the Lord builds a house,

               &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; the work of the builders is useless= .

           &= nbsp;            Unless the Lord protects a city,

               &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; guarding it with sentries will do no good.

  &nb= sp;       =             &nb= sp; It is useless for you to work so hard

               &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; from early morning until late at ni= ght,

           &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      anxiously working for food to eat;<= o:p>

               &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; for God gives rest to his loved one= s.

=

Psalm 139:1-3a NLT

           &= nbsp;            O Lord, you have examined my heart<= o:p>

               &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; and know everything about me. =

  &nb= sp;       =             &nb= sp; You know when I sit down or stand up.

               &= nbsp;        You know my every thought when far = away.

           &= nbsp;            You chart the path ahead of me=

                &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; and tell me where to stop and rest.

5. EXPECTING VICTORY

  &nb= sp;       = &nb= sp;    Revelation 14:13

Then = I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed[28] Rv 1:3; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7,14 are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “let them rest from their labors, for their works fo= llow them!”

=

The = dear slaves in the South understood this truth:

̶= 0;Everyday will be Sunday bye and bye.”

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Jubilee

Conclusion

If you consistently d= ishonor the Sabbath principle in your life, somewhere along the line the bills will come due.

Things will begin to = break down in your life. The breakdown may be physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, or marital.

God loves us too much= to allow our self-destructive tendencies to go unchallenged, so He gave us this wonderful commandment.