One of the requirements on Old Testament Israel was the keeping of the Sabbath. God, Himself, set the example on creation week by resting on the seventh day. The requirement was formalized in the fourth of the Ten Commandments, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8)
I have met Christians who meet for worship on the seventh rather than the first day of the week, also observing at least some of the Sabbath restrictions. Others have transferred the idea of the Sabbath to Sunday. My wife grew up with a version of this. Others of us, following the pattern of the early church have concluded that the Sabbath is part of the ceremonial aspect of the law fulfilled in Christ. The Book of Hebrews has a lot to say about Christ fulfilling the law. It is significant that in Acts 15:20 when the leaders of the early church announced expectations for Gentile believers, nothing was said about the Sabbath.
All of the Ten Commandments emphasize important principles. Just as the tithe made known that really all that one has comes from God, the Sabbath clearly indicates that all time is His. Makes sense; as C. S. Lewis pointed out, we are incapable of making any. The Sabbath also teaches us the importance of worship. The New Testament says that serving the Lord is our reasonable service. The word in Romans 12:1 is the word from which we get "liturgy." Our worship ought not to be limited to one day a week; everything we do, whenever we do it ought to bring glory to God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
It is another opportunity for us to display the Ten Commandments. Those who read our lives ought to see clearly that God is worthy to be worshiped.
Stay tuned.
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