Practicing Spiritual Practices: Sabbath
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work. Exodus 20:8-10
The reason this is such a powerful command is because as the Hebrews are coming out of Egypt, as slaves they were taught that they are only as valuable as how much they could produce. If they produced a lot of bricks, they were valuable. If they didn’t produced a lot of bricks, they were worthless.
God turns this idea on its head or rather, obliterates this idea to remind them that they are valuable simply because they are made in the image of God.
Taking a Sabbath rest reminds us that we are both infinitely more valuable than we think and are infinitely more fragile and finite than we want to admit.
Sadly in our world everything works against us slowing down. Our work lives in our pocket and we have access to 24/7 everything. Our news stations, grocery stores, and even gyms are open 24 hour a day. We are obsessed with productivity.
To illustrate this, the Jewish rabbis even turned the Sabbath into another type of work. The Sabbath was given as a respite for work, but we, in our adventures of missing the point, turned the Sabbath into another do and don’t list.
To quote Adele Calhoun…
“Animals don't think about how tired they are. And they don't have a sabbath they set aside for rest. It's humans who recognize the difference between work and rest.”
We are constantly having to be reminded that we are not animals but humans. We have self-control. We have restraint. We are not a product or simply led around by our base desires, but by something higher. Sabbath reminds us of this fact.
It is a day he gives us to remember who we are and whose we are.
It is a day he gives us to remind us what matters most.
It is a day he reminds us that we are a part of the worldwide family of God.
It is a day he reminds us that we are citizens of another kingdom that is not ruled by the clock or the tyranny of the urgent.
So, with all of that said, I am going to give “Sabbath” a go this week. From Friday night at 6pm to Saturday night at 6pm, I am going to rest.
And I’m not talking mindless rest. Sit in front of the TV all day or stare at my phone rest.
I am going to consciously disconnect from those things so I connect more deeply with myself, my family, and my God.
Out of all the spiritual practices, this one is probably going to be the hardest for me because I am addicted to doing.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Be blessed,
Paul