What is the point of the Sabbath? Can we ever kill in self defense? Has the Law been nailed to the cross? Why shouldn't we have recreational sex? What are the purposes of these laws?
The Fourth Commandment
The Sabbath Day: All right now, for the fourth commandment churches like to edit this one down into short one liner. You know, something along the lines of “Keep the Sabbath day Holy.” What does that mean? I think that we're going to actually have to read the whole thing to fully understand it. It’s actually a pretty big one.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the “LORD thy God” (Yahweh thy Elohim, Yehovah) in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
In this commandment, our Father is telling us to commemorate his creating the universe by resting on the seventh day just as he did. In this commandment, the Father further defines who He is. He is not just the God who saved Israel by annihilating Pharaoh's army at the Gulf of Aqaba. This is the very creator of the universe. Here He is commanding us to remember the Sabbath, or the rest day, on the seventh day of every week by not working. Take this day every week to rest from all your labors as he did at the creation. After all, he created the universe so that we would have a home to live in, so that we could have fellowship with him. That's why he made us. He wants a loving relationship with us and has set aside one special day every week so that we can be with him. He didn't want the cares of this life getting in the way of our being with Him so he told us not to worry about our normal work on that day so that we can kick back and have true rest in him.
By the way, that word “Holy” can cause a lot of confusion or problems for a lot of folks. Probably for good reason too. I mean, we’re talking about God and His glory, not ours. There’s nothing special or glorious about us. We’re less than nothing in comparison to Him and when we finally realize that, it can be pretty profound, almost earth shattering and incomprehensible. That being said, in it’s simplest understanding. The word “Holy” can simply mean to keep oneself separate. Separate from what? Well, how about separate from the rest of the world? In that light, suddenly it makes the insurmountable seem doable! How hard is it really to keep oneself separate from those who are intent on doing evil? Remember this little tidbit of information. God said that for him who knows to do good and then doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. How about we just be the people who always strive to do the right thing all the time. Wouldn’t that alone separate us from the majority? I think so.
So just think about it. God just may be one of the best bosses ever! When’s the last time one of your bosses ever said: “I command you to take a break and get some rest.” So, biblically, the Sabbath starts every seventh day at sundown on Friday and it continues until sundown Saturday evening. During this time, put aside all your labor's and worries of this life and enjoy the rest our Creator has given us. Don't let anyone disturb your special time with him. This gives you all the time you're going to need the study, pray, digest his word. And this solves the whole problem of: “I don't have enough time to find out who God is,” or “I'm too busy.” It'll solve that problem for sure! The enemy would love to run you in circles seven days a week because he knows you're going to have no time at all to get anywhere with your relationship with your Creator. Don't let anyone make you work and don't have anyone else in your house work either. I mean, don't pester your kids to mow the lawn or do the dishes or even the cattle or the stranger that is in your gates. They're all supposed to enjoy this gift.
Now churches for some reason, like to adjust this commandment to suit themselves. They're going to tell you that this commandment says you have to go to church every Sunday and throw a tenth of your coin into their box. Now, go back and read that whole commandment again and ask yourself, is there anything in this commandment about going to a building with stained-glass windows with a pointy roof and watching the 80 year old piano lady play the same song for the 198,000 time while some religious dude in a robe does his little show for you for about an hour or so? I don't know about you but that's really the opposite of restful for me. In fact, I kind of find it quite exhausting.
It's interesting how the modern Christian Church insists that the Sabbath is now Sunday. Now if you want a worship on Sunday or Tuesday or Wednesday or any other day, that's great! By all means, get together with folks and worship, but be sure to take your Sabbath rest, which, since the creation of the universe has been on the last day of the week from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night. There's no prohibition in this commandment for doing extra worship, but please don't forget you hold a special Sabbath. Undoubtedly there's going to be a lot of people who want to argue with this understanding of the commandment. We all have free will to do whatever we want! But, I think that if you love God you're going to want to obey Him. The Sabbath was not invented on Mount Sinai just for the Jews. It was established for all mankind at the first week of creation, as recorded in Genesis.
The entire nation of Israel, not just the tribe of Judah, kept the Sabbath. The Messiah himself kept it his whole life. Now the Pharisees didn't like how Messiah ignored the traditions of the elders as it pertains to the Sabbath, but even so, he kept the Sabbath in perfect adherence to his father's word his whole life. He simply ignored what the religious leaders had added to the commandments. Things like the ceremonial washing of the hands, or you can't crumble up the grain in your hands. That was all from the Talmud. That has nothing to do with him violating the Sabbath and the Torah. He kept that perfectly his whole life.
Although the Apostles gathered to do some of their church work on other days of the week, like the first day, they continued to keep the Sabbath even after Messiah ascended into heaven. Even Paul, in the book of Hebrews tells us that the Sabbath keeping remains. Messiah even said that in the last days we should pray that our flight be not in the winter or on the Sabbath day so, by that we should understand that we should keeping the Sabbath in the last days. And consequentially, we also know that we're going to be keeping it when he returns and rules from the New Jerusalem. That's detailed in the scripture as well.
Some people will try to convince you that the Sabbath has been done away with. It’s not pertinent for this age that were now in. But, it doesn't really make sense to me because it was from the beginning of the universe, before Mount Sinai, after Mount Sinai, Messiah himself kept it. We’re supposed to walk after him and do just as he did. The Apostles themselves kept it, and the early church kept it for the first 300 years. It wasn't until the Roman Emperor Constantine signed the Edict of Milan banning the Sabbath and mandating that all the Empire would now worship on what they called the venerable day of the Sun in adherence to his favorite Persian sun cult Mithraism. After Constantine's edict, anyone who kept the 4th commandment was actually sentenced to death and a lot of people got killed for doing it.
Mainstream “Churchianity” has worshiped on Sunday and the Roman Catholic Church has worked very hard to rationalize this ever since. Scripture actually foretold this event far in advance. In the book of Daniel, talking about one that would wear out the saints and think to change times and laws. You can study and read about that further if you wish. I strongly suggest doing your own research on this topic if you have any question about it. I try my best to check out both sides of an argument and then check them both against the scriptures to see which one is correct or provides the best explanation. Don't let anyone convince you either way. Be sure to follow the word itself and then you'll be on track.
Okay, so we’ve just covered the first four commandments, (Three of them in this post) which, basically give greater detail of what the creator means when he says love the Lord with all your heart mind and strength. Basically, we need to love Him and leave all our other gods behind. We need to take his name and our commitment to him seriously. And finally, we need to commemorate His creation of the world by resting in him on the Sabbath day. That's basically what he just said in those first four pretty sweet and simple commandments. So far, nothing unbearable and we're pretty much almost halfway through the big ten. Now, how do we love our neighbor as we love ourself? That’s what commandments five through ten get into.
Commandment number five:
“Honor thy father and mother that thy days may be long upon the land which Jehovah thy Elohim giveth thee.”
Well, that makes perfect sense that shows great wisdom to respect our parents. I mean after all, while we were still pooping in our diapers they were where we are at right now, full adults and fully conscious of how the world works and everything. I mean could you imagine having a little baby that's crying and helpless and you feed it and you teach it how to talk and you teach it how to walk and you teach it how to use the toilet. Now flash ahead fifteen years and now the same kid is going to tell you about how the world works? I mean that's not wisdom! Now sure your parents can be mistaken from time to time and we are to obey God above our parents if the two beg to differ. But we are still to honor and respect them nonetheless. It’s a pretty simple commandment.
Commandment number six:
“Thou shalt not kill!”
Now the original word here is actually murder. In the Hebrew language, the word “kill” is actually read “Ratsach” or thou shalt not murder, avenge or assassinate. Some folks will be upset that this commandment doesn't forbid the use of deadly force in defense of ourselves or defense of others, this includes in the case of war as well. It’s basically telling you don't murder people, pretty simple. Let us give a little greater detail from the instructions themselves. For example:
“If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies there shall be no blood guilt for him but if the Sun has risen on him then there shall be blood guilt for him he shall surely pay if he has nothing then he shall be sold for his theft.”
So, this means that there are times when it's okay to defend your family. The Commandment “thou shalt not murder” is not talking about defending your home or true righteousness in the case of some Wars if absolutely necessary, David wrote in the Psalms:
“Blessed be the Lord my strength which teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight.”
Psalms 144:1
So, we see that there's also some times when to kill is warranted, such as in a war type situation. In Luke 22:36 This is Messiah speaking, this is interesting:
“Then he said unto them, But now he that hath the purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”
God's righteous people are not expected to be victims, but rather, actually they are to stand up for righteousness. Examples can be examined in their full context by reading through Torah. It's full of examples. Proverbs 25:26 says
“Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”
This commandment number six is telling us “thou shalt not murder” which is different than some other things. Just wanted to make that discernment for us here.
Commandment number seven:
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
Now, at the risk of sounding crude to the prude, is Jehovah restricting our fun or is he looking out for our well-being? Though those who “huff paint or gasoline” seem to have a lot of fun while doing it but, the after-effects are not worth it. I mean they soon realize the destructive nature of their hobby as the temporary pleasure passes right. Adultery is not fun in the long run either! Simply observe those who have made it their lifestyle. They're never satisfied and they spend their whole lives hunting for the precious life.
To put it simply, sex is like superglue! You better pick one that you really like before you glue yourselves together because if you don't, you're going to feel a lot of pain that may leave you scarred for life whenever you have to tear apart. Now we all know this is true! This is not a command to restrict our happiness. It's a piece of wisdom gifted to us on earth so that our walk here is easy and full and happy. Sex is great! Our Creator invented it and made it pleasurable so we’d do it. But, if we don't carefully follow the instruction manual, we may wreck the whole machine. First, find one you love, commit to them for life and live a long happy life with them. That's the good life!
Commandment number eight:
“Thou shalt not steal.”
It would it be nice if everyone from the milk money bullies to the world banking system and our government leaders would follow this commandment. That’s all I’ll say about that for right now.
Commandment number nine:
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
Now, if we talk about something that someone else did and we weren't there firsthand ourselves, we are bearing false witness against our neighbor. This is the creator himself defining what it means to be righteous! Just don’t lie! Be truthful and upright in all you do. Remember that whenever someone knows to do the right thing and then doesn’t do it, they’re sinning. It’s the same principle here too.
Commandment number ten:
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.”
Let’s keep this one really simple. You know being covetous of your neighbor's hot wife and/or his new Chevrolet Corvette is not going to add any years to your life or make you any happier, trust me!
Now if we would all follow these basic 10 rules, the world would be a paradise, but we don't. This is God's definition of his will for us on this earth. This is what he wants each of us to be doing with our lives. Now, things like where we should live what job we should have or what toys we should buy aren't his big concern. No he still cares about those little things but, that's not his big concern for us. That's not what he's thinking about as far as his will for us. His children being faithful to him and getting along with each other are what he really wills for us to do. If this is also your will, you are one after his own heart and he will empower you with the Holy Spirit to fulfill his will. Just ask him to lead you to this relationship with him and everything else you need will be added unto you you.