Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as it is a vital key to understanding God and His purpose. The seventh-day Sabbath is more than a weekly day of rest; it is a day each week devoted totally to Him, serving as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. The Sabbath was made at Creation, as seen in Genesis 2:2-3, and was intended for all mankind, according to Mark 2:27. God rested on the seventh day of Creation, setting an example for us to follow, as noted in Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11, making it a memorial of Creation. The Sabbath is distinct from the other six days because He blessed it and made it holy, setting it apart for His use, as stated in the same verses. We are instructed to keep it holy by refraining from work, cooking, and carrying burdens, guided by principles rather than a strict list of rules, as found in Leviticus 23:3, Exodus 16:23, and Jeremiah 17:21-22. The Sabbath also serves as a sign identifying His people, established as a perpetual covenant, according to Exodus 31:12-17 and Isaiah 56:1-7. Jesus, as its Creator and Lord of the Sabbath, demonstrated its intent through His actions, as recorded in Mark 2:28. He kept the Sabbath, as did Paul and the early church, as shown in Luke 4:16, Acts 17:1-2, Acts 13:42-44, and Acts 16:13. When kept properly, the Sabbath is not a burden but a delight and a tremendous blessing each week, fostering a deeper relationship with Him, as expressed in Isaiah 58:13-14.

The Sabbath holds profound importance in God's purpose for mankind, reflecting its significance to each of us personally. It is not merely a day for salvation but fits within His broader scheme of creating us in His image. No other day suffices, as this is the one He has designated. God, being sovereign, has the right to issue such commands, and our role is to submit, understanding that deviations from His design alter the intended outcome. His commands, rooted in His nature, are for the good of His purpose and those He commands. The Sabbath was made for mankind, to serve humanity and thus God's purpose, not exclusively for any single group. Jesus understood and kept the Sabbath, demonstrating its universal application as God intended. The Sabbath also serves as a sign between Him and His people, evidence that He, the Creator, is our God, and those who keep it are His children. It is not just the observance but the manner of observance that marks this sign, as shown by God's concern over how it is kept, even to the extent of Israel's captivity for breaking it. In Exodus 20, the Sabbath commandment establishes a basic rule: it is hallowed, set aside as holy to God, belonging to Him as time for Him. God requires each person to dedicate this day to His worship and service. It is not merely ceremonial but functions in relationships, breaking off worldly engagements at sunset on Friday to emphasize spiritual connections. The commandment also looks back to creation, identifying the reason for keeping it as God's act of setting it apart at the beginning. In Deuteronomy 5, the commandment shifts emphasis from creation to redemption, adding that we remember our servitude in Egypt. Thus, the Sabbath not only signifies God as Creator but also as Savior, relating to liberty, release from slavery, and preservation of freedom through relationship with the Redeemer. No other day can fulfill this dual memorial of creation and salvation, preserving our bond with Him. God provides no specific list of dos and don'ts for Sabbath-keeping but offers examples and broad principles, expecting us to make judgments based on them. Isaiah 58 reveals God's expectation of respect for the Sabbath, calling it a day of joy and delight, to be held honorable, meaning right, proper, and fitting. It is not to be seen as a burden, for if it is, then God Himself is perceived as a burden. We are to honor Him by using the Sabbath for His pleasure, His desire, will, and preference, rather than our own. The emphasis is not on the energy expended but on the purpose and intent behind what we do on His holy time. Jesus magnified the Sabbath's application, correcting distortions that made it a grievous burden rather than a liberating delight intended to foster right relationships with God and fellowman. In John 7:21-24, He instructed against superficial judgment, emphasizing justice, compassion, and faithfulness in applying God's law. The intent of His law is to produce these qualities, central to a right relationship with Him and others, rather than rigid conformity without understanding. Examples in Scripture show that the Sabbath's restrictions can bend under certain circumstances when aligned with God's pleasure. Millions of Israelites marched out of Egypt and through the Red Sea on Sabbaths, expending great energy for His purpose. Priests performed required offerings on Sabbaths as part of His will. In Exodus 16, God established preparation on the day before the Sabbath, instructing that no ordinary work, such as gathering food, be done on the holy day, a principle that remains relevant. The weekly Sabbath is more restrictive than most Holy Days, yet God allows flexibility for unusual situations, demonstrating that His law is not inflexible but accommodates righteous judgment based on His principles.

Nowhere in the Bible is the Sabbath annulled by a command or example of Jesus Christ or the apostles. In the gospels, the controversy surrounding the Sabbath always centers on how, not whether, to keep it. Jesus never declares that it no longer matters or that we are exempt from observing it. He very obviously kept the Sabbath, as evidenced by the Jews' attacks focusing on His manner of observance rather than His failure to keep it. He states that the Sabbath was made for man, emphasizing its universal purpose, and declares Himself Lord of it, setting an example for us to follow in walking as He walked. God gave the fourth commandment to enable us to worship Him better, providing time to fellowship with Him and understand ourselves and our place in His purpose. Jesus ties His ministry to the Sabbath concepts of blessing, deliverance, liberty, and redemption. He identifies His mission as setting people free from bondage, and through His actions on the Sabbath, He shows its liberating intent. The Sabbath was made to equip us to come out of spiritual slavery and to help us remain free, acting as a capstone of Creation week with a blessing that invokes God's favor for our spiritual and physical well-being. Each Sabbath serves as a memorial to remind us that God is Creator and Liberator. We keep the Sabbath because we are free and wish to remain so. God has used His Sabbaths to perform acts of liberation throughout history with Israel, and He requires His people to keep the Sabbath to sustain their liberty. The Sabbath is a constant renewal of our spiritual heritage from Him and a reminder of our original release from sin, reorienting us when we may have turned aside. Jesus' approach to the Sabbath reveals a fundamental difference from the Pharisees, who turned its observance into a legalistic ritual. He does not do away with the Sabbath but restores it to its original divine value and function. His healing on the Sabbath, even of those not in immediate danger, demonstrates that God gives us this day to help free us from the chronic problems of human nature. Jesus intends for us to do good on the Sabbath, and failing to do so when the opportunity arises implies evil and destruction. The commandment explains that God ordained the Sabbath so we might show compassion toward the needy and defenseless. Jesus exemplifies this by looking for ways to lighten burdens and save lives on the Sabbath, freeing people to produce more and honoring God through redemption, spiritual creation, and love of neighbor. He emphasizes that the Sabbath is a day to work for the salvation of the whole man, both physically and spiritually, reasoning that merciful restoration on this day is justified. Jesus teaches that the Sabbath is a day of mercy, where helpful acts are needed to relieve burdens and provide loving encouragement. He shows that if the need arises, we should not feel conscience-stricken to use the Sabbath in ways not normally lawful, as larger obligations can overrule the letter of the law. Loving service is greater than ritual fulfillment, and as servants of God's spiritual Temple, our Sabbath labors may intensify in His work. The Sabbath was made for man, not to enslave us with rules, but to ensure our physical and spiritual well-being. Though we rest from earning a living, it is a day of intensive work leading to salvation and preparation for the Kingdom of God. Jesus kept the Sabbath by attending services, fellowshipping, teaching God's truth, and doing acts of kindness that brought liberty, joy, and peace to others, establishing clear patterns for us to follow. The Sabbath is a wonderful gift from God, given to help us produce an abundant life.

Sabbath keeping holds a vital place in the relationship that God has invited us into, reflecting His perspective on its importance. It is a sign between God and His people, reminding us of who we are and that our God is the Creator, as the Sabbath serves as a memorial to creation. It identifies and distinguishes us from others, separating us and drawing attention to us when kept properly, giving evidence of the state of our relationship with Him. Each Sabbath is a recurring appointment with the Deity, encapsulating the unique covenant relationship we share with Him. The breaking of the Sabbath is linked to immorality, as it represents a failure to conform to God's Law, which we agreed to keep in our covenant with Him. Historically, the breaking of the Sabbath was a major cause of God sending Israel into captivity, revealing its gravity in His eyes. Sabbath breaking begins in the heart, often stemming from idolatry, where something comes between us and God, leading us to follow wrong desires rather than His directives. The central purpose of the Sabbath is not merely to rest from physical labor, though that is a factor, but to develop and build our relationship with God. It is a weekly, and sometimes annual, appointment of time devoted to Him, ensuring the relationship is not lost amidst life's other activities. From the proper use of this day, in fellowshipping with Him, true spiritual rest and refreshment are derived. When used rightly, the Sabbath re-energizes us, not primarily through physical rest, but through the power that flows from being in His presence. God has a date with us every Sabbath, offering all the blessings we could hope for if we focus on Him during this time. True rest and refreshment come from fellowship with Him, as He is our Deliverer and Liberator, filling us with confidence and vitality.