The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The seventh-day Sabbath is more than a day of rest; it is a day devoted entirely to God, serving as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. The Sabbath was made by God on the seventh day of Creation, as described in Genesis 2:2-3, and it is intended for all mankind, not just the Jews, as stated in Mark 2:27. On the seventh day, God rested, setting an example for how we should observe the Sabbath, as mentioned in Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11. The Sabbath is different from the other six days because God blessed and made it holy, setting it apart for His use, as explained in the same verses. To keep the Sabbath holy, we are instructed to refrain from working, cooking, and carrying burdens, as outlined in Leviticus 23:3, Exodus 16:23, and Jeremiah 17:21-22. The Sabbath serves as a sign that identifies God's people, as indicated in Exodus 31:12-17 and Isaiah 56:1-7. Jesus, as the Creator and Lord of the Sabbath, showed its intent through His actions, as noted in Mark 2:28 and John 1:1-3, 14. Both Jesus and Paul, as well as the early church, observed the Sabbath, as recorded 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, as described in Isaiah 58:13-14.

The Sabbath plays a vital role in God's continuing creation of His sons and daughters, as it is a day set apart for spiritual work and growth. God did not merely rest after the creation week; He continues to work, and this is exemplified in the weekly Sabbath meetings with His people. The Sabbath, as described in Leviticus 23, is a holy convocation, a day of solemn rest, emphasizing a cessation from regular activities to focus on worship and learning together. The Hebrew term "shabbaton" suggests a Sabbath of greater intensity and specialness, a day to stop and engage in something different from the ordinary. In Exodus 20, the Sabbath command is given in three parts: to keep it holy, to cease from work, and to remember that God hallowed it at creation, setting an example for His people to follow. Genesis 1:31 through chapter 2 shows that on the seventh day, God ceased from His labor, rested, and blessed and sanctified that day, marking it as distinct from the other six days. This difference is crucial; the Sabbath is not to be like other days but is a day devoted to God, reflecting a shift from physical to spiritual focus. The Sabbath is not primarily about physical rest due to fatigue, as God does not grow weary, but about a sense of completion and well-being, as He felt upon finishing His creation. It is a time for reflection and contemplation, to refocus on what is truly important after the busyness of the six days. God's rest on the seventh day signifies a transition to spiritual work, as seen in John 6:29, where His work is defined as building faith in Christ. On the Sabbath, God engages in creating and building faith in those He has called, and by joining Him in this work, His people grow in faith. Exodus 31 further establishes the Sabbath as a sign identifying God's covenant people, reminding them weekly that He is sanctifying them, making them holy. This ongoing spiritual creation is a primary focus of the Sabbath, a day carved out for God to work with His people, requiring their full attention to accomplish more in moving them toward holiness. Isaiah 58 promises joy and elevation above worldly cares to those who honor the Sabbath by restraining from their own activities and treating His holy time with respect. Keeping the Sabbath holy is thus a major key to spiritual growth and preparation for God's Kingdom.

The Sabbath holds a significant place in God's purpose for mankind, reflecting its importance to each of us. It is not merely a day for worship, but a specific day designated by God, for no other day will suffice. God, in His sovereignty, has the right to set such commands, and our role is to submit, recognizing that deviations from His design alter the intended outcome. The Sabbath was made for mankind, to serve humanity and align with God's purpose, not limited to any specific group but intended for all. God has designated the Sabbath 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 only the observance of the day but the manner of observance that marks it as this sign. The Bible emphasizes God's concern for how the Sabbath is kept, showing that improper observance contributed to Israel's captivity and divine separation. In Exodus 20, the commandment establishes the Sabbath as holy, belonging to God, a time set aside for His worship and service. It connects to creation, identifying God as the Creator who sanctified this day from the beginning. In Deuteronomy 5, the emphasis shifts slightly to include redemption, remembering servitude in Egypt, thus linking the Sabbath to God as both Creator and Savior, a day to memorialize liberty and maintain a relationship with the Redeemer. Isaiah 58 reveals God's expectation of respect and joy for the Sabbath, describing it as honorable, right, proper, and fitting compared to other days. It is a day to honor Him by pursuing His pleasure, will, and preferences rather than our own desires or usual activities. The focus is not on the energy expended but on the purpose and intent behind what is done on His holy time. God provides broad principles and examples for Sabbath observance rather than specific rules, expecting us to make righteous judgments in varying circumstances. Historical instances, such as the Israelites marching out of Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, and circling Jericho on the Sabbath, demonstrate that actions aligned with God's pleasure are permissible, even if they involve significant effort. Similarly, priests performed required offerings on the Sabbath as part of God's will. Preparation for the Sabbath is emphasized in Exodus 16, with instructions to gather double provisions on Friday to avoid work on the Sabbath, a principle still relevant. God restricts ordinary weekday work on this day, distinguishing it from other holy days where certain labors, like meal preparation, may be allowed due to travel or unusual circumstances. The Sabbath commandment is more restrictive than most holy days, yet flexible enough to bend for specific situations, as shown in various biblical examples. Jesus magnified the Sabbath's intent, correcting distortions by emphasizing justice, compassion, and faithfulness over superficial or burdensome interpretations. He illustrated that the law can adapt in unusual situations, ensuring the Sabbath remains a liberating delight, fostering right relationships with God and fellow man.

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 is always about how to keep it, not whether to keep it. Jesus never declares that it no longer matters or that we need not observe it. He obviously kept the Sabbath, as evidenced by the Jews attacking His manner of observance rather than accusing Him of neglecting it. Jesus states that the Sabbath was made for man and that He is Lord of it, setting an example for us to follow in keeping the same days He did. God gave the fourth commandment to enable worship of Him, the One True God, providing time to fellowship with Him and understand ourselves and our place in His purpose. Jesus magnifies the Sabbath, restoring it to its original God-given intent and freeing it from the perverted, bondage-producing approach of the Pharisees. His mission, as identified in His inaugural sermon, includes setting people free from bondage, tying His redemptive work to the liberating intent of the Sabbaths, both weekly and annual. The Sabbath was made to equip us to come out of spiritual slavery and to help us stay out of it. God blessed the Sabbath day, conferring a blessing upon the whole creation as the capstone of Creation week, promising to be man's benefactor through human history with both spiritual and physical benefits. Jesus clearly ties His ministry to the Sabbath concepts of blessing, deliverance, liberty, and redemption. The Sabbath serves as a memorial, reminding us that God is Creator and Liberator. Each Sabbath recalls that we were slaves and that God freed us, sustaining our liberty through its observance. When Israel rejected the Sabbath, they lost their freedom and went into captivity. God uses the Sabbath to perform acts of liberation, and it recurs weekly to renew our spiritual heritage and reorient us from any deviation. Jesus' healing on the Sabbath, such as the man with the withered hand, reveals His approach to doing good on this day, contrasting with the Pharisees' legalistic ritual. He shows that failing to do good when the opportunity arises implies evil, emphasizing that the Sabbath is for acts of salvation, both physical and spiritual. The commandment underscores showing compassion toward the needy and defenseless, reinforcing the idea of doing good on the Sabbath. Jesus demonstrates that the Sabbath is a day of mercy, as seen when His disciples plucked grain to eat due to hunger, highlighting that God does not intend His law to deprive but to ensure life. In unusual circumstances, mercy overrides the strict letter of the law, and loving service surpasses ritual fulfillment. The Sabbath, made for man, ensures physical and spiritual well-being, not passive idleness, but active, loving service as circumstances arise, following the patterns Jesus established through attending services, fellowshipping, teaching truth, and performing acts of kindness that bring liberty, joy, and peace.

The Sabbath holds a vital place in the relationship God has invited us into, reflecting its profound importance from His perspective. It is a sign between God and His people, serving multiple purposes: it reminds us of our identity, acknowledges our God as the Creator through its memorial to creation, identifies and distinguishes us from others, and separates us visibly within the fellowship. When kept properly, the Sabbath gives evidence of the state of our relationship with God, compressing into a single concept a recurring appointment with the Deity. Each Sabbath is a unique covenant encounter with Him, unlike anything in other religions except to some extent in Judaism. God revealed the Sabbath to Israel by providing a double portion of manna the day before and none on the Sabbath itself, indicating its existence from creation, not merely from Sinai. Yet, Israel began breaking the Sabbath early, even before reaching Sinai, which Ezekiel 20 identifies as a major cause of their captivity, alongside idolatry. Sabbath breaking is linked to immorality, as it represents a failure to conform to God's Law, the standard we agreed to uphold in our covenant with Him. The issue with the Sabbath, as with other commandments, is not which day to keep, but why and how to keep it. Idolatry, the root of Sabbath breaking, begins in the heart when something comes between us and God, mirroring the initial sin in the Garden of Eden. This unlawful desire leads to submitting to an idol rather than to God, causing separation. Ezekiel 20 underscores that Israel's heart went after idols, leading to Sabbath breaking, a pattern that persists as a cause of spiritual captivity. The Sabbath commandment, often dismissed by many as the least important, is crucial, and its neglect stems from idolatry—following what seems right in human eyes rather than God's will. The central purpose of the Sabbath is not merely to rest from physical labor, though that is a factor, but to build and develop our relationship with God. It is a weekly, and sometimes annual, appointment to devote time to Him, ensuring the relationship is not lost amid life's other activities. One-seventh of our time, plus holy days, is to be dedicated to seeking God, with the true spiritual rest and refreshment derived from fellowshipping with Him. If used rightly, as Isaiah 40 and 58 suggest, the Sabbath re-energizes us through His presence, providing power, vitality, and the heritage of Jacob. God offers all the blessings we could hope for in this relationship, likening the Sabbath to a date where His focus is on us, expecting our attention in return. The Sabbath should be seen not as a day of restrictions, but as a day for liberating and refreshing activities that cannot be equally pursued on other days. True rest and refreshment come from fellowship with God, our Deliverer and Liberator, who fills us with confidence and removes burdens, as expressed in Psalm 84 and 127. This perspective reframes the Sabbath as a source of strength and victory when we faithfully wait on Him.

From God's perspective, Sabbath-breaking, alongside idolatry, stands as a primary reason for Israel's captivity, as seen in Ezekiel 20. Sabbath-breaking destroys holiness, marking it as a grave immorality akin to murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting. Its roots lie in idolatry, stemming from the desire to pursue one's own will rather than obey God's command. Isaiah 58:13-14 emphasizes ceasing from personal pleasure or business—defined as the busy-ness that occupies the other six days of the week—and instead dedicating the Sabbath to God's pleasure and business. This directive highlights the potential for idolatry in our choices about Sabbath observance, urging us to understand and align with God's will. The term "delight" reflects the attitude God expects us to have toward the Sabbath, viewing it as holy ground not to be tread upon with mundane activities. Honoring the Sabbath outwardly expresses loyalty to the covenant responsibilities God imposes to fulfill His purpose. True rest, a spiritual blessing from God, comes as the fruit of seeking Him and using the day as He intends. The Sabbath serves as a break from daily busy-ness, providing unfettered time to pursue eternal and spiritual matters that refresh and liberate, which are difficult to focus on during the other six days. As our Deliverer and Liberator, God uses the Sabbath to free us from spiritual weariness and the hopelessness of this world, offering hope and allowing our spirits to soar with the promise of the future. Fellowship with Him on this day brings true rest and refreshment. The fourth commandment instructs to stop working and to ensure those under our responsibility do the same, while Isaiah 58:13-14 provides the terms for building proper Sabbath-keeping. God intends the day for us to deepen our relationship with Him, to know Him better, and to be shaped into His image. Jesus Christ, as God in the flesh, kept the Sabbath according to Old Testament instruction, setting an example for all disciples. His custom was not only to observe the day but also to fellowship with fellow Israelites and expound Scriptures, affirming the Sabbath's enduring importance. The Old Testament holds the truth about which day God desires us to keep and the foundation for how to observe it, as exemplified by our Savior. The Sabbath applies to the church, the spiritual Israel of God, even more than to physical Israel, as the Bible is written primarily for the end-time church to guide our conduct and prepare us for the Kingdom of God. Sabbath-breaking remains a form of idolatry, and despite having the Holy Spirit, we are not immune to the same weaknesses as ancient Israel, bearing greater responsibility to honor this day as part of our relationship with God under the New Covenant.

In the history of both the nation of Israel and the Israel of God, the Sabbath has always been the day set aside for the worship of God. God requires more than mere lip service in observing the Sabbath, as it holds deep significance in our relationship with Him and our development into His image in the Kingdom of God. The Sabbath must be understood within the broader context of God's plan and purpose, not reduced to a mere ceremonial act. Throughout history, Israel often kept the Sabbath in a way that only superficially honored God, setting aside the seventh day on their calendars. However, God's displeasure arose not from the days they observed, but from the manner and attitude with which they kept them, reflecting a lack of understanding of why they should observe the Sabbath. So severe was this issue that God no longer considered those days as His own, distancing Himself from their observance. The Sabbath, encompassing both the weekly and annual holy days, is extensively addressed in Scripture, with more direct instructions on this commandment than any other except the first. God did not provide an exhaustive list of rules but revealed His intent through commands, examples, and broad principles for us to study, meditate upon, and apply in our lives. This approach encourages us to think through our choices and understand the mind of God, ensuring that our actions align with His will out of free choice, not rote behavior. God tests our intentions and motivations in keeping the Sabbath, as these precede and justify our actions. Right intentions significantly increase the likelihood of right actions on the Sabbath. God desires that we understand why we do what we do before acting, ensuring both intent and deed are aligned with His standards. The Sabbath commandment, though often regarded as the least among the Ten Commandments by the world, remains a vital part of the Royal Law. To break it is as immoral as breaking any other commandment, such as adultery or lying. Contrary to human nature's view of the Sabbath as constraining, God's perspective is that keeping it produces liberty, freeing us from worldly burdens. The Pharisees, while emphasizing the Sabbath's importance, missed its true purpose by creating numerous laws to prevent breaking it, yet their approach was as misguided as the world's liberal tendencies. Neither they nor most people have grasped God's intent for the Sabbath. Breaking this commandment renders us as guilty as breaking any other, highlighting its critical role in our lives. The Sabbath serves as a visible sign distinguishing God's people from others, identifying the peculiar relationship between us and Him. It is not merely the act of observing the day but how we keep it that truly marks us as His. The proper keeping of the Sabbath encapsulates the entire covenant relationship with God, publicly visible and separating us from the world's religions. Laxity in observing it indicates a loss of respect and fear of God. In the wilderness, Israel had no excuse for Sabbath-breaking, with God visibly present and providing clear signs like double manna on Fridays and none on the Sabbath. Yet, they rebelled, showing that the issue was not just setting aside the day but how they personally engaged with it, negatively impacting their relationship with God. God described their actions as polluting or profaning the Sabbath, treating it as common and with disrespect, driven by hearts following after idols. Idolatry, at the root of Sabbath-breaking, forces one to prioritize personal desires over God's will, desecrating the day. God holds individuals responsible for their Sabbath observance, urging them not to follow the poor choices of past generations or influential figures. Idolatry and Sabbath-breaking are highlighted as major irritants in the relationship between God and Israel, contributing to their captivity. The leadership, particularly the ministry, is accused of failing to uphold and teach proper Sabbath observ

For millennia, the world has used a seven-day week, with the first day following the seventh in a continuous cycle. Some, however, propose a lunar Sabbath, determined by the new moon marking the start of Hebrew months. In this view, lunar Sabbaths occur on specific days of each Hebrew month, such as the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, or alternatively the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th. Due to the lunar month lasting 29.5 days, rounded to 29 or 30 days in practice, the lunar Sabbath falls on different days of the week each month, aligning on the same day only four times before resetting with the next new moon. In contrast, the seventh-day Sabbath, observed by the Jews and churches of God, is the seventh day of a recurring seven-day cycle established at Creation, when God pronounced it holy. God taught this Sabbath to the children of Israel through the pattern of manna falling every day except the seventh day. Unlike the lunar Sabbath, the seventh-day Sabbath does not reset with the lunar month and always falls on the same day of the week, known as Saturday in Roman naming. Christ, as our example, observed the seventh-day Sabbath, entering the synagogue on that day as was His custom. The Jews, entrusted with God's oracles, maintained this weekly occasion, and there is no record of dispute over the day Christ kept, indicating He observed the same seventh-day Sabbath they did. Furthermore, the instruction for Pentecost, which must fall on the day after a Sabbath, cannot align with the lunar Sabbath model, as counting fifty days never results in the day after a lunar Sabbath. Throughout history, God has preserved the knowledge of the seventh-day Sabbath, ensuring that the count of days from any seventh-day Sabbath back to the original remains divisible by seven. Despite various calendars and challenges faced by the Jews who preserved this knowledge, God has maintained the true Sabbath day. We should thank Him for teaching us the correct day and not allowing it to be lost.

God sanctified the Sabbath, making it holy and setting it apart as a day of purity and consecration. He commands us to keep His Sabbaths, emphasizing that we should be holy as He is holy, gathering together in a holy convocation with His people. The Sabbath is a day dedicated to focusing solely on our purpose of becoming like our holy God, engaging in activities that purify and cleanse us, distinct from the distractions of the other six days. The Sabbath is holy because God made it so with His presence, just as He made the ground holy by the burning bush. Profaning or polluting this day by engaging in personal work or activities not aligned with God's sanctifying purpose carries severe consequences, as warned in Scripture. We must guard against allowing worldly distractions or thoughts to defile this holy time, ensuring our conversations and actions on the Sabbath build up faith and aid in God's sanctification process. Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath, demonstrated how to keep this day through His actions, starting and ending His ministry on the Sabbath. His habit was to assemble in the synagogue as part of a holy convocation, and He performed acts of mercy and healing on this day, showing it as a time for spiritual work, not idleness. Following His example, we must gather together on the Sabbath, extending mercy, healing, and doing good, ensuring our efforts are not self-focused but aligned with God's purpose. Warnings against polluting the Sabbath are clear, whether through half-hearted participation, distractions, or longing for the day to end. As priests in training, we must use this special day to focus on Jesus Christ and His redemptive work, allowing Him to remove pollutants from our hearts and make us pure and acceptable to God the Father. Blessed are those who keep from polluting God's holy Sabbath, dedicating this time to worship and cleansing in preparation for the salvation that draws near.

For centuries, people have sought to argue that Christians are not required to observe the Sabbath and holy days. In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul addresses the Colossians, telling them not to be concerned about what others judge regarding their practices, including the observance of the Sabbath. He notes that the Sabbath and holy days are shadows, symbolizing future events in the plan of God, with the Sabbath representing the Millennium when Jesus Christ and the saints will rule for a thousand years. In Colossians 2:20-23, Paul encourages the church not to worry about the opinions of the community regarding their joyous celebration of the Sabbath and festivals, affirming that Christ has conquered the world and its rulers. He clarifies in verse 17 that the body of Christ, which is the church, should guide judgments on these matters, urging members to follow the spiritual leaders' example in worship on the Sabbath and holy days without concern for external criticism.

The fourth commandment stands out among the Ten Commandments by beginning with "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). God charges His people to remember the Sabbath, emphasizing the importance of this act. The Hebrew word zākar, meaning to remember, think of, or mention, blends mental activity with external observance, indicating that remembrance must lead to keeping the day holy. God desires that His people remember His Sabbath and respond by hallowing the seventh day with reverence. The significance of remembering the Sabbath is tied to covenantal responsibilities. In Exodus 31:12-17, God declares the Sabbath a perpetual covenant within the broader covenant, distinguishing it from other duties. He states, "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you" (Exodus 31:13). Keeping the Sabbath ensures that God's people remain sanctified, acting as a sign of their identity and setting them apart from others who do not follow His laws. It is also the day for holy convocation, where they meet with Him to grow in holiness and righteousness. Failing to observe the Sabbath risks losing understanding of godliness and slipping back into the world from which He called them. As God's chosen, observing the Sabbath day remains a solemn responsibility under the covenant made with Him, vital to their hope of attaining the Kingdom of God.

In the relentless pace of life in the United States, where hard work defines much of our identity, the concept of rest remains elusive. Yet, God has promised His people true rest, a profound peace that we can begin to experience even now. Each Sabbath we observe serves as a foreshadowing of the greater rest that God will ultimately provide to His people, a rest we have already started to enter through our conversion. In Genesis 2, God rested on the seventh day after six days of creation, establishing the Sabbath as a type of His rest. This seventh day signifies a time of cessation from physical labor, pointing toward a future where spiritual focus predominates. Revelation 20 further illustrates this future rest, encompassing the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment, where God's rest continues eternally once His Kingdom is fully established. Psalm 95 connects the Sabbath to our present day of salvation and the future reign of God, urging us to praise and worship Him while warning against disobedience that could prevent us from entering His rest. God calls the Promised Land His rest in this context, using the Hebrew word "menuchah," which implies a resting place or time of repose after long toil. The Hebrew terms "nuach" and "shabbat" deepen our understanding of rest. "Nuach," meaning to settle down or be still, is seen in Genesis 8:4 when the ark rested on Ararat after the Flood, symbolizing a permanent stillness after turbulent activity. "Shabbat," used in Genesis 2:2, means to stop or cease, indicating that God ceased His creative work on the seventh day, not out of fatigue but as an example for us to follow. In Exodus 20, the Sabbath command emphasizes "nuach," focusing on the result of stopping—rest itself. Hebrews 3 and 4 elaborate on this rest, using Greek terms "katapausis" for cessation and "anapausis" for positive rest or comfort, as seen in Matthew 11 where Jesus Christ offers rest for our souls. Hebrews 4:9 introduces "sabbatismos," linking the weekly Sabbath to God's future rest, characterizing it as a time of ceasing from carnal works and engaging in godly activities. This rest remains future, achievable only when human works of sin cease universally, leading to true peace and stillness. For now, the Sabbath reminds us of God's creative works, our redemption, and the future rest in His Kingdom. It calls us to diligent study of His Word and bold prayer, building our faith to ensure we enter His rest. The urgency is clear—today, we must hold fast to our confession, proving through our actions on the Sabbath that we are God's people, striving to reflect His image as we prepare for the ultimate rest He has promised.

The Sabbath, as highlighted in the fourth of the Ten Commandments, is a day to be remembered and kept holy, serving as a vital connection to God and His purpose. It is more than a weekly day of rest; it is a day each week devoted entirely to God, acting as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. Disregarding the Sabbath is akin to discarding a key to a treasure chest, neglecting an essential area of understanding that opens our minds to God's plan. The Sabbath was created by Christ at the time of Creation, serving as a sign that identifies God's people. It was made for all mankind, not just a specific group, and those who keep it properly are blessed. On the seventh day of Creation, God rested after six days of labor, setting an example for us to follow by making the Sabbath a day of rest and a memorial of Creation. He blessed and sanctified the seventh day, setting it apart for His use, and we are instructed to keep it holy by adhering to principles of proper Sabbath behavior, avoiding activities such as working, cooking, and carrying burdens. Cities and countries are blessed or cursed based on how their inhabitants observe the Sabbath. Disobedience in this regard brings curses upon entire communities. Jesus, as the Creator and Lord of the Sabbath, kept it during His time on earth, demonstrating the intent of this commandment through His actions. Following His death, it was shown that Sunday is not the Sabbath, affirming the seventh day as the designated time. The apostle Paul and the early church also kept the Sabbath, preaching to both Jews and Gentiles on this day, reinforcing that it is for everyone. The Sabbath is a day to be loosed from bondage, intended as a delight rather than a burden. Keeping the Sabbath properly demonstrates worthiness to receive God's Holy Spirit, making this holy time a valuable and tremendous blessing each week as we work to improve our relationship with Him.

One of God's greatest blessings is the weekly Sabbath, a time He provides for us to rest, reflect, recharge, and re-engage in true spiritual worship and fellowship with Him and those He has called to the same path. The Sabbath links to creation, as seen in Exodus chapter twenty, where the reason for keeping it revolves around God's example of resting on the seventh day after pronouncing the physical creation very good. In Deuteronomy chapter five, the Sabbath command offers an additional reason for observance, focusing on redemption. Here, God instructs His people to keep the Sabbath because they were once slaves, and He redeemed them mightily, bringing them out of bondage with great effort and power. This redemption theme ties the Sabbath to God's extensive works on behalf of His people, encompassing not just their release from slavery but their entire journey to the Promised Land. On the Sabbath day, God desires His people to remember all the mighty acts He performed for them, making it a fitting subject for reflection during this holy time. Similarly, the Feast of Tabernacles connects to the Sabbath by reminding us of God's provision during the wilderness journey, symbolizing our temporary state in this world as we move toward His Kingdom. The Sabbath focuses our minds on God and His works, leading to gratitude and a threefold response: to keep His commandments, walk in His ways, and fear Him. This remembrance of God's redemption and providence should elicit a weekly rededication to Him and His way, prompting us to compare our past state with our current one and recognize that the difference is due to His grace and works in our lives. By reflecting on His blessings and benefits, as exemplified in Psalm 103, we are led to a deeper conviction to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, ensuring our gratitude for His works results in commandment keeping, walking in His ways, and fearing Him. The Sabbath, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of God's care and redemption, inspiring us to honor Him by living as He instructs.

The Seventh-day Adventists, a numerically small sect of Christians, hold Saturday as the day for exclusive worship of God, adhering to the divine command repeatedly stated in the sacred books of the Old and New Testaments. They assert that this practice was literally obeyed by the children of Israel for thousands of years and was endorsed by the teaching and practice of the Son of God during His time on earth. In contrast, the majority of Protestants, since their emergence in the sixteenth century, have rejected Saturday, the day named by God for His worship, and have instead assumed Sunday, a day not referenced for that purpose in the sacred writings. The Adventists, alongside the Israelites, derive their belief in observing Saturday from the Old Testament, a position they find confirmed by the New Testament through the life and practice of the Redeemer and His apostles for nearly a century of the Christian era. They maintain that the Bible, their sole teacher, consistently supports Saturday as the Sabbath, with no evidence in the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, or Apocalypse of any act canceling this arrangement. Protestant pulpits often resound with fervent protests against Sabbath violation, particularly evident in the widespread clamor against opening the World's Fair on Sunday, supported by millions through petitions to preserve the Lord's Day from desecration. This intense reaction underscores the importance of the Sabbath question within Protestantism, where a failure to address it would leave many sects feeling lost. The discussion hinges on whether Saturday or Sunday is the day enjoined by God for worship, as both Adventists and Protestants appeal to the Bible as their infallible guide. The resolution of this matter involves determining which day the Bible commands to be kept holy, whether the New Testament modifies this command by precept or practice, and if Protestants have obeyed God's command by observing the day prescribed by their sacred teacher since the sixteenth century.

The vast majority of Christian churches today observe Sunday, the first day of the week, as a time for rest and worship, yet it is widely acknowledged that early Christians observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. History shows that decades after the apostles' death, a politico-religious system rejected the Sabbath of Scripture and substituted the first day of the week. Roman Catholic sources admit there is no Biblical authority for Sunday observance, asserting that the Roman Church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. They claim the Church, by divine mission, transferred the solemnity from the seventh day to the first day, a change for which no Scriptural basis exists. Protestant theologians and preachers from various denominations also candidly admit there is no Biblical authority for observing Sunday as a sabbath, noting that the commandment to keep the seventh day holy remains clear, with no indication of a transfer to the first day in Scripture. Many assert that the first day of the week is not called the Sabbath in the Bible, and there is no record of a formal or authoritative change from the seventh to the first day.

The biblical Sabbath, identified as Saturday, is presented as the divinely ordained day of worship, rooted in God's own rest on the seventh day as recorded in Genesis 2:2. Exodus 20 and 31 further emphasize this command, with God blessing and sanctifying the seventh day, establishing it as a perpetual covenant and a holy rest to the Lord. The Old Testament mentions the Sabbath one hundred and twenty-six times, consistently affirming God's will for the seventh day to be kept holy, a practice upheld by the people of Israel for over three thousand years, confirming Saturday as the designated day. Severe penalties for violating this command are underscored in Exodus 31:14, where God declares death for those who profane the Sabbath. In the New Testament, the Sabbath is referenced sixty-one times, with the Saviour consistently teaching in synagogues and performing miracles on Saturday, affirming Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath without any indication of changing the day. His apostles and close followers continued to observe Saturday as the Sabbath even after His death, as evidenced in Luke 23:56, where they rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment. The Acts of the Apostles further records eight instances of Sabbath observance on Saturday over a span of thirty years, showing no deviation from the original arrangement by either the Saviour or His followers. Thus, the consistent biblical record from Genesis to Revelation supports Saturday as the Sabbath, with no evidence of divine authority altering this command to another day.

From the instruction concerning the manna in Exodus 16, we are to gather twice as much on the sixth day, the Preparation Day, as on the other five work days of the week to ensure enough bread from heaven to ingest on the Sabbath. God understood the limits of man, so He created a space of time when essentially nothing was allowed to compete with Him. The Preparation Day is a day of gathering what relates to eternity so that we can properly ingest the spiritual manna on the holy day without distraction. The weekly Sabbath is a memorial of God's deliverance from physical and spiritual Egypt, and the lesson is not learned nearly as well if we do not take advantage of the weekly Preparation Day by beginning to turn our focus. The Sabbath demonstrates two major themes: liberation from captivity and the fact that God is Creator of both the physical and spiritual realms. The Sabbath serves as a weekly reminder that we have been redeemed and liberated, and that God's spiritual creation has begun within us. It is also a means by which this spiritual creation takes place, especially helpful on the Sabbath when nothing else should compete for our time or attention. By ingesting the Bread from heaven on the Sabbath, we take part in the spiritual creation through taking on the image of God. The Preparation Day helps to get us ready and focused to do our part in that spiritual creation.

The principle of ownership extends into a larger issue at the core of our relationship with God, specifically concerning the Sabbath. Genesis 2:1-3 plainly states that the seventh day is God's Sabbath, showing that although it is His time, we still have a responsibility to observe it properly. Exodus 20:1-2 explains why we must keep the Sabbath holy: God first acted to free us from spiritual Egypt, slavery to sin, and because of that redemption, the seventh day is no longer ours. The Sabbath was made for man, but this does not grant mankind authority to use it for personal purposes; rather, God made it for man's benefit, and the seventh day still belongs to Him. He shares it with those whom He has called and sanctified. At the heart of Sabbath-breaking is idolatry, placing anything above God, whether it be money, a job, or even a spouse. If anything becomes more important than our relationship with God during the weekly observance of the Sabbath, we have broken it and committed idolatry. We must make a clear distinction between the Sabbath and other days, not walking in our own ways, finding our own pleasure, or speaking our own words, but instead minding God's ways and making religion the business of the day. We have a key responsibility in esteeming the Sabbath through our conduct, conversations, attitudes, and thoughts, being careful stewards of this truth as part of our covenant with God.

In the Christian era, the Sabbath has been a point of contention since at least the fourth century AD, when the authority to change the day of worship from the seventh day to the first was assumed. Thousands of seventh-day Sabbath-keepers were imprisoned or killed for obeying the fourth commandment in the following years. Despite the Protestant Reformation's attempt to correct abuses, the change to the Sabbath persisted, and today, the majority of professing Christians observe the first day as the proper day of worship, even though the Bible consistently states that only the seventh day was blessed, sanctified, and made holy. There is no biblical record or hint of God transferring the sanctification and holiness from the seventh day to another day. The assertion that the Sabbath has changed implies that the Creator Himself is changeable, contradicting the truth that with God there is no variation or shadow of turning, and that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Sabbath is not a minor detail or obsolete ritual; it was the capstone of the creation week and a creation of its own. God set apart one day each week to allow humanity to further spiritual creation through fellowship with Him, ensuring a recurring memorial to focus on the spiritual work He is doing. The high regard God gives to the seventh-day Sabbath is evident throughout Scripture. God began teaching Israel about the Sabbath before giving the Ten Commandments, providing a weekly lesson for forty years by not sending manna on the seventh day. The Sabbath command existed before the Old Covenant, and God made an additional, perpetual covenant just for the Sabbath. Even in the New Covenant, God promises to write His laws, including the Sabbath, on the hearts of His people. Prophecies show that the Sabbath will be kept after Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom. Jesus and the Pharisees often clashed over how the Sabbath should be kept, never if or when, and His teachings reveal the liberating intent of the Sabbath, not its abolishment. Jesus kept the Sabbath, taught on it, and after His death, the apostles and Gentile believers also observed it. From creation through the Millennium, including Christ's ministry and the New Covenant church, God's establishment and steadfast reinforcement of the seventh-day Sabbath remain clear, with no scriptural indication that any event would modify the blessedness, sanctification, and holiness He gave to the seventh day.

God commands that the Sabbath be celebrated from evening to evening, counting days from sunset to sunset as established in the first chapter of Genesis. The true seventh day, Saturday, is the Sabbath as reckoned from creation, a day made holy by God. In the time of Moses, God revealed the true creation Sabbath to the children of Israel through the miracle of manna, showing them which day to observe by providing no manna on the seventh day. Despite periods of slavery in Egypt when the Israelites could not keep the Sabbath, God ensured the correct day was known through divine intervention. Historical records and the consistent observance by the Jewish people across nations confirm that the Sabbath has not been lost over time. From the time of Christ, who kept the true Sabbath as His custom, to the present, the day we call Saturday remains the seventh day. The true Church of God has also maintained Sabbath-keeping through the centuries, even under persecution, further affirming the continuity of this holy time. Reason and scientific testimony from astronomers support the unbroken continuity of the weekly cycle, dismissing the notion that time could be lost. God would not allow the holy Sabbath, blessed and commanded to be kept forever, to become obscured, ensuring that His people can observe it correctly.