By observing the "sabbath," Israel confessed that they were God's redeemed people, subject to his lordship to obey the whole of his law. They were His stewards to show mercy with kindness and liberality to all.
- ("To Cease" Vines Complete Expository Dictionary p.33)
The Sabbath:
eschatological in perspective [looks] to the accomplishment of God's ultimate purpose through the redemption of His people to whom the "sabbath" was a covenant sign.
- ("To Cease" Vines Complete Expository Dictionary p.33)
On the basis of these readings, my soul pondered a few short thoughts and revelations that I want to share.
How is the Sabbath a covenant to the Christian?
Every time G-d completes a phase of a work, a rest period follows. After G-d completed the creation of the earth, the weekly sabbath followed as a period of rest and celebration for the cycle that G-d had completed. G-d therefore commemorated this seven day cycle with the weekly Sabbath.
With the salvation of humanity, the first aspect of the work was the completion of the Sacrifice of the Passover Lamb - Messiah JESUS or Yeshua. After that followed a sabbath, (which was actually the first day of the Feast of Unleavened bread and not the weekly Sabbath). On the night to be much observed, Messiah JESUS (Yeshua) established that his blood and body were the new covenant. Thus, G-d made a new covenant with Jews and Gentiles via the Passover marking the period of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This is why at the end of the Sabbath, we find a new phase of the work.
The next major work to be accomplished was the pouring of the Spirit of G-d into the hearts of humanity, to write G-d's laws on men's hearts and minds. This was accomplished by another annual Sabbath commemoration. The Feast of Pentecost followed, where the pouring of the Spirit took place and the people of G-d were empowered to be redeemed and expand the kingdom and liberality of G-d to all men.
There are other works that G-d must accomplish - Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. However, so far, the works that G-d have done for humanity's redemption so far, have all established covenant significance for us as Christians.
The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread now represents the new covenant of the blood of Jesus poured out for us and his body given for us so that we may be forgiven of our sins by his substituted death. It thereby signals triumph over Death and the grave, and triumph over sin.
The Feast of Pentecost now represents the pouring of G-d Spirit - another sign and seal of his covenant that we have indeed been adopted as heirs and sons of G-d.
If these two feasts still have covenant significance to us, then why not a people, Christianity do not even commemorate these seasons using the G-d approved Calendar?
May the SHALOM of G-d be yours today as you read the words of my soul to yours.
Amen!
Work Cited:
Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger, and William White. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With Topical Index. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1996.
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