Sabbath: Experiencing and Living the Character of God
Memory Text: Mark 2:27, 28
SABBATH: The Sabbath should be looked upon not only as a day of rest, but also a day for education. It is the sweetest & most blessed day of the week where people can know about God. Jodie, the only SDA in her graduate program when invited by Gayle (friend) on 4 Friday nights used the time to teach Gayle on the Sabbath. Gayle at the mall on the next (5th) Friday night could know by herself the Sabbath was near.
SUNDAY: The Sabbath originated at Creation. The first of the dual story of creation tells us how a God of beauty made the world in order & man. The second focuses on Adam, & human dominion (Gen. 2:1-3). On the last day of the week & their first full day on earth, Adam & Eve was educated on love, care, the Sabbath & the world. “It was a time for them to be astonished.”
MONDAY: God’s covenant with Israel was sealed with the Sabbath. When they lost their way & God bid Moses to lead them, the Sabbath was a “pivotal learning experience in the journey of rediscovery”. The shower of the Manna was to be a lesson for them (Exod. 16:14-29, 32, 33). God gave them enough for each day & not more for them to know their Provider. Yet, doubled food was given on the Sabbath.
TUESDAY: The sins of Israel against God were due to their forgetfulness of the Sabbath (Jer. 17:19-27, Isa. 58:1-4). The Israelites posed as followers of God but did what was right in their own eyes. After worship, they did not walk their talk. They made the Sabbath as a mere ritual (see Isa. 58:13, 14). The learning of the Sabbath must impact our lives. Knowledge is not enough! Honor the Sabbath!
WEDNESDAY: On the Sabbath, the, the holy rest day above all other days, God bids us to show love & be kind to people. We must find the balance of not “breaking” the Holy Day & caring for those who need our help. The law on the Sabbath is a means to an end—character of God, not an end in itself (Matt. 5:17, 18; 12:1-13; Luke 13:10-17; Mark 2:27, 28). Christ used questions raised to fully explain the Sabbath.
THURSDAY: The death of Jesus did not cause the death of His words & customs. After He resurrected, the disciples continued His custom of worshipping on the Sabbath (Acts 13:16, 26). It was the time when the Jews & Gentiles met together to talk about the Hebrew Messiah—Jesus. The personal testimony & Scriptures shared caused the gospel to advance with power (Acts 13:14-45; 16:13, 14; 17:1-5, 18:4).
FRIDAY: The mark that set apart the Jews from other nations was the Sabbath. As a chosen nation & a light to other nations, they were to observe the law that points to God as the Creator. True observance of the Sabbath would keep them from idolatry & would transform nations in idolatry. Men must themselves be holy in order to keep it holy (Exod. 20:8; 22:31). The day is a sign of God’s power to make us holy.
—Ellen G. White, “The Sabbath,” pp. 281-289, in The Desire of Ages.
Keywords
SDA- Seventh-day Adventist
DA- The Desire of Ages
Captions
SUNDAY- Time To Be Astonished
MONDAY- Time For Rediscovery
TUESDAY- Time For Learning Priorities
WEDNESDAY- Time For Finding Balance
THURSDAY- A Time For Community
Discussion Questions
📌 Often Seventh-day Adventists spend time considering what is not acceptable to do on Sabbath. Develop a set of questions that would keep Sabbath keepers focused on the ideals discussed in this lesson and that emphasize Sabbath as an educative experience. For example: “What do I do on Sabbath that enables me to learn more about God’s character?”
📌 Consider the quotations from Ellen G. White given above. They suggest that it is not just the formality of keeping Sabbath that distinguishes Sabbath keepers in the community. What would individuals be like that are “partakers of the righteousness of Christ” and have been made “holy”? What does this have to do with the Sabbath?
📌 In what ways can you enrich your Sabbath experience? Identify three goals that focus on what you would like to learn through Sabbath observance in the next 12 months.
For December 12-18. Happy Sabbath.