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 Bible
Readings
for the Home
Chapter
86
Reasons for
Sabbathkeeping
In what way is the
true God distinguished from all false gods?
"But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an
everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations
shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The
gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall
perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the
earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and
hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion." Jeremiah 10:10-12.
How did Paul
explain to the idolatrous Athenians the identity of the true God?
"For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar
with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly
worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things
therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in
temples made with hands;" Acts 17:23,24.
What did the
apostles tell the idolaters at Lystra?
"And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of
like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these
vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein." Acts 14:15.(See also Revelation 10:6; 14:6, 7.)
What is the reason
given in the fourth commandment for keeping the Sabbath holy?
"For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all
that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed
the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:11.
NOTE. - The
Sabbath is the great memorial of the creative power of the true and living
God. God's design in making the Sabbath was that man might never forget
Him, the Creator of all things.
What is the Sabbath
to those who keep it holy?
"And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me
and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God." Ezekiel
20:20.
How important is it
that we come to know God?
"And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent." John 17:3.
Is there any danger
that the people of God may forget Him?
"Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not
keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I
command thee this day:" Deuteronomy 8:11.
What other reason
is given for keeping the Bible Sabbath?
"Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my
sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you
throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that
doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:13.
What special reason
did Israel have for keeping the Sabbath?
"And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt,
and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand
and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee
to keep the sabbath day." Deuteronomy 5:15.
NOTE. - In
their bondage the Israelites had to some extent lost the knowledge of God,
and departed from His precepts. In consequence of the oppression,
especially the rigorous exactions made upon them by the Pharaoh of the
Exodus, Sabbath observance was doubtless extremely difficult if not
entirely impossible. Deliverance from this oppression was therefore an
additional reason for their keeping the Sabbath. Since Egyptian bondage is
illustrative of the bondage of sin, everyone who has been delivered from
sin may regard himself as having the same reason for keeping the Sabbath
as had the Israelites who were released from Egyptian bondage.
As God brought the
Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, so He brings us out of the bondage of
sin. Why did He bring His people out of Egypt?
"And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with
gladness: And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the
labour of the people; That they might observe his statutes, and keep
his laws. Praise ye the LORD." Psalms 105:43-45.
What does the word
"sabbath" mean?
Rest.
NOTE. -
Previous to the Fall, God designed that man's time should be occupied with
pleasant, invigorating labor. (Genesis 2:15.) Wearisome toil came in
consequence of sin. (Genesis 3:17-19.) Since the Fall the Sabbath may
bring physical rest to both man and beast of burden (Exodus 23:12) but
physical rest was not its original and primary design or purpose.
Cessation from the ordinary labors of the week was ordained, not because
these are sinful in themselves, but that man might have a frequently
recurring period for the contemplation of the Creator and His works.
Was it God's plan
that the Seventh day Sabbath be used as a day for public worship?
"Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath
of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is
the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." Leviticus 23:3.
NOTE. - A
convocation is an assembly of people.
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