The Sabbath. In the next verses God talks about the Sabbath. He tells us that if we stop trampling on the hours of the Sabbath and cease from doing our own pleasure and speaking our own words on the Sabbath, we will bring honour to Him. He tells us that if we accept this counsel and spend the day with Him - this can be in singing praises, lifting up our voices in prayer, learning of the creatures and plants and flowers of the natural world He has made, and being with others in fellowship - we shall delight in Him. We shall develop a great pleasure in the Sabbath. He promises that we shall ride on the high places of the earth and we shall be fed.
This may be a promise, too, for those times when Sabbath keepers come to be hated of all the world, being hunted for their faith and unable to buy or sell. God says that He has spoken these promises of health and safety. His word is all-powerful and He keeps His word if we meet the conditions.
Do you remember that He created the world just by speaking the word? He cares for His people and brings them pleasure and uplift and increased good health by that same word on condition of our obedience.. The Sabbath and improved health are connected and we can claim these promises.
The peace of the Sabbath can reduce our blood pressure, singing will raise the endorphins, and the high notes will open our lungs and allow the oxygen to reach more widely. As we listen to the word of God and read the Bible we shall find understanding and mental rest. Prayer gives rest for the weary. For 24 hours you have a free prescription from God to avoid burn-out and to revitalise the mind and body in a way nothing else does. Coming to the end of the Sabbath with a heart filled with gratitude is healing in itself. In all this the blessing of the Sabbath will be ours and the next day we find ourselves renewed and ready for action once again. |
