Part 3:  Keeping the Sabbath Holy

7.  Should we prepare for the Sabbath?
“And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,”  Mark 15:42  (For further study see Luke 23:54.)

Note:  To get the most out of the Sabbath, it is necessary to prepare for it.  This means finishing up weekly work, and making sure nothing is left over to be done on the Sabbath.  For me, I prepare by cleaning my home that way I don’t have to look at a mess on the Sabbath.  I clean my heart by asking forgiveness for any stray sins.  As the Sabbath gets closer I wind down with soft music and maybe a soak in the tub.  After a buisy week it can take a little extra effort to wind down.

Imagine that tomorrow, the most powerful, most influential, most famous person in the world is coming for a visit.  Would you not make your house and heart spotless?  Wouldn’t you make sure you had the whole day free for your friend.   God is this person, and He is coming for a visit.  But He does not impose Himself on those who don’t really want His company.

8.  How does one keep the Sabbath holy?

a)  Stop– cease work
“Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.”  Exodus 23:12  (For further study see Exodus 20:10-11 and Leviticus 23:3.)

b)  Step back– from all earthly objectives and concerns.  God asks us to sanctify* (set apart as holy) not doing our own thing.  We are to especially guard against mixing common things with holy things.
“Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.”  Deuteronomy 5:12
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day;”  Isaiah 58:13a

c)  Admire God and His works through worship, prayer, meditation, study, fellowship, and nature.  These are God’s things.
“And call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:”  Isaiah 58:13b

d)  Do good– Some “work” must be done on the Sabbath.  Taking care of the sick and needy, feeding the animals, and helping with emergencies are all things that must be done on the Sabbath.  Any work that can be done on the six other days must not be done on the Sabbath.  Jesus is our example for He is Lord of the Sabbath.  (see Matthew 12:8.)
“And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?;”  How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.  Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.”  Matthew 12:10-13.  (For further study see Luke 14:3-5.)