Sabbath Snippets

“Thus says the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened… The prince shall enter by the vestibule of the gate from outside, and shall take his stand by the post of the gate. The priests shall offer his burnt offering and peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening. The people of the land shall bow down at the entrance of that gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths…  And the grain offering with the ram shall be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, together with a hin of oil to each ephah…

“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead… 

“You shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering to the Lord daily; morning by morning you shall provide it.” Ezekiel 46:1-2a,3,5,9,13

Ezekiel’s prophecies to the exiled people of Judah were intended to breathe hope, reassurance, and new life into their lost sense of security and worship. He carefully relayed God’s message so they understood, looked forward to, and would follow His instructions upon their return to Jerusalem. The commands for their Sabbath were specific and detailed, reminding them of God’s intricate care for them and their ongoing covenant relationship, that between fallible men and holy God.

We can take such hope and renewed confidence when we honor the Sabbath. We do this by approaching it as distinct from a workweek, as God appoints, not according to our own preference and comfort. We come in remembrance and on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice that made atonement for our sins and the way to everlasting peace. We celebrate it in humble worship, focusing on the Lord God, bowing before Him in praise, thanksgiving, and willing service.

Do we take this institution of the Sabbath with serious wonder and willingness? How does remembering the foundation and source of soul rest enhance our honoring this day of true rest and our worship of Christ the Gate? What worldly mindset or habits can we surrender to make it more meaningful? (John 10:7-10)

To honor the Sabbath means we come to give, to offer freely of our bounty of time, love, attention, treasure. There is nothing about taking, and all about giving, taking only delight in the Lord. Where have we deliberately set aside our own pleasure to seek and serve the Lord’s? (Isaiah 58:13-14)

And we cannot celebrate the Sabbath without being changed. We never depart the Lord’s presence the same way we came in. How is passing through time with the Lord on His day transforming us? How would we like it to? When we genuinely desire to honor Him, the Lord will work the graces of His Sabbath in us.

Worthy Lord, help me regularly appoint time and space to honor, serve, and glorify You.