When I read through the Hebrew Scriptures, I try to be careful not to disregard the “law” sections. While I do not believe anyone who is in Christ should attempt to keep the “laws” (ex: not eating squirrels and circumcision), I do believe there are many spiritual principles throughout the Hebrew Scriptures that are still applicable.
The “lessons” (for lack of a better word) that we can glean from Exodus, Leviticus, etc. are not different than the ones we understand when reading the “new testament,” because while Christ FULFILLED the law, He did not abolish it. God’s character has ALWAYS been one of justice, mercy, and faithfulness, and His loving advances toward humanity did not begin at the cross but long before, at “the foundations of the world.”
This morning one of the passages on my M’Cheyne reading plan was Leviticus 26. I got caught up in the second verse:
You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. ~Leviticus 26:2
Does this apply to me? Absolutely. But, how? By being sure to “rest” every Sunday (or Saturday)? No. By being really quiet in church because God is there? Again, no.
Jesus said that focusing on specific days was missing the point. He challenged the religious leaders of His time by not “keeping Sabbath” the way they understood it should be kept. His actions and lifestyle said to them, “outward worship is not what God desires; He wants YOU.”
Jesus said He is “Lord” of the Sabbath. And Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all spoke of true rest being found in GOD. The “old” testament prophets understood that Sabbath was a state of being (rest), a condition of the heart, a by-product of being connected with the Father (see Isaiah 58:13–14).
Even Moses understood this message as God was revealing His plan for His people: “And He said, ‘My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.’” (Exodus 33:14)
So, how do we “keep the Sabbath”? According to Isaiah it is by ceasing to “do our own pleasure.” In other words, we need to stop trying to live independently from our Creator. And this message is to US, not to those who do not believe. If we want to honor the Sabbath we must walk in repentance—constantly laying down our fleshly desires and instead following the purpose of the Spirit.
“If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the LORD . . . “ Isaiah 58:13-14
“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:9-10
“Keeping Sabbath” also means that we should not try to serve God in our own strength, putting laws and restraints on ourselves that are not according to His Spirit.
“For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.’ but you were not willing.” Isaiah 30:15
Basic point: it’s ok to set aside a day to rest and reflect on what God has done in our lives. But God wants us to walk in Sabbath every day by being connected with Him through Christ.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Part two of the verse: honor His sanctuary. Again, in order to keep this law we must first understand what the sanctuary is. And this is clear both in the “old” and “new” testaments.
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,’ declares the LORD. ‘But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.’” Isaiah 66:1-2
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.’” John 14:23
“For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’” 2 Corinthians 6:16
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:29
We are God’s Sanctuary—His resting place. And He is ours. It’s an amazing and wonderful and overwhelming truth. “Oneness” with God is and has been the plan since the beginning. And we can begin to enjoy this union the moment we choose to cry out to Christ, enter into His rest (ceasing from our own labors), and begin to honor His Sanctuary by surrendering these “vessels of clay” to the lordship of the Spirit.
Yes, all of that came from one tiny verse in Leviticus. Oh how wonderful that we can read the Hebrew Scriptures and see, not only truths, but TRUTH (Christ).
Peace,
Stephanie
