“Sabbath that keeps us” - Exodus 20:8-11
Sermon Title: Sabbath that keeps us
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11
Introduction:
In Greek mythology, there was a king named Sisyphus who was punished eternally to roll a boulder uphill. When he finally reached the top of the hill, the boulder would fall off and Sisyphus would have to roll the boulder uphill again.
In our lives, we encounter the same outcome where the task seemingly is never finished. Whether it is an empty laundry basket, an empty inbox, or no more obligations at work – our experience is that the work is never finished.
However, just because work does not stop doesn’t mean we can’t stop. We are required to stop so that we may receive sufficient rest for our souls, for the sake of our families, and for the sake of the world. We will be looking into why ultimately, we don’t keep the Sabbath, but the Sabbath keeps us.
Overview:
Exodus 20 is the giving of the Ten Commandments to the Israelites by God. The Ten Commandments are more than just rules or laws:
The Ten Commandments are not the means to salvation, but as the results of salvation.
● God’s saving grace came before any commandments or rules of being obedient to him were given to the people.
● In our relationship with him, his love is not conditional on our performance.
● Rather, God’s love comes first and the Ten Commandments are an expression and commitment to live out a redeemed life.
There is an art in the ordering and proportion of the words behind each commandment within the Ten Commandments.
● The 4th commandment on keeping the Sabbath is the bridge between the first three and the last six commandments.
● The longer commentary behind the 4th commandment emphasizes the importance of keeping this commandment to establish a rhythm of life, so that the other nine commandments may be more easily kept.
For 400 years, the people of God had one identity: slaves. Their fundamental identity was hinged on working, for if you did not work, you were not fit to live.
The initial blessing of work was given by God.
● Work is inherently a blessing.
● God had assigned to Adam and Eve physical work (to tend the garden) and intellectual work (naming of the animals).
● Work became tainted once sin entered the world.
We see this in our society today.
● The joy and value of work is distorted.
● We are obsessed with working, being productive, and living an unsustainable lifestyle.
● We discover vacations are not the solution, rather – to combat busyness and overworking, the ancient wisdom can be found in the ancient gift of letting the Sabbath keep us.
Applications:
Although the Sabbath was traditionally seen as legalistic or irrelevant, keeping the Sabbath is a practice of spiritual formation. It is an invitation to a life not dominated and distorted by overworking and busyness.
The Sabbath connects us to the source of rest: Jesus.
● Jesus’ presence brings restoration and renewal.
● Jesus gives us rest beneath even the physical rest, he gives us rest in our souls from our anxieties and our restlessness.
The Sabbath connects us to a life of trust.
● The degree to which you can rest depends on the degree of trust in God.
● “I trust that while I’m resting, you are working. I’m letting go of control because I trust that ultimately, you are in control.”
The Sabbath connects and redefines our foundation and identity onto God’s love.
● We believe our identities depend on what we do, and if we do not do much, we are nobody.
● The Sabbath instead says, you are not what you do but you are who you are in a relationship with.
René Descartes has said “I think, therefore I am”. The Israelite slaves would say “I work, therefore I am”. A Christian is to say “I am loved by God, therefore I am.”
Sermon reflection questions:
What day of the week is your Sabbath and what do you do on this day? Do you have a Sabbath rhythm you are striving for, but not yet there? Why or why not?
Discuss the second point: Sabbath is a means of connecting us to a life of trust through a particular practice. Do you agree or disagree with this point? Do you have trust issues in practicing Sabbath because of a lack of trust in God?
Do you really believe your identity is based on the love of God? If not, where is your identity placed?
