Monday, 11 April 2016

Shabbat: Part One

Tweet

The Sabbath is a central pivot of Jewish life. As taught by Yeshua, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27 KJV). It was never meant to be a day of legalistic conformity and concern for minute detail. Sabbath is a day of crucial significance to Jewish identity. The principle of weekly rest, worship and renewal is one with universal significance. In this sense, the Sabbath principle is a spiritual and humanitarian guide for all peoples. Christians are free to incorporate this principle on Sunday or other days. The seventh day Sabbath for Israel is a special central sign of the covenant between Israel and God. Hence, to abrogate the sign of the covenant is to cast doubt on whether we uphold the continuing covenant of God with Israel. Sabbath itself antedates Israel's existence and is a reflection of of the Creation order. However, Israel is given Sabbath as a memorial of God's gracious rescue from slavery as well as a memorial of Creation and God's resting on the seventh day (period).

Jewish Roots, Chapter Seven: Messianic Jewish Practice