Sunday, July 7, 2013

Remember the Sabbath day

When I first considered a day of full and complete rest, I just didn't know what I'd do with myself.  Oh, I'd nearly always taken one day to "do less" for Biblical reasons, but a day that truly was set apart from my regular schedule was a more daunting task.  As a matter of fact, when I first attempted to "remember Sabbath," I made work out of it.

First, there is the social interpretation that if one is "doing good" on Sabbath, it's a pass.  So all health care, emergency work, etc. was deemed "doing good," because Y'hshuwah healed on the Sabbath.  But if one is getting paid, is that really doing good?   I, personally, can't answer that.  I remember one time, someone was unable to man a "crisis line" on Shabbat and although I usually manned it on Sunday, I was asked to cover that shift.  I certainly couldn't have imagined someone in crisis just getting the ongoing ringing, without an answer, so I told them I'd cover it, but I wouldn't be on the clock.  I still don't know if that was right or not.  Perhaps I could have taken that money and donated it somewhere, I don't know.  YHWH knew my heart, though, and so He's taken some of the guess work out.

I don't work outside this ministry homestead, so that's taken some of the guess work out.  Since I'm not dependent upon anyone else, I'm not causing anyone else to work on Shabbat.  Since my livestock has free access to hay and pasture, I just make certain the animals have extra water before sunset begins Shabbat.   Then Shabbat morning is simply a matter of opening chicken doors and making sure everyone is accounted for and still has water.  I've even worked out the schedule, so there is no need to milk on Shabbat, and it causes the nannies no undue discomfort.

Now, as to the other part of that Commandment.  Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work!  That requires discipline and I truly believe YHWH expects us to apply ourselves to that principle.  One of the biggest differences between our present society's view and The Way of Life is the difference in the definition of work and the amount of time spent doing it.  Our society divides the day into basically three parts, and the week into five days and a two day week-end, now heading into four day work week and 3 day week-end.  None of that is Scriptural.  Six days we work and 1 day we rest.  Of course, we sleep daily, but the work isn't gauged by the clock, it's gauged by the finished product.

I can honestly say, I am blessed to have work that often doesn't feel like work, at all!    I'm quite sure it's part of the Sabbath blessing . . .
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  But the seventh day is the Sabbath of YHWH thy G-d: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.  

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