Post by Watchman on Mar 6, 2006 19:31:06 GMT -5
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of YHWH, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in YHWH; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of YHWH hath spoken it. Isaiah 58:13-14
Instruction in the Bible as to how to keep the Sabbath is not given in very specific detail but, rather, in broad principles that cover a multitude of specifics. If we are being led by God's Spirit, we will be able to determine what is right.
There are valuable instructions God has given here. First is "to turn your foot away." This has to do with one's overall approach, with one's attitude toward the day, with respect. In Exodus 3:5 God tells Moses to take off his shoes because the ground he was standing on was holy ground—God is saying, "Get your dirty feet off where I am!" This is the same principle that is involved here. There has to be respect for the things of YHWH. The Sabbath is of YHWH. We should not trample all over His holy Sabbath day.
The Sabbath must be regarded as holy. It is different. Seperate. It is not common. We must hold it in deep respect, the same kind of respect that we might call "the fear of YHWH." This is the same kind of fear that would keep one from falling on his knees before a statue or worshiping before an image because it is idolatry and we do not want to commit it! We need to have the same kind of respect toward the Sabbath. This is the attitude that should dominate during this period of time. This is our day to rest in the presence of the Almighty God!
Consider the Sabbath -It is "the test commandment." It is "the sign" that God gave.
"Thine own ways" is another aspect of this. A way is a path or a course leading from one place to another. It is a direction, a manner or method of doing something. It is a code of life, a lifestyle. The problem with mankind's way is its direction. It is preoccupied with self. In this context, "ways" means the path, direction, or manner of speaking or worshipping God. The way is the means of accomplishing this worshipping.
In Psalm 16:11 it is written:"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore."
What he is saying is that, because God has showed him the path and he is walking in God's way (and because he is in the presence of God, fellowshipping with God)- 'at thy right hand', fullness of joy is being produced. It is a fruit of walking in YHWH's way.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err [therein]. No lion shall be there, nor [any] ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]: . (Isaiah 35:8-9)
There is a certain path, a certain way. In this case, he calls it a highway in which those who are close to God will walk. Those not walking in 'this way' will miss the mark!
Thus saith YHWH, "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."
But they said, "We will not walk [therein]". (Jeremiah 6:16 )
Do you want rest? When we are striving to obey YHWH and are walking His way, then we have already been brought into the rest of God. It is the beginning—not the fullness, but it is the beginning! Why? It is producing the right fruit. "My peace I leave with you." "My joy I give to you." God's way will produce the right fruit, and the Sabbath is central to all these things. It is the day that God made for man. It is an expanse of time in which He says, "Today, if you will hear My voice."
Why is God working towards producing this faith? It should be so clear. Those with faith will submit to Him and commit their lives to Him. And if He can build people's faith, they will believe in Christ and believe His words. They will begin to enter into God's rest. This teaching is all over the Bible.
Instruction in the Bible as to how to keep the Sabbath is not given in very specific detail but, rather, in broad principles that cover a multitude of specifics. If we are being led by God's Spirit, we will be able to determine what is right.
There are valuable instructions God has given here. First is "to turn your foot away." This has to do with one's overall approach, with one's attitude toward the day, with respect. In Exodus 3:5 God tells Moses to take off his shoes because the ground he was standing on was holy ground—God is saying, "Get your dirty feet off where I am!" This is the same principle that is involved here. There has to be respect for the things of YHWH. The Sabbath is of YHWH. We should not trample all over His holy Sabbath day.
The Sabbath must be regarded as holy. It is different. Seperate. It is not common. We must hold it in deep respect, the same kind of respect that we might call "the fear of YHWH." This is the same kind of fear that would keep one from falling on his knees before a statue or worshiping before an image because it is idolatry and we do not want to commit it! We need to have the same kind of respect toward the Sabbath. This is the attitude that should dominate during this period of time. This is our day to rest in the presence of the Almighty God!
Consider the Sabbath -It is "the test commandment." It is "the sign" that God gave.
"Thine own ways" is another aspect of this. A way is a path or a course leading from one place to another. It is a direction, a manner or method of doing something. It is a code of life, a lifestyle. The problem with mankind's way is its direction. It is preoccupied with self. In this context, "ways" means the path, direction, or manner of speaking or worshipping God. The way is the means of accomplishing this worshipping.
In Psalm 16:11 it is written:"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore."
What he is saying is that, because God has showed him the path and he is walking in God's way (and because he is in the presence of God, fellowshipping with God)- 'at thy right hand', fullness of joy is being produced. It is a fruit of walking in YHWH's way.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err [therein]. No lion shall be there, nor [any] ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]: . (Isaiah 35:8-9)
There is a certain path, a certain way. In this case, he calls it a highway in which those who are close to God will walk. Those not walking in 'this way' will miss the mark!
Thus saith YHWH, "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."
But they said, "We will not walk [therein]". (Jeremiah 6:16 )
Do you want rest? When we are striving to obey YHWH and are walking His way, then we have already been brought into the rest of God. It is the beginning—not the fullness, but it is the beginning! Why? It is producing the right fruit. "My peace I leave with you." "My joy I give to you." God's way will produce the right fruit, and the Sabbath is central to all these things. It is the day that God made for man. It is an expanse of time in which He says, "Today, if you will hear My voice."
Why is God working towards producing this faith? It should be so clear. Those with faith will submit to Him and commit their lives to Him. And if He can build people's faith, they will believe in Christ and believe His words. They will begin to enter into God's rest. This teaching is all over the Bible.