The Meaning of the Sabbath in Exodus 31:12-18

• Main Authors: Chou-Hwa Lee, 李秋華
• Other Authors: Kwang-Chi Liu, Ph.D.
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/72822389363826271005

碩士 === 基督教台灣浸會神學院 === 基督教神學研究所 === 102 === The Sabbath is a gift from God. Nevertheless, Christians seem to have gaps in fully understanding the Sabbath and are not too sure about God’s presence. The author will discuss how believers enjoy this rest with God’s presence and live out a life of belief based on Exodus 31:12-18. In Chapter 1, the author studies the Sabbath-related verses from Biblical Hebrew. The Lord emphasizes, “Surely My Sabbaths you shall observe,” claiming that the Sabbath is “of holiness” and that the reasons for keeping the Sabbath are related to God’s creation. By repeating nouns and the verb of Sabbath (tbv), the verses highlight the contents of the Sabbath. In addition, the verses show that the Sabbath is associated with God’s holy presence and the Tabernacle. In Chapter 2, the theology of the Sabbath from Scripture is explored, including the relationship between the Sabbath and creation, teaching, and eternity. The root of the Sabbath is about creation. “He ceased and was refreshed” in Exodus echoes God’s order of creation, and the phrase parallels God’s rest after creation. The teaching of the Sabbath is a sign of holiness for people to know the attributes of the Lord and helps people share God’s holy character ethically to maintain the relationship under the covenant. The Sabbath has its position in eternity. The Sabbath, although designed for the Israelites, is the sign of God’s goal of redemption, which is for everyone. In Chapter 3, the application and meaning of Sabbath are studied. First, the Sabbath is reviewed from the angle of “resting”. Working for six days and resting for one day is the pattern of life that God gives us. The Sabbath makes people rest and get back to how God wants us to be in body, soul, and spirit. Believers are able to enjoy a restful life. Second, the Sabbath is reviewed from the angle of “ceasing”. God’s children get to know God more by fasting and retreating. People are not supposed to neglect the life pattern that God gives us. Additionally, the Sabbath is reviewed from the angle of a “sign”. The Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, has begun its meaning of the last days. The Sabbath is a sign of the rest that God gives us. For the new “God’s holy people” in Christ, the Lord’s Day is the external sign of “Christians’ Sabbath,” whereas the Cross is the internal sign. The author found the Sabbath makes people rest in body, soul, and spirit. The contents of the rest are toward God, and the purpose of the rest is to worship. Christians should not just focus on the rest of worshipping in soul and spirit but emphasize bodily rest. The Sabbath is from the beginning of the creation, is a process of life week by week, and to point human’s external rest.