Liturgy for Life : WK 2 - MON
Sabbath Rest
Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
This week we are looking at rest. What does it mean to have a rhythm of rest, to practice the discipline of stop. Our passage today from the 10 commandments reminds us how important this is: Out of God’s 10 main directives for his people, he chooses to focus one on Sabbath. One day out of seven, God’s people dedicated it to God. They made it special, they stopped work, and they remembered that God creates everything, we are just along for the ride. This would have been a brand new, counter cultural move, and it still is for us today.
Today when rest seems to be absent in our busy schedules, we are challenged to make rest our way of life. What I love about our passage in Exodus 20 is the clear inclusive nature of Sabbath. It was never meant for only a special group. From sons and daughters, female servants, foreigners in the area, and even the donkeys. We are reminded that God instituted Sabbath by setting a time for all, and God means all, creation to rest.
Rest is not only found in a solo retreat to your personal self-care routine with a good book. It is a practice that is meant for the community to lean into together. We invite others into our rhythms of rest, in the same way that Jesus invites us when he says “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
This week we are looking at rest. What does it mean to have a rhythm of rest, to practice the discipline of stop. Our passage today from the 10 commandments reminds us how important this is: Out of God’s 10 main directives for his people, he chooses to focus one on Sabbath. One day out of seven, God’s people dedicated it to God. They made it special, they stopped work, and they remembered that God creates everything, we are just along for the ride. This would have been a brand new, counter cultural move, and it still is for us today.
Today when rest seems to be absent in our busy schedules, we are challenged to make rest our way of life. What I love about our passage in Exodus 20 is the clear inclusive nature of Sabbath. It was never meant for only a special group. From sons and daughters, female servants, foreigners in the area, and even the donkeys. We are reminded that God instituted Sabbath by setting a time for all, and God means all, creation to rest.
Rest is not only found in a solo retreat to your personal self-care routine with a good book. It is a practice that is meant for the community to lean into together. We invite others into our rhythms of rest, in the same way that Jesus invites us when he says “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
- What is your personal rhythm of rest? Is it intentional, or does it just happen when it happens?
- Are there ways that you can make rest a community activity? Who is someone in your life that might be needing a partner as they practice the discipline of stop?
- How can you say yes to Jesus’ invitation to come to him? He wants to give you rest today!
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