Thursday, October 18, 2007

Thoughts on Keeping Sabbath

Scripture Reading while at Clergy Retreat:

Exodus 31:13-17 "You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, given in order that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. ......... 16 Therefore the Israelites shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."

Keeping sabbath in order to know God is God. Keeping sabbath as a sign of God's creative work.

When we fail to keep sabbath - to rest and be refreshed - because there is too much to do, are we saying that God can't be trusted to accomplish what needs to be accomplished through us, so we need to help God out by putting in a few extra hours?

Keeping sabbath as a sign of faith. Keeping sabbath as acknowledgement of who God is and who we are. Hmmmm.

Thank you Lord for the time of rest this week. For the renewing activity of simply being with friends and being alone with you. Remind me Lord that your creative order includes sabbath. Amen.

2 comments:

Rev.Dulce said...

I never thought about it as a lack of trust. What if we are just doing exhausting R&R activities?

I will say that today I am jumping for joy, joy, joy--NOTHING on my calendar.

mid-life rookie said...

Yep, the lack of trust/faith concept was new to me too. Enjoy your nothing to do day. I am having similar.