Some Scriptural References: Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11, 31:14-16, 35:2, Leviticus 23:1-3:
It is interesting that when most people are speaking about the Feasts or Appointed Times of YHVH that they seldom ever mention the seventh day, or Sabbath.
In Leviticus 23:1-4 the Appointed Times are listed. Interestingly, the Sabbath is the first listed.
The word “feast”, used in many translations, is moed in Hebrew. It means an “appointed or fixed time”. It is when YHVH promises that He will meet with His people. The word “holy convocation” in Hebrew means “set-apart rehearsal”. All of the Appointed Times are “holy rehearsals” for what is to come in the future through Messiah Yeshua.
The set-apart, holy seventh day goes all the way back to Genesis 2:1-3. Here YHVH states that He rested from all of His creative works and “blessed the Seventh day” and He called it holy. It is the only day that He made holy. He never called the 1st day, Sunday, holy. It is a scriptural fact that when He calls something set-apart, or holy, that He doesn't change His mind. Does not the Word of God say that He “changes not”? Yes indeed! (Malachi 3:6, Hebrew 13:8) Likewise, if He calls something “unholy” man cannot make it holy.
We are commanded in scripture to remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy or set-apart. In fact, for those who violated the Sabbath, the consequences were death. Somehow I don't think He was joking around! He goes on to say in Exodus 31:14-16 that the keeping of the Sabbath day was to be perpetual. What's interesting about this word “perpetual” is that it is the same word from which we get “forever”, “eternal”, “everlasting” and “forever and ever”. If this word means "forever" when it comes to us living in eternity, then how can one believe that it doesn't mean the same thing when it comes to keeping the Sabbath? It is the same exact word with the same exact meaning.
The Prophet Ezekiel writes about the Millennial reign of Messiah, as does the Prophet Zechariah, as well as the other prophets. If the Seventh day Sabbath has been done away with then why do we need the 46th chapter of Ezekiel where he clearly talks about the keeping of the Sabbath day and why in Isaiah 66:23 does He, speaking of the time when Yeshua is reigning, state' “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD”? (KJV) Clearly, I want to keep the Sabbath and appear before Him.
The Sabbath is a sign between the Creator and His people just as baptism is to the life of those born again in Yeshua (Exodus 31:13). The Sabbath is a “holy rehearsal” of the day when we will enter into His “eternal Shabbat”. This life is just a “rehearsal” as we keep His holy days for the eternity that is ahead.
In Hebrews 4:9 the scripture says that there remains a “rest” for the people of God. The word rest is sabbatismos. Strong's Concordance tells you that it comes from G4521 Sabbaton which is of Hebrew origin. Greeks had no word for Sabbath because it was not of their culture. It was of Hebrew origin. Upon careful study of this word Sabbatismos one will find that it actually means “a Sabbath Keeping” like the scripture in Exodus 16:23 which actually uses the exact word Sabbaton (H7677) for the word “rest”. It means a “keeping” of the Sabbath day in its contextual usage. Sabbath keeping is a New Testament principle. All of the apostles kept the Sabbath as did Yeshua Himself. We are to keep the Sabbath Holy as a “holy rehearsal” for what is to come.
In the JFB Commentary of Genesis 2:2 it says, “No permanent change has ever since been made in the course of the world, no new species of animals been formed, no law of nature repealed or added to”.
In other words the commentary is saying that since God formed the heavens and earth and all that is contained therein, He rested because all was perfect, and He called it good. He “hallowed” (made holy) the day that He completed His work and sealed that day; forever as holy.
It is a JOY and HONOR to keep the Creator's Seventh Day Sabbath.
Shalom!
Leisa
