The Sabbaths

Ezekiel 20.1-26

In this portion of today's OYCB reading I found something very interesting.

There were six different references to God's decrees and regulations. These references had to do with the fact that Israel had violated God by not obeying these decrees and regulations (God's Law). 

The presentation of why God was punishing Israel was consistent in Ezekiel 20.1-26.

But something else very consistent in this passage of scripture is that right beside every reference to God's decrees and regulations was a reference to God's Sabbaths.

Not only were God's decrees and regulations being broken, but God's Sabbaths were being broken.

Ezekiel 20.12 says:

And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy.

It might be different if the Sabbaths were only mentioned a couple of times in this passage. But, in fact, every time God's decrees and regulations were mentioned, the Sabbaths were right alongside.

Why?

Why indeed!

So, it would seem that just obeying God's Law was not enough. There was the matter of God's reminders - the Sabbaths - that served to remind Israel that God had set them apart to be holy.

How can we today say God's Law is important without giving God's Sabbaths the same importance? How do we separate God's decrees and regulations from His Sabbaths? Are we free from God's decrees and regulations? Are we free from God's Sabbaths?

I think we all need to study the Bible further to understand why it is that we feel obligated to obey God's decrees and regulations, but do not feel compelled to obey His Sabbaths! If Jesus redeemed us from the Law, but we still honor it, then, why would we not give more serious consideration to the Sabbaths as well?

As a side note, I get the idea from reading this that the Sabbaths mentioned here were not  limited to just every seventh day but included the prescribed festivals and celebrations established during Moses' time. These were all designated as 'times of rest.'

Father, I think modern Christians have much to learn from Your Word. I know I do. Your decrees and regulations are fulfilled in Jesus. It makes sense then that Your Sabbaths are fulfilled in Jesus as well. So, I can conclude then that by faith in Jesus I not only enter Your righteousness, but Your rest as well.