Isaiah 56.1-8; Isaiah 58.13, 14

Notice also that, while the Sabbath is principally a time to be renewed in love for God – concentrating on His works and celebrating His redemption – it also guides us in the practice of neighbor love. We must not allow our use of the Sabbath to be a reason for others having to work (except such works of necessity and mercy as may be appropriate).

Believers are called to set aside all normal work on the Sabbath and to conduct their activities so as not to cause others to have to work that day, either. The fact that many of them choose to work, in spite of the Lord’s command, does not free us to engage them as they do. Our testimony to the world must be that, on this day, we rest in the Lord, and in the joy of His providence and salvation. And we urge them to do so as well.

In both of these givings of the fourth commandment the purpose is the same: to keep the day holy. Whatever is holy is “set apart” for a particular purpose, and that purpose is defined by the holy God, and not ourselves. God is holy, and He has expressly declared how He intends that we should use this one day each week. Do we dare to suppose that we know better than He how to “set apart” this day?

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.