The Way of Restoration: Isaiah 58 (5)

Pray Psalm 122.1, 2.
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
Our feet have been standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Read Isaiah 58.13.

Reflect.
1. Why does God refer to the Sabbath as His “holy day”?

2. What are God’s people not supposed to do on the Sabbath?

Meditate.
Accompanying the Ten Commandments in the Law of God are a great many statutes and rules that help to tease out the implications and applications of the Commandments. There are hundreds of these, and many of them are cited in the New Testament as having continuing validity.

Of all those many hundreds of statutes, precepts, rules, and protocols, only one begins with the Hebrew word, אַ֥ךְ, ach, which means, surely or no doubt or above all or only. It is an emphatic adverb meant to set what follows apart for special consideration. Here’s the precept that is introduced by this word: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: Surely [אַ֥ךְ] My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you’” (Ex. 31.12, 13).

God was serious about keeping the Sabbath, but the people of Israel and Judah were not. God said it was “My holy day” – a day He specifically had set apart for Himself, to help His people in becoming a sanctified people. It was the Sabbath, the day of rest, a day for resting from normal work and other occupations to focus all the day on the Lord. In the Law, two reasons are given for God’s setting the Sabbath apart as holy, and they suggest how God wanted His people to spend that day. The Sabbath reminds us that God is Creator of all time, and everything else, and thus can do with time as He pleases, including setting aside one day in seven for a holy day (Ex. 20.11). Also, God delivered His people from their captivity to sin to be His people, and on the Sabbath He expected them to reflect on the great privilege of their covenant relationship, and to grow in their sanctification for the week to come (Deut. 5.16).

But the people of Israel and Judah decided they knew better than God how to use His holy day. They “turned away” from His instruction and sought their own “pleasure” on the Sabbath. They were more concerned to “delight” themselves than to delight the Lord. They did their “own ways,” pursued their “own pleasure,” and spoke their “own words” rather than to focus on His.

Pretty brazen, huh? No wonder God added this offense to His indictments against the people of Israel. How could the people of God so easily have set aside His plan for His day so they could use it as a kind of “free day” for their own interests? אַ֥ךְ!

Wait…

Reflect.
1. The Lord’s Day is the Sabbath for Christians. How should we use it?

2. How can you prepare for the Lord’s Day so that you use it as He intends, and can thus gain the sanctifying benefits the Sabbath affords? 

3. Why do so few Christians only keep half a Sabbath rather than the whole day? How do you suppose God feels about that?

As he formerly included under the class of fasting all ceremonies and outward masks, in which they made their holiness to consist, and showed that they were vain and unprofitable; so in this passage he points out the true observation of the Sabbath, that they may not think that it consists in external idleness but in true self denial, so as to abstain from every act of injustice and wickedness, and from all lusts and wicked thoughts. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Isaiah 58.13

Lord, help me to see the many benefits that You have in store for those who honor Your holy day, so that I…

Pray Psalm 122.
Use this psalm to reflect on your use of the Lord’s Day. 

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 122 (Nettleton: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing)
I was glad when they said to me, “To the Lord’s house let us go!”
Holy City, let our feet be firmly planted in your soil.
Jesus builds His Church forever, where His people sing His praise!
As Your Word decrees forever, we will thank You all our days.

On the throne of David, Jesus sits to judge the nations all.
As our holy peace increases, we are safe who on You call.
Grant us peace, Lord, by Your favor; for Your people’s sake we pray.
For the Church’s sake, O Savior, we will seek Your good today.

T. M. Moore

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Forward today’s lesson to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on Isaiah. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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