Sunday, November 19, 2017

Sabbath, not just a day off!

Deuteronomy 5:12-15 by Rev. David L.S. Robertson
Series:A Journey with Time

At the time when God was giving the Torah to Israel, He said to them: My children! if you accept the Torah and observe my mitzvot [commandments], I will give you for all eternity a thing most precious that I have in my possession. --And what, asked Israel, is that precious thing which Thou wilt give us if we obey Thy Torah? --The world to come. --Show us in this world an example of the world to come --The Sabbath is an example of the world to come (A. Heschel, The Sabbath, p. 73). Upon hearing this Jewish legend, I imagine all of Israel voicing, “Ah… I see”. But I wonder, is it the same with us? Do we imagine Sabbath as an example of the world to come—the most precious possession that God is willing to give to us for all of eternity? Over the last several weeks we’ve been exploring the various expressions and examples of Sabbath. This week the rubber hits the road. We come face to face with the tradition and the significance of Sabbath as the fourth of the 10 commandments, which is interesting in and of it’s self because, the Sabbath rests right in the middle; at the heart of the 10 commandments. It’s not the fourth most important, it is located literally next to center. Sabbath is a defining practice situated in the very heart of the Torah. We should take notice of that, I think.
Duration:21 mins 4 secs