Title: Three Deep Meanings of the Sabbath
3 deep meanings of the Sabbath (Exodus 23:10-13)
1. Be considerate of others and live together
During the Sabbath year, the vineyards and olive groves were also put to rest. The fact that even the fields of crops important to the Hebrew people's diet were stopped from cultivating meant that the entire land had to be cultivated. However, in the period of the judges or the kingdom, the regulations were not kept well, and instead, the earth found rest only during the 70-year Babylonian captivity (2 Chronicles 36:21). After all, the Babylonian captivity can be said to be God's punishment for not keeping the sabbatical law.
If you don't rest, you will be forced to rest. Because sickness does not rest, there are many times when God gives us rest. Likewise, the Sabbath year has the meaning of restoring intellectual power, but the Sabbath year law was also enacted for the poor and wild animals (verse 11). That is, during the Sabbath year, the poor cultivated and ate, and the wild animals ate the remainder. After all, the sabbatical is a good system for training in life that is considerate of others. In fact, the law related to the Jubilee year is also a law established for a life of consideration for others.
In the year of Jubilee, those who have handed over land and houses in debt are returned and slaves are restored as free men. As such, the Sabbath and Jubilee years, which are extensions of the Sabbath concept, are stern commands set by God to renew the reality in which wealth is concentrated in a few. If you ignore that command, the world becomes a jungle ruled by power. However, there was a sabbatical year and a jubilee year, so the poor and marginalized could have hope. In the end, the law on the Sabbath has a deep meaning to challenge the mindset of sharing and missionary work.
2. Take a Practical Rest
At that time, cattle and donkeys were constantly subjected to hard work in the fields, the children of servants were constantly doing household chores, and strangers were often mobilized in hard labor. The Sabbath brought them not only spiritual lessons but also physical relaxation (verse 12). One of the important purposes of such a Sabbath institution is to provide practical rest.
Working hard is important. If you work hard and passionately, your worries and anguish will decrease. Being busy is not something to complain about, but something to be grateful for. But don't be busy without thinking. Humanity can be grasped not only through his work, but also through his resting state. The reason you need a break is because you need time to interpret your work. It is only when there is rest that one becomes human and can overcome enslavement.
Break time is an important reminder of the purpose of work. So get away from complicated things sometimes. Sometimes you have to leave work so you don't become a slave to it. It is also a good idea to create conditions and travel. When taking a break, it is better to go to a quiet place rather than a crowded place. Because if you go to a crowded place, sing, shake, and drink, you are exhausted, not rested. Work hard when you work like that, and make sure you rest when you rest.
3. Live God-Centered
Sabbath year and Sabbath observance are closely related to living a God-centered life and avoiding idolatry (verse 13). Breaking the Sabbath and departing from a God-centered life increases the risk of idolatry. After all, the law on the Sabbath is a law that tells us that a deep relationship with God is the most important thing in life. So, when you rest, restore your relationship with God and restore a God-centered life.
Why is it better to go to a secluded place to relax? It is because you can spend more time thinking with nature and having a deeper communion with God. According to the Gospels, Jesus also went to a quiet place while he was busy and prayed. In that sense, the phrase “Prayer is rest!” has a more accurate meaning of prayer than “Prayer is work!” Sometimes we need a prayer that is heard rather than a prayer that we say out loud. Confessing prayers are more likely to lead to reliefism, but listening prayers give you mystical happiness.
Rockefeller, the famous rich man in the United States, was on the verge of dying in his early fifties, but he lived a healthy life without any dentures until he was 98. There were three secrets of his health. First, no matter how busy I was, I made sure to rest for 30 minutes after lunch, no matter how busy my feet were. Second, I never got excited. No matter what happened or criticism, I was not excited. Third, I kept Sundays. Reflecting on what happened during the week before God and keeping the Sabbath day is the most basic element that brings out God's blessings.