Sabbath Rest

On numerous occasions recently my daughter has found me in the house to ask me what is wrong. She says she hears me huffing and puffing and thinks I must be in pain. I’m sure I sound like I’m giving birth to a baby when in fact I’m just trying to get the top off a jar or take the vacuum cleaner apart so I can release the dust it’s collected. I know I’m not alone in feeling the weakening of my body, the aching knees, the frustration of not being able to do things I once found so easy and natural. I’m also very aware that generally I’m in very good health and suffering much less than many my age, so I try to curb my frustration by giving thanks for that and enjoying the many things I can still do without pain or restriction.

As I reflect on this I’m reminded (I think prompted by God) to remember my earlier, much busier years; of working, teaching, counselling, travelling, speaking, caring for family as well as many enjoyable physical activities and holidays. There were times during those years when I felt God had called me to a level of interaction, leadership and involvement that was quite beyond my own capacity and certainly outside my personality and natural preferences. I was pleased if not compelled to follow God wherever I believed He was leading me and I knew that He was faithfully enabling and sustaining me through it all. I’m grateful for all He led me to, the experiences I had, the people I connected with, the many things I learned and for whatever ways I participated in His mission and His work in the His people’s lives.

However, there was always a deep desire I was able to share with Him in my quiet times, which was to look forward to a time in my life when I could rest more, have more stillness in my days and weeks; a time I knew would suit my introverted humanity. I had glimpses of this when I took time to retreat, to spend a few days in silence, communing with God, being restored and refreshed for whatever was ahead.  I feel that longed for time has now come in my life; a beautiful gift of time and space to be more tranquil, less hurried, to walk with Jesus in the garden, to remember what Eden was like and to soak up a preview of what Paradise will be. And even though this time comes with an ageing body, with some aches and less mobility, even they can be reminders that it’s my time to stop, be still, to rest in the ways I once looked forward to, and to thank God for His faithfulness. 

I’ve always loved the idea of Sabbath, the call to regularly rest from our work, to take time to be still with God. Right from the beginning God made it clear that this was part of His plan, part of His own rhythm.

“By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.” Genesis 2: 2-3

“Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.” Exodus 23:12

Jesus made it clear He also needed times to leave even His ministry to the needy for a while in order to rest with His Father and be refreshed and He also called us to find rest from our labours with Him. “

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Sabbath is also a glimpse of eternity, a taste of what God has for us forever, as long as we remain faithful to Him.

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. Let us therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no-one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11

Sabbath was meant to be something precious, a time when we put a distance between ourselves and our deeds, a day to let the washing wait and turn off the phone, a day to remind ourselves that we rest not on our own laurels but on Christ’s, because our relationship with Christ is ultimately our forever rest.

A Sabbatical life is one that stands against the tyranny of things, against worldly demands that would exclude not only time with God, but essential care for our souls and our bodies. Some Christians make their Sabbatical one day a week, others may have a daily or monthly practice. Paul encourages a freedom of practice as long as the focus is on our relationship with Christ.

“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.” Romans 14:5-6

“Believers should not be judged by others regarding food, drink, festivals, new moons or Sabbaths, as these are merely shadows of the true reality found in Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17.

It’s interesting that Sabbath in the Old Testament is not understood as a day for some special service of worship. There is nothing of any special religious practices from which the importance of the Sabbath day might be derived. No, the Sabbath has been appointed as a time of rest with God, nothing else. It is a forerunner of the eternal rest which we will enjoy forever with our heavenly Father. And yet it is so often the thing we find hardest to do; to stop from all of our attempts to make something of ourselves, to leave incomplete for a while the projects we feel are so important in our lives even though they are temporal and will ultimately fade away. Many people feel guilty if they are not working, not busy, not achieving something of earthly value, or at least in some way working for God. In the modern world we live as if work were something holy in itself, as if work is what God ultimately calls us to. While God has certainly prepared good works for His people to do, we must beware that the work we impose on ourselves, even good work, can be the very thing that puts a wall between ourselves and God and ultimately leads us away from our eternal goal.

“The work which has been laid upon man is not his goal. His goal is the eternal rest which has been suggested in the rest of the seventh day.” Claus Westermann, Creation, 1974, p65.

In my last reflection I considered the beauty of Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd …

I also love to reflect on this adaption for busy people and give thanks that my Father has led me to this time in my life:

The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush;

He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals,

He provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity.         

He leads me in the way of efficiency, through calmness of mind;

in His guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,

I will not fret, for His presence is here.

His timelessness, His all-importance will keep me in balance.                     

He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of activity,

by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility;

my cup of joyous energy overflows.                           

Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours and I shall walk in the pace of my Lord, and dwell in His house forever.

(Toki Miyashina, Psalm 23 for Busy People)