“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 58:13, 14.
Going to the Bible for an answer we find the following important guidelines for keeping the Sabbath:
-Doing our own ways: This would mean avoiding all kinds of work that we typically do during the remaining days of the week (work, study, cooking, cleaning, TV, house work, etc...). The sacred hours of the Sabbath are to be spent in worship, Christian fellowship, doing good to those in need, and witnessing to others.
-Doing our own pleasure: This would mean that we do not spend the holy hours of the Sabbath in leisure activities, sleep, social visitation, etc... All these activities are to be performed during the remaining six days of the week.
-Speaking our own words: What we commonly engage in conversation about during the six days of the week, we are to avoid during the sacred hours of the Sabbath; such as conversations about politics, work, family talk, etc... We have to realize that the hours of the Sabbath are not ours to waste but belong to God and should be spent as He has requested.
For those keeping the Sabbath in harmony with divine instruction is given the most wonderful promise: “I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father.” Isaiah 58:14. The heritage of Jacob is eternal life.
4rt Commandment:
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"
Deut 5:12 (KJV)
Friday sunset to Saturday sunset is to be observed as Sabbath and some observe the Sabbath from 6 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to the equatorial sunset time as in arctic regions the sunset is not clear.
Before the Sabbath begins the mind as well as the body should be withdrawn from worldly business. God has set His Sabbath at the end of the six working days that men may stop and consider what they have gained during the week in preparation for the pure kingdom which admits no transgressor. Every Sabbath we should reflect upon the past week in seeing the spiritual gains and noting the losses that we can improve upon
As sunset approaches let the members of the family assemble to read God's word, to sing and to pray. We are to leave our usual employment and spend time in meditation and worship. Before the setting of the sun let all secular work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight. Parents, explain your work and its purpose to your children and let them share in your preparation to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time.
In His own day He preserves for the family opportunity for communion with Him, enjoyment of nature, and fellowship with one another. Parents should spend Sabbath afternoon with their children. Often, the Sabbath is made of little significance to children, who are left to play alone or find entertainment as best they can. Left alone, the children soon be come restless and begin to play or engage in some kind of mischief. Thus the Sabbath has to them no sacred significance. The portion remaining to the family may be made the most sacred and precious season of all the Sabbath hours, with involving all members of the family, both young and old.
During a portion of the day, all should have an opportunity to be out doors in nature where they can do much to exalt the Sabbath with their families and make it the most enjoyable day of the week. We should devote time to interesting our children. This will have a happy influence upon them.
None should feel at liberty to spend sanctified time in an unprofitable manner. It is not honoring to God for Sabbath keepers to sleep during much of the Sabbath, the time that God has chosen to spend with us. They dishonor their Creator in so doing and, by their actions, say that the six days are too precious for them to spend in resting
Cooking should be done on the day of preparation, Friday.
"Speak thou also unto the children of
"Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:13.
This is the only commandment which begins with the word "remember" and is forgotten by many.
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