Lesson No. 37 

Lesson No. 37 Fourth Commandment

It is somewhat curious and interesting that, according to the chronological order of the sacred account, this commandment appears preceding the promulgation of the Divine Decalogue. Let us see what the following passage says:

Exodus chapter 16: verse 23: “And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning”.51

This instruction from God to His people was given to Moses during the exodus on their march towards Canaan, before they reached Mount Sinai. There the Ten Commandments were revealed to them in the promulgation of the Decalogue, with this occupying the fourth place. On this second occasion, however, the commandment is presented in a more expressive and specific manner. Let us consider the following passage:

Exodus chapter 20: verses 8 to 11: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it”.51

In this quote, it is the first sentence that captures our attention, as it considers what Scripture says: "Remember the Sabbath day". It seems that this reminder refers to the prior command given in the desert, but beyond that, this expression leads us to reflect on the account of Genesis chapter 2: verses 2 and 3,51 where it refers to the conclusion of God's creative act, saying:

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made”. (Genesis chapter 2: verses 2 and 3).51

A comparison of these three biblical passages leads us to the conclusion that this commandment was known to humanity from the beginning, but that by then, men had already lost their notion of it.

As expressed by our distinguished reference writer, it is remarkable that the Sabbath differentiates the true God from all false gods, by identifying Him as the Creator of all things. So, it is not enough to observe any day, our Writer continues, but the day God commanded to remember and sanctify. The same one He blessed and sanctified, which is none other than the seventh day of the week, recognized since ancient times as the Sabbath day.

To better understand the lofty reasons that justify observing this day, we must consider that the work of creating the universe includes the origin of life and all the natural wonders that adorn it, so it should constitute for human beings the greatest evidence of the greatness, omniscience, power, and goodness of God. There are no words with which we can express all the nobility and glory encompassed in His creation. Human science, for its study, has divided it into three great kingdoms: the animal, the plant, and the mineral kingdom.

Millions and millions of specimens of literature speak to us with full certainty of the wonders and greatness of each of these kingdoms, without yet having managed to reveal all the values they contain. More and more, man makes new scientific discoveries that shed light on a greater degree of glory in the marvelous creations of the all-knowing God.

The greatest satisfaction a human being can experience when considering these things is knowing that God made them all so that we might enjoy them and that they might contribute in a special way to our happiness. Now then, should we hold in such low esteem the most exalted, admirable, and beautiful things that man can appreciate with his five senses? Shouldn't the wonderful activity of the Supreme Creator, which includes the cause of the existence of life and its constant reproduction and conservation, be remembered periodically?

"Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God". Thus speaks the Almighty. This, then, is precisely the day that God has chosen for us to rest in memory of His rest after completing the wondrous work of creating the universe. This is the day to remember and meditate on the admirable work of the Divine Creator. It is the chosen day for us to rest from our labors and pay Him the honor and glory that only He deserves, for so says His Holy Word:

Isaiah chapter 58: verses 13 and 14: “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: 14Then 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”.51

This passage from the Holy Scriptures teaches us that the Sabbath rest must be embraced by its observers with great zeal—through a practice that reflects the due respect, love, and obedience that our divine Creator deserves.

Let us consider some of God's demands of His people regarding the rest of the Sabbath day. According to the reference cited in Exodus chapter 20: verses 8 to 11,51 regarding this commandment, no work is to be done, not only by the head of the family and his children but also by the workers he may have in his home, business, or farm. Even his work animal must rest on that day, including "your foreigner residing within your gates". Although this latter mention alludes to foreigners living among the children of Israel, it is logically applicable to any guest we may have in our home, be it a relative, friend, or any other person. They should not be allowed to perform any work within our property limits.

Let us also take into account what the Scriptures say in the following passage:

Exodus chapter 35: verse 3: “Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day”.51

This prohibition is closely related to the quote from Exodus chapter 16: verse 23: And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.51

Another detail reflected in the sacred account in relation to observing the holy Sabbath is the prohibition of buying and selling and merchandise, as confirmed by the description of Nehemiah in Nehemiah chapter 13: verses 15 to 18, where it says: In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.51

As we will see in the Third Section of Lesson 60, it is evident that, according to the apostolic decree described in Acts chapter 15: verses 18 through 28,  the observance of this commandment is not presented as an enforced requirement for the Gentiles. However, it is equally true that its validity remains eternal for the Jewish people and for every Christian who chooses to observe it out of love for God. See Lesson 65 for details that support this reflection.