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"Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers." Deuteronomy 8:1

Text: Exodus 31 : 12-13

A PROFOUND SYSTEM OF WORSHIP

God had gone to great lengths to give to Israel an elaborate and profound Tabernacle worship. There was nothing like it in the ancient world. How privileged Israel was to be given such lofty concepts! The challenge, as always, was to keep God’s laws with a heart of wisdom and love.

A SOLEMN REMINDER

Before God concluded His instruction to Moses, He gave him a solemn reminder.

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
‘Speak also to the children of Israel, saying:
‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is
a sign between Me and you
throughout your generations, that you may know
that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”
EXODUS 31:12-13

1. “My Sabbaths you shall keep…throughout your generations”

The plural noun “Sabbaths” was used for good reason. This was a reference to the following Sabbaths mentioned earlier.

a) The weekly Sabbath (Cf. Exodus 20:8)

b) The Sabbatical year (Cf. Exodus 23:10-13)

Generation after generation must be lovingly taught how to regard the Lord and His laws, here symbolically represented by “the Sabbath” law.

2. “That you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you”

a) The word “know” has the following connotations:-

i) Actual (present) knowledge

ii) Deeper (future) knowledge

iii) Acknowledgment of the Lord’s hand in life

b) The word “sanctifies” also has deep connotations

i) Consecration

ii) Cleansing

iii) Holiness

3. Never just a perfunctory activity

The Sabbaths of the Lord were never to be kept in a perfunctory manner. Israel was meant to grow in knowledge and wisdom as it keeps the Sabbaths of the Lord. It would need a dynamic faith and love to keep all the things associated with the Sabbath Laws!