Freedom in Shabbat?

Shabbat Shalom means Sabbath peace, peaceful Sabbath, good Sabbath. Shabbos is another word for Sabbath. Shabbat comes from the Hebrew word rest.

God set the Sabbath apart and clearly stated it was the last day of the week, which was discussed in a previous post.

Exodus 20:11 - "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" (NIV).

First of all, keeping the Sabbath cannot be viewed as a means to salvation. Yeshua is our Salvation. When we do what God commanded and what Yeshua did when He walked this earth, we do so to be made more like Him. So the idea of the Sabbath is to cease from work, as God did, and spend time in His presence--studying His Word, worshipping Him, fellowshipping with family and friends in the Lord, and if the need arises, going out and finding that lost sheep, healing the sick.

We can misinterpret what God instructs us to do as bondage or see His Word as Truth and realize it as freedom. The Sabbath is a day of refreshing, renewal and it's one of those things, that you won't know if it "works" until you try it. Can we accept that the Creator actually knows what's good for us? Or do we know better?

Exodus 20:8 - "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (NIV).

It is customary to light two candles no later than 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evening because Shabbat begins at sunset. This week's time is 4:07 pm (EST) today--find the time in your area. The two candles symbolize the two commands God gives in the 4th commandment: to remember and keep or guard this day as holy unto Him.

For believers in Yeshua, the candles also represent Yeshua as the Light of the world. And there is a blessing that incorporates Yeshua in the traditional Hebrew custom, which is said after you light the candles: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to be a light to the nations and who gave us Jesus, our Messiah, the Light of the world." - from Lighting the Sabbath Candles

Restful Sabbath, in the name of Jesus, the Messiah!
Shabbat Shalom, BaShem Yeshua HaMashiach!