What is the Day of Shabbat?
When God gave the Ten Commandments to the Patriarchist Believer, Prophet Moses, the first three commandments focused on God, and the fourth commandment “Remember Shabbat” emphasized fellowship with Him, setting apart a day as holy, a day for prayer, and a day for rest. Rest is not merely the absence of tiredness. It is more than stopping work; it is ceasing from striving, entering peace, and experiencing joy. Rest is a divine weapon given and taught to us by the God of the Holy Bible.
The enemy despises rest because it breaks his hold over our stress, anxiety, and constant busyness.
Rest brings peace into your life. It restores your soul, strengthens your body, and aligns your spirit with God’s purpose. God’s desire for us is peace and life. He loves us and wants us to experience His peace and eternal life, in abundance.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” Isaiah 26:3
The Sabbath (Shabbat): A Gift from God
Exodus 20:1-11
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 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.
The Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, means “to rest.” It is a divinely appointed day to cease work, recover strength, and experience peace. Rest is not merely physical, it is spiritual. It allows the soul to reconnect with God, the Creator, who Himself rested on the seventh day after creation.
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” — Genesis 3:8
Rest, Peace, and Obedience
- Rest: Ceasing work or movement to relax, sleep, or recover strength.
- Peace: Freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
God calls us to honor the Sabbath as a sign of obedience and fellowship with Him. When we do, our lives are marked by calmness, clarity, and divine blessing. God intended this day for everyone: men, women, children, servants, animals, and even foreigners in your towns. It is a universal gift of rest and peace.
Jesus and the Sabbath
All Hebrew prophets, from Moses to John the Baptist, and even Jesus Himself, observed the Sabbath:
“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:16-21
Jesus healed and shared the word of God on the Sabbath, emphasizing its purpose: to restore life and bring peace.
The Shift from Saturday to Sunday
After the Apostles of Jesus and Early believers, Roman and Greek cultures, gradually adopted Sunday as a day of worship for Jesus. The Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325), led by Emperor Constantine, declared Sunday the official day of rest, associating it with the Sun and the resurrection of Jesus.
However, the Bible consistently points to Saturday as the true Sabbath. Moreover, Jesus rose after the Sabbath, confirming the sanctity of the seventh day.
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb… He is not here; He has risen.” — Matthew 28:1-6
Therefore, believers are called to follow Christ’s example, not merely ecclesiastical traditions. While worship every day and on Sunday is commendable, the true Sabbath is Saturday.
The Sabbath and the Coming of Christ
The Sabbath is the 7th Day in God’s timeline:
- 1 Day = 1,000 years (2 Peter 3:8)
- 6 Days = 6,000 years
- Adam to Jesus = 4,000 years
- Jesus to Present = 2,000 years
- We are now in the 7th Day, the Sabbath period.
Jesus, the Second Adam, healed on the Sabbath to restore peace and life to mankind:
- Matthew 12:10-12 – Doing good is lawful on the Sabbath
- Luke 13:15 – Freedom for the bound
- Mark 3:4 – Saving life is lawful
Indeed, the coming of Christ during this Sabbath period will bring eternal joy, peace, and righteousness.
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men… and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. He shall wipe away all tears… neither shall there be any more pain.” — Revelation 21:3-4
Why Sabbath (Shabbat):
- Sabbath is a God-given weapon of rest, Joy, Worship and peace.
- Rest is both physical and spiritual.
- Saturday is the true Sabbath; Jesus observed it faithfully.
- The 7th Day represents the period of God’s restorative peace.
- Following Christ not only includes honoring the Sabbath but also involves healing the brokenhearted and ultimately living in peace.
The second coming of Messiah will complete this Sabbath, bringing eternal peace and wiping away every tear: “He shall wipe away all tears… neither shall there be any more pain.” Revelation 21:4