Manner of Keeping the Sabbath by M. E. STEWARD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 15, 1910

Manner of Keeping the Sabbath

By M. E. STEWARD

M. E. STEWARD

THE observance of the Sabbath began in Eden, continues through time, and “all flesh” will honor it on the new earth. Isa. 66: 23.

The Sabbath a definite time; the profanation of the Sabbath forbidden:—

1. Every moment of the Sabbath is consecrated time; it is “sanctified,” or set apart to a holy use, by God, who made the day, and to whom it belongs. Three scriptures give us the definite hours of the Sabbath day; these hours are the same as those of any other day. The record of the making of the days is found in the first chapter of Genesis; evening signifies night, and morning the light part. Thirty-five hundred years later the Lord directed, “From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.” Lev. 23: 32. In the days of Christ, even is defined as sundown. Mark 1: 32. Hence, God’s Sabbath day is from sundown to sundown.

2. We are forbidden to trample on the Sabbath. The “foot” is on the Sabbath in pursuing worldly avocations, in conversing or reading on worldly subjects, in cooking, etc. Work, except works of mercy, and that connected with the worship of God, is not right.

3. All selfish pleasure of an earthly nature is prohibited.

Three things to be done:—

1. “Call the Sabbath a delight.”

2. “The holy of the Lord.”

3. “Honorable.” One is far from calling the Sabbath holy and honorable when he makes it the most laborious time, the cleaning-up day of all the seven.

Three ways of honoring God:—

1. “Not doing thine own ways.”

2. “Nor finding thine own pleasure.”

3. “Nor speaking thine own words.”

All this may be very proper for any other day of the week. It is very consistent with the object of the Sabbath to walk abroad (or to ride if one can not walk), and view the works of nature on the memorial day of creation.

The threefold blessing:—

1. “Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” If one delights in the Sabbath, he will delight in the Lord; and if a person loves the Lord, he must love the Sabbath also. Here is a test of true conversion; that is, after one has had the light on the Sabbath.

2. “I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth,”—sitting in “heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2: 6),—always “above” and not “beneath.” Deut. 28: 13. One is above others in different ways; namely, in understanding (Ps. 119: 99); in temporal prosperity (Isa. 56: 1-6); in eternal salvation. Rev. 22: 14.

3. “I will . . . feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father.” The heritage of Jacob was forgiveness of sins, deliverance in the time of trouble, and all the privileges of the first-born, which would include all the blessings belonging to one in whose line the Messiah was to come, and the promises that would be received through him. “The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” The word of our Creator is the highest authority, the strongest assurance, in the universe. Isa. 58: 14.

Sanitarium, Cal.