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Reverence for God's House and Day

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 29, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 9.

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Reverence for God's House and Day

By F. D. Starr

F. D. STARR
“Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary.” Lev. 19: 30. Due regard for holy things is very essential in Christian experience. When we put little or no difference between the sacred and the common, we fail to honor God, and we deaden our own sense of spiritual things.
As observers of the true Sabbath, set apart in Eden, our position before the world is a unique one. We can not follow the prevailing ideas in regard to the manner of observing the weekly day of rest. The custom of the people in this respect is just as erroneous as their belief as to which day should be observed.
Through the prophet who predicted the Sabbath reform, the Lord has told us just what is acceptable Sabbath observance. “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure onmy holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.” Isa. 58: 13, 14. That observance of a day which makes it merely a season of idleness, sport, visiting, or ordinary recreation, lacks very much of being true Sabbath observance. But we have become so accustomed to seeing this sort of use made of the rest day that our own practise is likely to be conformed to these popular customs, and we thus to secularize the holy Sabbath of the Lord.
David speaks of the pleasure he took in walking to the house of God with a friend or “with a multitude that kept holyday.” “We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.” Ps. 42: 4; 55: 14. These words suggest one of the most exquisite of spiritual pleasures to be experienced in this mortal state. What social occasion could afford so great delight as the opportunity of associating with devout Sabbath-keepers while wending our way to or from divine services on God’s holy day? But how often is this otherwise delightful association rendered unprofitable, or even intolerable, by the worldly turn given to the conversation. No matter how solemn the services, or how spiritual the subject considered, scarcely have some emerged from the place of worship ere dress, pleasure, business, crops, buying and selling, become the topics of conversation, and those who desire to observe the day as it should be observed, feel constrained to separate from the company and walk alone, or rather, as Enoch of old, walk with God.
Those in responsible positions have a great influence in this matter. We find it not so difficult ordinarily to remind in a kindly way those who would introduce worldly themes on the Sabbath that we do not deem such conversation proper on the consecrated day, and to decline to engage in talk of that nature. But if one of our ministers, especially one holding official position, broaches subjects of a worldly nature on the Sabbath, the influence against proper Sabbath observance is more far-reaching and more destructive, and the duty of calling his attention to the matter is naturally a more embarrassing one. If we will cherish, and listen to, the gentle pleadings of the Spirit of God in this matter, we shall find our minds led to venerate the holy institution.
It is very much out of order for children to be allowed to indulge in their ordinary play, romping, hallooing, etc., on the Sabbath, and most assuredly nothing of this kind should ever be permitted in the house of God on this or any other day. There is surely occasion for a genuine reform in this matter.
It may not always be easy to define the exact limits of what is permissible, and what is not on the holy Sabbath. But the motive has much to do with the action. We shall find that there must be in this, as well as in other lines of service, “first a willing mind,” a consecrated heart. For the unconverted to observe the Sabbath properly, will be a difficult matter. Hence the need of true conversion. Much is the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit needed in this work of genuine Sabbath reformation. Some may object to taking up any collection or donations on the Sabbath, but it is noticeable that these scruples are sometimes urged by those who are very remiss and careless about their conversation on the Sabbath. Surely consistency is lacking in such cases. “Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker?” He who made the Sabbath and gave command for special offerings on that day, and furnished us, for over three years, living examples of proper Sabbath observance, is surely the proper authority in this matter. If zeal for God’s house and day takes possession of us, as it did of him, we shall find special delight in the proper observance of the holy Sabbath.
Forest, Idaho.