Israel and the Sabbath.
By Orlando Soule
“Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever.” Ex. 31:16, 17. We have here a beautiful figure. The Lord is the first party in the covenant, Israel the second, and the Sabbath a connecting link between them; and the Lord informed Moses that this relation should exist perpetually—forever. The day thus honored is the seventh, as shown by verse 15; hence it becomes a question of moment to know how long a period of time is embraced by the terms perpetual and forever. The former signifies without end (Webster), and the latter, in its most limited sense, denotes duration as long as the person or thing exists to which it is applied. Therefore, as the Lord’s existence will not be disputed, it only remains to be shown that Israel continues as really and as complete as it ever did, and the seventh-day Sabbath is placed upon a firm foundation. This evidence can be easily given. Paul says, “They are not all Israel which are of Israel;” and “they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God.” Rom. 9:6, 8. Who, then, are Israelites? Abraham was the father of ancient Israel, and the promise that he should be heir of the world was made to him through the righteousness of faith. Rom. 4:13. Again, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness. And Paul says, “Know ye therefore that they which be of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Gal. 3:6, 7. Therefore, every true child of faith is an Israelite indeed. This relation is fitly illustrated by the words of Jeremiah and Paul. Israel is called “a green olive tree, fair and of goodly fruit,” and “with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled a fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.” Jer. 11:16. Paul comments on this passage, Rom. 11:17–20, showing that the natural branches, the Jews, were broken off, because of unbelief, and that the believing Gentiles were grafted in, and thereby became partakers of all the blessings of God’s people and of the duties enjoined upon them, the observance of the seventh day not excepted. No one can be a follower of Christ, and not be an Israelite. Gal. 3:29: “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” James, writing to Christians, A. D. 60, addresses them as the twelve tribes of Israel. James 1:1. And the holy city, the New Jerusalem, that has the names of the apostles upon its very foundations, showing it to be a Christian city, also has the names of the twelve tribes written upon its gates, indicating that admittance will be given to such only as belong to these tribes. Rev. 21:12–14. Then, according to Paul, John, James, and Jeremiah, to be a Christian is to become an Israelite, and the sign between God and an Israelite is the Sabbath. The Lord help us to observe it.