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THE SABBATH BLESSING

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 5, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 6.

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THE SABBATH BLESSING

By Chas. P. Whitford

CHAS. P. WHITFORD (Orlando, Fla.)
(Arranged for personal study)
1. My friend, would you like to be rich? The Lord is willing that you should be rich. He is not only willing, but He exchanged riches for poverty that you might become rich. 2 Cor. 8:9.
2. If you wish to be rich, and the Lord wishes you to be rich, then who is at fault if you are not rich? Prov. 13:7.
3. It may be you have been trying to get riches of your own choosing, instead of accepting the riches that the Lord wishes you to have. Luke 12:16-21.
4. In what does true riches consist?—Faith (James 2:5); good works (1 Tim. 6:17-19); “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich.” Prov. 10:22.
5. Where are all spiritual blessings?—In Christ Jesus. Eph. 1:3.
6. Since ALL spiritual blessings are in Christ Jesus, will it be possible to obtain them anywhere except in Christ Jesus?—No.
7. Then, when we find Christ Jesus, in whom are “all spiritual blessings,” and receive Him into our hearts by faith (John 1:12), we come into possession of true riches.
8. Since “the blessing of the Lord . . . maketh rich,” where can we find Christ in a special manner, in whom are all spiritual blessings?—In the seventh day. Gen. 2:3.
9. In what respect is there a blessing connected with the seventh day more than with any other day?—The presence of Christ is in the seventh day as it is in no other day. Ex. 33:14.
10. If we would enjoy a Sabbath blessing, what day will it be necessary for us to keep?—The day upon which the blessing has been placed. Gen. 2:3.
11. Does the Lord say there is a blessing for those who will keep the Sabbath?—“Blessed is the man that . . . keepeth the Sabbath.” Isa. 56:1-7.
12. As “the blessing of the Lord . . . maketh rich,” and as the blessing of the Lord has been placed upon the seventh day, what are we asking our friends to accept when we invite them to observe the seventh day?—“Spiritual blessings,” “heavenly riches.”
13. After having enjoyed the Sabbath blessing ourselves, would it not be selfish in us not to invite others to enjoy it with us also?—Assuredly.
14. Then in proportion as we desire our friends to enjoy a Sabbath blessing, what will we ask them to do?—“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Ex. 20:8.
15. When should we remember the Sabbath?—From sunset Saturday until sunset the following Friday. Lev. 23:32; Deut. 16:6; Mark 1:32.
16. After having kept the Sabbath in mind all the week, how shall we observe it when it comes to us?—“Keep it holy.” Ex. 20:8.
17. Can man keep a day holy that God has not made holy? Could you keep a book clean and bright and new that was old and torn and faded?—No. It is just as impossible to keep a day holy that has no holiness in it. All days are not holy. Only one day is holy, and that day is called by the Lord, “My holy day.” Isa. 58:13.
18. What makes a place holy?—The presence of the Lord. Ex. 3:1-5.
19. Since the presence of the Lord makes a place holy, what makes the seventh day holy?—The presence of the Lord.
20. Why does God continue to us the Sabbath?—That we may enjoy His presence, which is a blessing. It is also “a sign . . . that ye may know that I am the Lord.” Ex. 31:13; 33:14.
21. What is the meaning of the word Sabbath?—Rest. In the Hebrew language the word Sabbath is used to express the thought of rest.
22. Whose rest are we to remember and keep?—The Creator’s rest—not ours. Gen. 2:3.
23. Did the Creator become weary, and so need physical rest?—“The Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary.” Isa. 40:28.
24. If the Creator did not rest because of being weary, could He have been refreshed physically by resting?—No.
25. Then what was the character of God’s rest?—It was spiritual rest.
26. Was the Sabbath made before sin entered the world?—Yes.
27. Then was the Sabbath given before there were any sinful beings?—Yes.
28. For whose necessities was the Sabbath given?—A sinless race of beings.
29. To be sinless is to be spiritual; but do spiritual beings ever become weary?—No.
30. Then was the Sabbath given for physical rest?—No.
31. For what purpose was it given?—To meet the necessities of man’s spiritual nature.
32. What are we to understand by a spiritual rest?—To be “in the Spirit.” Rev. 1:10. Then we can commune with Christ just as a friend communes with his friend.
33. When we labor so hard during the week that we can rest only physically on the Sabbath, do we enjoy sweet communion with Christ?—No. Which do we enjoy best, reading the Bible or taking a good sleep and then a good dinner?
34. What only is acceptable worship?—“They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit.” John 4:24.
35. If we were to visit a friend, and he were to spend all the time apart from us, could it be truthfully said that we had enjoyed sweet communion with our friend?—No. It is true we might sit in the rocking chair all day and enjoy physical rest; but it was not for physical rest that we went to visit our friend. In like manner, we may sit in the rocking chair all day Sabbath, and rest physically, and yet not be in the spirit of the Sabbath rest at all. Let us ever remember that ceasing from labor on any day, whether it be Saturday or Sunday, is not remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy. You may call that Saturday-keeping or Sunday-keeping if you choose, but please do not call it Sabbath-keeping.
36. The presence of Christ in the Sabbath makes it a blessed, holy Sabbath day. The presence of the Spirit of Christ in a man makes that man holy. And when that holy man comes to the holy Sabbath day, he recognizes the presence of the same Spirit that is in his own heart; namely, the presence of love. Gal. 5:22, 23; Rom. 13:10. It is to him indeed a blessed rest. It could notbe to him a Sabbath of rest if he were not blessed with the same blessing that is in the day—the presence of Christ. The Saviour meets with His people on that day in a special manner; and in proportion as we love the Saviour, we shall love the return of the day, because we can enjoy the Saviour’s presence, and uninterrupted communion with Him.
37. We can not keep the Sabbath if we do not love it. Isa. 58:12, 13.
38. Those who have enjoyed spiritual blessings will finally and more fully enjoy the same blessings in the city of God. Rev. 21:1-4; 22:14.
39. Gracious words of comfort will be spoken to them. Matt. 25:23, 34.
40. In ascending, as they approach the city, this song will be sung: “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isa. 26:1-4.
My dear friend, will you be among the company that shall sing that song?