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The Sabbath—Its Origin

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 3, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 8.

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The Sabbath—Its Origin

By E. H. Morton

Notes Suggestive of Reflection and Study

By E. H. MORTON

1. BIRTHDAY OF CREATION

2. STEPS IN MAKING—REST, BLESSING, SANCTIFICATION

a. REST.—God through Christ (John 1:3; Col. 1:16) ended His work on the seventh day, making that the Sabbath.
Rest ordinarily is not work, yet resting was a part of the work of making the seventh day the Sabbath.
It is neither logical nor sensible to rest the first day of the week, before the labor of the week is begun.
The meaning of the word "Sabbath" is rest. See dictionary.
God's rest was the first step in Sabbath-keeping.
God's rest was spiritual. Compare Ex. 31:17 with Isa. 40:28.
Before man sinned, he was not subject to physical weariness, hence his Sabbath rest was spiritual, or that which comes through worship. Gen. 4:3. (See margin, "at the end of days," or the Sabbath.)
Man's rest may include works of necessity (Luke 6:1-5) and of mercy (Luke 6:7-10), and work for God (Num. 28:9). A double offering was made on the Sabbath.
God's rest, or Sabbath, remains for us. Heb. 4:9, margin.
b. BLESSING.—To bless is to make holy. Man can keep a day holy, but he can not make one holy.
The man must be holy to keep the day holy. A day that is blessed of God must be a blessed day to those who observe it.
The Sabbath was blessed because God had rested on it, hence every succeeding seventh day was included in the blessing.
What God blesses is a blessing to others. Gen. 12:2.
What God blesses is blessed forever. 1 Chron. 17:27; Num. 23:20; Eccl. 3:14.
c. SANCTIFICATION.—To sanctify a day is to set it apart for a holy use. Ex. 19:23; Joshua 20:7, margin; Joel 2:15, 16. Also see dictionary.
The Sabbath was sanctified for the use of man. Mark 2:27.
"That the Sabbath for man was designed, The Bible most clearly has stated. It also as plainly declares That woman for man was created. Yet people insist that the Lord, For the Jews the Sabbath intended; But if they all the women should claim, Would the rest of the world be offended?"
The Sabbath was sanctified before sin entered the world. Hence it is not a type, pointing forward. The word "remember" points backward.
It is, however, a pledge of man's eternal rest. Heb. 4:4-9.
The Sabbath, because of its sanctification, became a sign between God and man,—a sign of His power to sanctify His people. Ex. 31:13, 17; Eze. 20:20. It is a sign to those only who hallow it, and may be a sign to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Isa. 56:2-6.