Studies on the Sabbath by R. A. Underwood

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 24, 1911

Studies on the Sabbath

By R. A. Underwood

III. The Sabbath in the Light of the Moral Law

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Ex. 20: 8-11.

THIS is the only divine weekly Sabbath law ever given to man, which is incorporated into the bosom of the moral law, known as the Ten Commandments, which are recognized as the basis of all just laws among the nations of earth.

God has a plan for His amenable created intelligencies; hence the moral law. The Bible reveals the moral law; it does not create it. The moral law is higher than either physical or organic law. The moral law existed prior to the creation of man. The moral law is the constitution of the government of the Almighty. It embraces fundamental rules that lie at the foundation of God's moral government, and enter into the solution of all moral questions. This law is designed to secure happiness to man and all amenable creatures as long as it is strictly obeyed.

The moral law recognizes accountability and responsibility; whereas in the operation of the physical law, there is no such distinction, for an innocent victim thrust into the fire is burned the same as the greatest criminal, unless a higher power intervenes to avert its effect.

Expression of Eternal Principles

The statute of the moral law is but the clothing of righteous principles in human language. It is the expression of the mind of God. The thought of God for the government of His created intelligencies has ever been to secure to all His subjects infinite happiness. The Author of the moral law says, "I alone know the thoughts that I entertain respecting you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a happy future and hope." Jer. 29: 11, Jewish translation.

The moral law is the reflection of the character of God, holy, just, good, unchangeable, and as enduring as eternity. Of this law Blackstone says: "The moral law is summarily contained in the Decalogue written by the finger of God on two tables of stone, and delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. Exodus 20."

Chambers's Encyclopedia says: "The moral law is that perceptive revelation of the divine will which is of perpetual and universal obligation. It is summed up in the Ten Commandments."

John Wesley says: "The moral law, contained in the Ten Commandments and enforced by the prophets, He (Christ) did not take away. It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which never can be broken. It stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven." "Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind in all ages, as not depending either on time or place, nor on any other circumstances liable to change; but on the nature of God and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other."—Wesley's Sermons, Vol. 1, Sermon 25.

Luther says: "He who pulls down the law, pulls down at the same time the whole framework of human polity and society. If the law be thrust out of the church, there will be no longer anything recognized as sin in the world, since the Gospel defines and punishes sin only by recurring to the law. I never rejected the law."—"Life of Luther," page 214.

A Distinction in Laws

It is sometimes said that the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and the Lord's prayer, embrace all that is in the Bible. The Ten Commandment law is distinct from the code of laws sometimes called the ceremonial law. James calls it the perfect royal law of liberty. James 1: 25; 2: 8, 12.

It is the law by which the conduct of all men will be measured in the great assize of human affairs when God shall bring every known and secret act into judgment. The wise man summed up its breadth and place in the government of God thus:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Eccl. 12: 13, 14.

The Ten Commandment law, being moral, is, in the nature of things, unchangeable and eternal. It is the moral looking-glass, which reveals, condemns, and convicts of sin. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Christ has said: "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16: 17.

It was to uphold the government of God, to magnify the moral law, and to set the transgressor into the ways of righteousness, that Christ died for the transgressor. Christ's pledge that the earth should be filled with the glory of God (Num. 14: 21) could only be fulfilled when His death assured, "Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven." Ps. 119: 89.

The Law in the Light of the Cross

The greatest testimony in the universe to the honor and unchangeable character of the moral constitution of the throne of God is the scene of Calvary. "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3: 31.

Universal peace and love can not be dethroned by vice and hate forever. The malaria of sin can not rob life of its sweetness without end. The sense of right and virtue will not always be trodden under foot. The whisperings of conscience and the promise of God are the premonition of a great assize, when injustice shall be terminated, and every wrong righted, innocence vindicated, and righteousness exalted. Then the law now transgressed will be obeyed.

Reader, is it possible that through ignorance you have been trampling under foot one of God's commandments? Are you keeping the Sabbath day "according to the commandment"? By this law we are to be judged. May our prayer be that of David, and our change like his: "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments." Ps. 119: 18, 59, 60. If this is our experience it will be well with our souls.