p. 60 | SABBATICAL CATECHISM

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 12, 1860

SABBATICAL CATECHISM.

(Continued.)

QUESTION. Have we any mention of the Sabbath in the book of Numbers?

ANSWER. The Sabbath is mentioned but three times in Numbers; namely, chap. xv, 32; xxviii, 9, 10. The first instance is the mention of the man who was found picking up sticks. And it is recorded that they put him in ward, not knowing what should be done unto him: showing conclusively that the punishment inflicted on transgressors of the Sabbath under the former dispensation, was no part of the great Sabbath law, but a matter of subsequent enactment for that locality and that people. It was the same with the other commandments [see Leviticus xx, 1-10]; and those who unwittingly declare that if we now keep the seventh day Sabbath, we must stone the transgressor, to be consistent must carry out their theory on the other commandments which they admit to be binding, and the transgression of which under that dispensation was followed by the same penalty. The two latter references [chap. xxviii, 1, 10] contain the directions for the morning and evening sacrifices for the Sabbath which were to be twice as much as on other days. This shows that the directions, "Let no man go out of his place on the Sabbath day," Ex. xvi, 29, and "Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitation upon the Sabbath day," Ex. xxxv, 3, had reference to actions of this kind which they would unnecessarily do for their own use; it shows us what is meant by "thy work" in the fourth commandment. "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work," &c. The service of God is always excepted.

Ques. How many times is the Sabbath mentioned in Deuteronomy?

Ans. Only three times; in the 12th, 14th and 15th verses of chapter v.

Ques. Under what circumstances was the Sabbath here mentioned?

Ans. It was but a rehearsal by Moses just before his death of the principal events of the journey of Israel through the wilderness.

Ques. When was this?

Ans. Forty years after the giving of the law on mount Sinai.

Ques. To which place then should we look for the true intent of the Sabbath law, and the reasons upon which it is based? To the original promulgation of the law by the voice of God, or to this rehearsal by Moses forty years afterwards?

Ans. Most assuredly to its original promulgation from Sinai. It was not necessary that Moses should repeat the command as uttered by God and written with his finger on tables of stone; they had that with them in the ark. But he refers to their past bondage in the land of Egypt, and appeals to their gratitude as a powerful motive to obedience. As much as to say, God has brought you out of the land of Egypt, therefore, by the claims he has upon your gratitude, he commands you to keep the Sabbath. For the same reason he commanded them to be merciful to the fatherless and the widow. See chap. xxiv, 17, 18. Therefore those who appeal to Deut. v, as proof that the Sabbath was given to the Jews alone, and that simply because God had brought them out of the land of Egypt, find no ground for their assumption.

Ques. Is there any mention made of the Sabbath in Joshua? Ans. No. In Judges? No. In Ruth? No. In first and second Samuel? No. In first Kings? No. In second Kings?

Ans. The Sabbath is mentioned five times in 2 Kings; viz., chap. xi, 5, 7, 9; xvi, 18.

Ques. At what time was this first mention, the one recorded in chap. xi?

Ans. At the coronation of king Joash, B. C. 889.

Ques. How long a period then have we passed from Moses without a mention of the Sabbath?

Ans. Six hundred and seventy-seven years.

Ques. Is this the first mention of the Sabbath subsequent to Moses?

Ans. Yes, unless 1 Chron. ix, 32 be an exception; and even in this case, we have from Moses to David a period of about five hundred years without a mention of the Sabbath.

Ques. Following the example of our opponents, what position should we have to take on this point?

Ans. The position that the Sabbath was not known during this period, because not mentioned; just as they argue that it was not known from creation to Moses, because not mentioned during that time.

Ques. But might not our opponents say with reason that after having such an explicit account of the Sabbath in the last four books of Moses, there is no need of its being mentioned from that time to David?

Ans. Then in like manner we may say that after having such an explicit account of its institution in the garden of Eden [Gen. ii], there is no need of its mention from creation to Moses.

Ques. How many times is the Sabbath mentioned in Chronicles?

Ans. In 1 Chron. once; viz., ix, 32; and in 2 Chron. three times; in chap. xxiii, 4, 8, referring to the same event as in 2 Kings xi, 5, 7, 9.

Ques. Is the Sabbath found in the book of Ezra?

Ans. No.

Ques. How many times in the book of Nehemiah?

Ans. Thirteen times: once in chap. ix, twice in chap. x, and ten times in chap. xiii.

Ques. Which passage is particularly worthy of notice?

Ans. Chap. ix, 12, 14, as this is the testimony seized upon by our opponents to show that the Sabbath was not known previous to the arrival of the children of Israel at Sinai; which, they say, is proved by the expression, "Thou camest down upon mount Sinai, . . . and madest known to them thy holy Sabbath," &c.

Ques. What fact shows such a claim to be wholly erroneous?

Ans. The fact that the Sabbath was known to Israel one month before they reached Sinai, as recorded in the xviith of Exodus.

Ques. What then can be meant by the expression, "madest known?"

Ans. It must refer simply to the especial promulgation of the Sabbath with the other nine commandments by the voice of God.

Ques. Is not the Sabbath here associated with the statutes, precepts and ceremonies which were given by the hand of Moses, in such a manner as to prove it to be, like them, temporary and ceremonial in its nature?

Ans. It is not; for the Sabbath was not given by the hand of Moses, but was spoken by God directly to the people.

Ques. Is there any mention of the Sabbath in the books of Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomon's Song?

Ans. There is not.

Ques. How many times is it mentioned in the book of Isaiah?

Ans. Six times; three times in chap. lvi, twice in chap. lviii, and once in chap. lxvi.

Ques. What is the testimony concerning it in chap. lvi?

Ans. It is a prophecy of its restoration in the last days. In chap. iv, we have brought to view the gospel invitation. Chap. lvi brings us down to the close of that dispensation, when God's salvation is near to come; and that will come when Christ is revealed from heaven. See 1 Pet. i, 5. A blessing is pronounced upon those who lay hold upon the Sabbath at this time; also upon the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord; and the promise is that they shall be brought to his holy mountain and made joyful in his house of prayer.

Ques. Are we told in chap. lviii, that we shall be called repairers of the breach, and restorers of paths to dwell in, if we turn away our feet from trampling upon the Sabbath?

Ans. No; for the 13th verse goes with the 14th, and the promise is, that if we turn away our feet from the Sabbath, we shall delight ourselves in the Lord, and he will cause us to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed us with the heritage of our father Jacob. Chap. lxvi speaks of its perpetuation in the new earth.

Ques. Is the Sabbath mentioned in Jeremiah?

Ans. Only in chap. xvii, where it is alluded to seven times.

Ques. How many times more is it mentioned in the rest of the Old Testament?

Ans. Of the rest of the O. T. only the books of Ezekiel and Amos speak of it. It is found in Eze. xx, six times; xxii, twice; xxiii, once; xliv, once; xlvi, three times, and in Amos viii, once.

(To be Continued.)