The fourth Commandment is a call to observe a day of rest every week.
This day is referred to as the Sabbath day. It was to be kept holy. A day set
apart from the other six days of the week. On the Sabbath day, everyone
including one’s family, servants, and animals were expected to abstain from
work and take a rest. Before this command was given, God first observed it.
Genesis explicitly said that He rested on the seventh day.
In
creation God had established a rhythm. He created different elements in nature
to facilitate that rhythm. From the sun, moon, and stars, and the rotation of
the earth, God set in motion the cycle of day and night and seasons. By resting
at the conclusion of His creative activities on the seventh day, He set up a
work-rest pattern for mankind. In the call to observe the day of rest, God was
giving mankind a weekly rhythm for living – to work six days and to keep one
day for rest. The purpose of the Sabbath observation was for man’s
benefit. The focus of the first three Commandments was on God, but the focus of
the fourth commandment was for the benefit of man.
Here
in Deuteronomy, the rest for servants and animals is given more emphasis than
the account in Exodus. This call to allow their servants and animals to have a
day of rest was probably to ensure that the people of Israel did not
overwork them when they had entered Canaan. God knew how much work they would
need to do to establish themselves in the promised land. In the pressure to
quickly settle in, they might overwork their servants and animals. To emphasize
that they must allow their servants the day of rest, God reminded them of their
own plight in Egypt in verse 15. Of all people, they should know better
what it’s like not to be given a day of rest. Hence, they should accord the rest
to their servants and animals as well.
Keeping the Sabbath would certainly be one of the most neglected practices today. That’s because we are not clear on what we should do. In fact on the rest day, most people seem to have more work. Why? There is the notion that it’s a day we take to catch up on those unaccomplished tasks of the week. Instead of resting, we are busier on the rest day. In these few verses, we sense the call to re-establish a sabbath rhythm. Remember to set aside one day in a week to rest. On that day cease from work, rest and relax, catch up with loved ones, and most of all, connect with God. Our whole being, spirit, soul, and body, needs this rest for maximum vitality and health. Don’t neglect it to our own detriment!
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