Keep Sundays Holy - 4th commandment

Isaiah 58:13-14 TLB “IF you keep the Sabbath holy, not having your own fun and business on that day, but enjoying the Sabbath, speaking of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day, and honoring the Lord in what you do, NOT following your OWN desires and pleasure nor talking idly— 14 THEN the Lord will be your delight, and I will see to it that you ride high and get your full share of the blessings I promised to Jacob, your father. The Lord has spoken.

In the Old Testament, the 4th commandment was the seventh day. For our purposes and understanding, we view this as the Saturday since Sunday is referred to as the first day.

In the New Testament, we worship on Sunday because this is the new day of Rest known as the Lord’s Day rather than the Sabbath. We are to still keep it Holy. It is the eighth day. It is the third day the Lord Resurrected on (Sunday). The number 8 means “A New Beginning.”

In the Old Testament, the Jews spent all day on their seventh day in the synagogue. They worshipped and fellowshipped throughout the day as one body. It was not an one hour service like most religious churches. They have one or at best one and half hour service (date with God) and then the congregation is dismissed so they can go seek their own desires and fun.

People were stoned and killed for breaking the Sabbath. The Sabbath was given to man to Rest in Him. Even during Moses’ time when manna from heaven was given, God told His people to collect double portion on the sixth day and rest in Him on the seventh day. Resting was not defined as laying on a couch and watching TV all day long. Resting in Him is defined as worship, dancing, sermon, fellowship, joy, love, peace, etc in His Presence.

Even when God had commanded His people not to collect manna on the seventh day, some disobeyed and they were judged and killed for disobeying God.

Today, for Christians, the 4th commandment still applies and stands. We are to keep it Holy. What does this mean, “Holy.”

In the simplest form, Holy means set apart. Therefore on the Lord’s Day (Sunday’s ), we are to set it apart for God. We are not suppose to do what the world does. We are to be set apart from the world at least on the Lord’s Day to show we are His people. This means especially, we should not be conducting business in buying and selling. We should not be watching the modern gladiators (sports) for entertainment when we should be spending time with our Lord. Why don’t Christians shop on their work time rather than God’s time? Why don’t Christians watch sports on their work time rather than His time?

Now, there is context and grace. What if someone gets sick and we need to buy medicine? Yes, then go buy medicine. But do not buy things for your pleasure. The scripture above states do not do things for your own pleasure or desire on His Sabbath Day. Some Christians are police officers or in the medical field in which they are mandated to work on Sundays. There is grace for this but still we should pray to get Sundays off so we can fully honor the Lord. If you are able to keep Sundays Holy (set apart for Him), please do so with your best ability.

Many Christians do not have joy in God because simply they do not put God First. Scripture says when we choose to honor and put Him first, THEN (a promise) God said in verse 14, HE will be our delight and HE will give us our FULL blessing promised to our father Jacob.

Verse 14 also says that God will see to it that we ride on high. This promise is also in Deuteronomy chapter 28. What does ride on high mean? It means we will get our promotions at work. We will become the head (CEOs and owners). We will make more than the unbelievers. We will be healthy. We will receive authority. We will be a blessed nation. Others will see His Glory on us! The opposite is a Curse.

Basically, if we put God First, He will put us first.

Deuteronomy 28:1 TLB “If you fully obey all of these commandments of the Lord your God, the laws I am declaring to you today, God will transform you into the greatest nation in the world.”

Deuteronomy 28:13-14 “IF you will only listen and obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, HE will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall always have the upper hand. 14 But each of these blessings depends on your not turning aside in any way from the laws I have given you; and you must never worship other gods.