Just to begin, I need to tell you what the Sabbath means in Hebrew...
"The verb form is shavat, meaning cease or stop. Interestingly, “to sit” is lashevet (לשבת) with the same shin-bet-tav root. It’s first used in Gen 2:2 where Elohim 'ceased' from his work. The noun form is Shabbat, often translated 'Sabbath'."
Now you know. Here we go!
Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2And on the 7th day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the 7th day from all his work which he had made.
3And Elohim blessed the 7th day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which Elohim created and made.
Isaiah 56:2-7
Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that lays hold on it; that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
3Neither let the son of the stranger, that has joined himself to YHWH, speak, saying, "YHWH hath utterly separated me from his people": neither let the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree."
4For thus says YHWH unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things
that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters:
I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YHWH, to serve him, and to love the name of YHWH, to be his servants,
every one that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of my covenant;
7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer:
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Exodus 35:1-3
And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them,
"These are the words which YHWH hath commanded, that you should do them.
2Six days shall work be done, but on the 7th day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to YHWH: whosoever does work therein shall be put to death.
3You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day."
When is the 7th day on your calender? For time sake, I will do it for you...
We have been tricked and deceived so easily. Even in our own calender, Sunday isn't the Sabbath! But there is 1 more piece I would like to show you.
Genesis 1:5
And Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the 1st day.
Genesis 1:8
And Elohim called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the 2nd day.
Genesis 1:13
And the evening and the morning were the 3rd day.
Genesis 1:19
And the evening and the morning were the 4th day.
Genesis 1:23
And the evening and the morning were the 5th day.
Genesis 1:31
And Elohim saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morningwere the 6th day.
It says it 6 times in Genesis 1 so it must be very important. So what is it saying? Maybe it is saying that the day starts in the EVENING, and not in the MORNING! That is exactly what it is saying! The day starts in the evening, which is why it is so much more pleasant in the evening. The stars are in the sky, the plants grow, our bodies heal, and we have time together as a family. We don't have to worry about what happened at work or school during the day time, it is now time to renew our minds and our hearts.
Which is exactly what the Sabbath does! So what have we found out?
1. That the Sabbath day is holy and we cannot work on that day.
2. That the 7th day isn't Sunday, it's Saturday.
3. That the day actually starts in the evening, not the morning.
4. That the evening and the Sabbath have the same purpose, to heal our bodies and renew our souls.
Which brings me to my final point. You may say, "I am so confused. When is the Sabbath?" Well, the day starts in the evening, so push the calender back 1/2 a day. That would bring you to Friday night. That was when the Sabbath started during Biblical times! When the sun goes down, it is time for Shabbat. It goes from Friday to Saturday night. What are we supposed to do on Shabbat?
1. Remember it like what Exodus 20:8 says.
2. Prepare for it! Make it like Yahweh is actually coming to your house. In Israel, they clean and cook all day so that they don't have to worry about doing any work on Shabbat.
3. Learn in it! It is the only day of the week that we can spend all day just reading YHWH's word. We don't have to worry about what is going on outside. It is a time to spend with Him and our family as well.
HalleluYAH!!
Christian Montanez Dodd
Sevant of Yahshua, Child of YHWH
HalleluYAH!!