And on the seventh day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He rested from all his work which Elohim created and made. (Genesis 2: 2-3)
YAHWEH is Elohim seven days a week and we can worship Him any day of the week with our needs but there are special appointed times that He has assigned to meet with us. The sanctity of the seventh day Sabbath stands forever as a sign between YAHWEH and His people.
(Exodus 31: 13, 16; Ezekiel 20:12)
In the creation account no other day of the week is named except for the seventh day – Shabbat. It is one of the several Hebrew words that has found its way in to other cultures and languages but at the same time retained its original intent. For instance, in Spanish the word for Saturday is Sabado, in Greek – Sabbaton, and in Arabic – Sabt.
The word Shabbat does not stand out in Gen 2: 2 but it is translated in the phrase ‘and he rested’ (in Hebrew – Vayishbot) the root word is Shabbat שבת which means to cease, to desist and stop work indicating YAHWEH wants His people to cease from normal, mundane activities on His set apart day. By allowing us to rest from our work we are following the example that was set by the Creator of the universe when He rested from His work. In Exodus 16: 22-23, 25-26 the word Shabbat is directly translated from Hebrew which is in relation to the manna – the bread of heaven which is beautiful picture of the Yahushua our Messiah – the bread of life.
(John 6: 35)
The word seven in Hebrew is ‘sheva’ which also means totality and completion. Shabbat is seventh day of the week and is observed from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown as according to the Biblical reckoning of time, each day begins at sundown (not midnight like in our culture, Genesis 1: 5). Interestingly, unlike other days there is no evening and morning declared on this day, perhaps hinting Shabbat is not yet completed as the original intent was for Adam to rest with YAHWEH Elohim forever but sin entered the world. Therefore, the author of Hebrew says – There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of Elohim. (Hebrew 4: 9)
And he said unto them, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Therefore, the Son of man is Master also of the sabbath.” (Mark 2: 27-28)
Shabbat is a day of peace, power, and miracles which has been given to serve man and man was never intended to serve Shabbat. It is a divine appointment with the Creator through the sacrifice of Yahushua on the tree by which humanity is connected to this Shabbat rest. In Hebrew the word Shabbat is in the female gender and is called ‘the Queen of Days’ because it symbolizes the bride of the Messiah. Shabbat is like a wedding ring of remembrance which reminds believers about the never-ending covenant relationship we have with our bridegroom Yahushua, the Master of Shabbat.
Let them be for signs, and for seasons (moed), and for days, and years (Genesis 1: 14)
And YAHWEH spoke to Moses, saying,“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts (moed) of YAHWEH, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. (Leviticus 23: 4)
The English translation uses the same Hebrew word ‘moed’ for feast and appointed times/seasons in the above two verses showing that Shabbat is an appointed feast from the Creator of the universe who wants to meet with His people on this special day which He has blessed above all other days. Shabbat was given to Adam and Eve and all of mankind thousands of years ago and it does not belong to a particular group of people as it is a gift of Elohim for humanity.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of YAHWEH thy God…….For in six days YAHWEH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YAHWEH blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:10-11)
It is generally known and accepted that the early Christians observed the seventh day Sabbath. The Hebrew word remember is ‘zakor’ which means to act/speak on behalf, to mention, and male. We are told by YAHWEH to mention and proclaim His word on this set apart day just like Master Yahushua and apostle Paul (Mark 1: 21, Acts 13:14, 42). In Hebrew culture, the firstborn male child was someone special, different from any other. A family’s memory is commonly maintained through the male line, reflecting this reality the Hebrew language reveals -male and memory being the same word which also explains why women and children generally take their husband and father’s family name. (Exodus 13:13)
Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as YAHWEH thy God hath commanded thee. And remember that thou were a servant in the land of Egypt, and that YAHWEH thy Elohim brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a outstretched arm: therefore YAHWEH thy Elohim commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5: 12, 15)
It should be noted a few generations in the promised land, Israel’s history of slavery would have begun to fade away, were it not for their Sabbath remembrance. Likewise, we at times forget that we were once slaves to sin, therefore Shabbat is a great time to reflect and appreciate the deliverance by our Savior Yahushua Ha Mashiach who bought us out of this world by His precious blood (Ephesians 2: 13). By seeking Him on this day, we receive all the peace, blessing, joy, prosperity and happiness that YAHWEH has promised us.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell (shevet שֶׁבֶת) together in unity. (Psalms 133: 1)
The Hebrew word Shabbat שַׁבָּת when used with different vowels can also mean to dwell –
shevet שֶׁבֶת portraying the eternal rest when all our labors will cease as we will reside in His dwelling place during the Great/Eternal Shabbat. (Zechariah 14: 9, Revelation 21: 1-2)
It is evident even in the new heavens and the new earth all flesh will keep Shabbat and observe YAHWEH’s appointed times and regard His authority. The question is will we obey His instruction and submit to His rulership.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith YAHWEH, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith YAHWEH. (Isa 66: 22-23)
