Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
The fourth commandment includes our relatives and kindred who reside with us. Everyone in a Christian's household should be allowed and encouraged to rest according to the commandment, for the blessings of the Sabbath rest pertain to all who are under our immediate domain. This particular aspect of proper Sabbath-keeping must of necessity be addressed for it is not regarded as it ought to be, and therefore the necessary changes and reforms will need to be implemented where applicable.
Another important aspect of proper Sabbath-keeping has to do with those who are employed by Sabbath-keepers. Employees should be given Saturdays off so that they too can worship God on His holy rest day if they choose so to do. Those who keep the Sabbath while having their employees doing secular work, are not in harmony with what is written in the scriptures, for the statute applies to all who are under our jurisdiction. Let's read:
Exodus 23:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
"Thine ox and thine ass" refer to the beasts of burden that were used in the tilling of soil and the harvest of grain back then. Today it would translate into pieces of equipment such as tractors, back-hoes, tools, taxis, work trucks or commercial equipment that are employed over the sacred hours for the purposes of pecuniary gain. Let's read:
Nehemiah 13:15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
The fourth commandment also forbids the transaction of any secular business or purchases via phone calls, e-mails, text messaging, or online shopping. The rest that God ordained has to do with a total cessation of temporal ambitions and pursuits, so that we can fellowship with God and focus our attention on eternal realities. Let's read:
Nehemiah 13:19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
In our day there are many orthodox Jews who are very strict when it comes to the observance of the Sabbath, and yet in many instances their employees can be found carrying on regular business during the sacred hours. The same is true of some Christians who keep the Sabbath holy themselves, while those in their employ attend to the secular pursuits of life. The instruction to rest during the sacred hours also applies to business arrangements for the following day or week, that are discussed or entered into over the Sabbath hours. God regards such conversations as actual business transactions since they interfere with, and encroach upon His Holy time, for the command reaches into our thoughts and words. Let's read:
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
It becomes obvious that very deep-seated reforms need to take place in order that the Sabbath can be kept as it should be. We hope and trust that as the earth is lightened with the glory of God, that all of earth's inhabitants will take notice of the command that says "Remember", for Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. We therefore end with one of our favorite texts which encourage us to be faithful under all circumstances to the laws and principles of righteousness. Let's read:
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
May this experience and promise be ours both now and forever. God bless!