Heed the warning

Friday, September 18, 2020

Heed the warning

 

As we prepare to observe the first day of the seventh month of Tishrei and are prepared to follow the instructions given by the Lord to His people stating; “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:2-25).

Now to the skeptics who will be quick to say that we are not under law and will discourage innocent sincere believers to pay heed to this biblical instructions, let me briefly remind them of the rationale and objective for observing the Lord`s Sabbaths.

1. The Sabbaths are signs which identify the One and only true God.

For thus spoke the Lord to Moses concerning the children of Israel saying, “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you” (Exodus 31:13-14).

It is important that we analyze this passage of scripture carefully so as to be able to see and understand the profoundness, the magnitude and immutability of it: Let us begin with the word “Surely”, the connotation of this word denotes, certainly, assuredly, undoubtedly, truly, firmly, unerringly, without mistake. Then we look at the word Sabbaths, notice that it is in the plural and not singular, signifying that it is more than one.

Then it says clearly that the Sabbaths (plural) is a sign between God and His people throughout their generations, that means, it is an everlasting covenant between God and His people, why! That His people may know that He is the Lord who sanctifies and set them apart and for this reason they are to observe the Sabbath because the Sabbath is holy to God`s people. The Sabbaths therefore, is a time that is holy both to the Lord and His people.

It is a legal practice or procedure that, by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established, so let us establish God`s word by hearing what the Lord spoke to the prophet Ezekiel concerning His people. The Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel, “Moreover (meaning, furthermore or in addition to) I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” He also warned His people saying; “Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20; 12, 18-20).

Therefore, it is without a shadow of doubt that, the Sabbaths (plural) is a sign that identifies the One and only true God and His chosen people.

2. One cannot deem the observance of the Lord`s Sabbaths (plural) legalism

For we have been duly instructed saying; “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans14:-5-6).

There is absolutely no demand, no coercion, no command to observe or not to observe, it is simply a voluntary conditional act done by those who loves the Lord as Jesus plainly said. “If you love Me keep My commandments,” and it is an act done by those who knows Him as being the LORD our God and will ascribe to Him the honor and glory due unto Him: For thus says the LORD; “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (John 14:15; Leviticus 19:30, 26:2).

The act of observing the Sabbaths is not legalism but it is all about our awe and reverence to the LORD Jesus Christ, for this is what we have been instructed saying; So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16).

Please note carefully that, the scripture did not say that, festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths were a shadow of things to come, which would denote that they are of the past, but rather, they are a shadow of things to come, denoting that they are still current, but the substance for food and drinks and the rationale for observing them is Christ.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius joseph