Exodus 31:12-17
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Everyone that defileth the sabbath shall surely be put to death?! Ouch. Whatever happened to that merciful Father that is loving and forgiving? Oh well, you think, it's just the Old Testament, it's not like that part's really applicable anymore...
But aren't we supposed to "liken the scriptures" to ourselves? So that means there's got to be a connection somewhere, right? Maybe there is. Try this one on for size:
Nowhere in this passage does it say that you'll suffer physical death if you don't keep the sabbath day. There are two kinds of death: physical (which we're all aware of) and spiritual (which is separation from God because of the choices we make). Perhaps the scripture is talking about the second one. When we don't make time for church, we are separating ourselves from our Father in Heaven (spiritual death).
The second part of verse 14 makes sense in that context as well. If you don't go to church, you're cutting yourself off from that association and fellowship with those that share your values and beliefs. Why would you do that to yourself?
This Easter Sunday make the effort to go to church. Then keep coming back! Make sabbath day observance (including church attendance) a priority in your life and watch God work miracles with the rest of your week.
Everyone that defileth the sabbath shall surely be put to death?! Ouch. Whatever happened to that merciful Father that is loving and forgiving? Oh well, you think, it's just the Old Testament, it's not like that part's really applicable anymore...
But aren't we supposed to "liken the scriptures" to ourselves? So that means there's got to be a connection somewhere, right? Maybe there is. Try this one on for size:
Nowhere in this passage does it say that you'll suffer physical death if you don't keep the sabbath day. There are two kinds of death: physical (which we're all aware of) and spiritual (which is separation from God because of the choices we make). Perhaps the scripture is talking about the second one. When we don't make time for church, we are separating ourselves from our Father in Heaven (spiritual death).
The second part of verse 14 makes sense in that context as well. If you don't go to church, you're cutting yourself off from that association and fellowship with those that share your values and beliefs. Why would you do that to yourself?
This Easter Sunday make the effort to go to church. Then keep coming back! Make sabbath day observance (including church attendance) a priority in your life and watch God work miracles with the rest of your week.
WOW! That was great! I am going to share that with some of our investigators! Thanks for all of that wonderful insight!
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