SHABBAT

The appointed feasts established by God in Leviticus 23 fall into three cycles:
1. Shabbat, the weekly appointment, which is the first to be mentioned
2. The Spring Feasts, which reflect God’s work in the past
3. The Fall Feasts, which await future fulfillment

Today, we will focus on Shabbat—a day of rest, remembrance, and restoration. We will see that this divine appointment was established at the very creation of the universe.

I have been studying Scripture in a new light since our first visit to Israel in 2022. During that time, I felt led to pursue a deeper understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus—to truly know Him and to know Him more intimately. As I mentioned in my previous post, we get to know someone by intentionally setting aside time to meet with them, to listen, and to learn who they are. To know someone is to love them, and that is exactly what I set out to do.

The most meaningful way I have found to do this has been through God’s command to rest—Shabbat. We often refer to it as a command, but it is far more than that. It is a gift from our Heavenly Father, a holy appointment blessed by the God of heaven.

“By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”
— Genesis 2:2–3

Scripture tells us that “on the seventh day He rested.” God had no need to rest—He is God. He chose to rest. In doing so, He set aside time to meet with us. He knew that we, as humans, would need rest—a weekly holy reset. But I believe something even deeper was taking place: God desired communion with us. He desired a relationship rooted in time intentionally set apart.

The Sabbath is not primarily about rules—what we should or should not do. It is not simply about refraining from work or disconnecting from the world. Rather, it is about connection—connecting with our Heavenly Father. In Hebrew, Shabbat means “rest.” For the nation of Israel, this rest begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday.

This rest is intentional and necessary. It allows us to reflect on all that God has done and all that He is currently doing in our lives. It gives us time to meet with Him, to thank Him, and to praise Him. It is within this weekly appointment that God promises true joy:

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord.”
— Isaiah 58:13–14

I encourage you to give it a try. God made a way for us by scheduling time with us at the very beginning of creation. The God who created time and space chose to make time for you. Disconnect. Spend the day immersed in His Word and enjoying His beautiful creation.

You will discover that Scripture is true—you will find joy in the Lord. The shalom, the peace that only time with Him can bring, will be found. He will meet you there. He will speak to you.