Sabbath: Addition by Subtraction | Rev. Brooke Hartman

When the Hebrew were enslaved in Egypt, they had to work for Pharoah 7 days a week. When God led them out of slavery, God instructed them to work for themselves 6 days a week and to give the 7th day to God. Instead of backbreaking labor, God instructed them to spend the 7th day (the Sabbath day), worshipping God and enjoying the goodness and love of God’s creation.

Today, many of us are enslaved by golden handcuffs of our own design. We struggle to take even half a day off from our other priorities to focus on God and to enjoy God’s goodness because we are so busy pursuing our own goals which often bring us as many curses as blessings.

God’s plan for Sabbath revolves around creating a community based around supporting its members to take Sabbath for rest, rejuvenation, and revival. So, we must wrestle with the question of how to practice Sabbath in a culture that no longer supports it.

To practice Sabbath in this culture is counter-cultural and necessary. If Jesus felt the need to take a Sabbath for worship and renewal every seven days, we probably need to as well.

Scripture - Exodus 20:8-11