- Table of content
- 5.3.4.1 Reasons for the Third Commandment in Israel
- 5.3.4.2 The Sabbath in Israel
- 5.3.4.3 Jesus Christ and the Sabbath
- 5.3.4.4 From Sabbath to Sunday
- 5.3.4.5 Keeping Sunday holy–in divine service
- 5.3.4.6 Working on Sundays–between duty and sanctification
- 5.3.4.7 The structure of the Sunday
5.3.4.2 The Sabbath in Israel
Even before issuing the law on Mount Sinai, God had set apart the Sabbath (Exodus 16: 4-30). He gave the Sabbath as a gift, as a day on which the people of Israel were to rest from work and turn to God without distraction. Thus the Sabbath was a day of rest and, at the same time, a holy day. It was characterised by a special sacrificial service (Numbers 28: 9-10). Those who honoured the Sabbath and avoided personal business and idle talk (Isaiah 58: 13-14) were promised blessing.