On Sunday we will have a free day in Jerusalem. You will be free to set your own schedule and choose your own adventure (see suggestions in the email). International travel can be exhausting, and our itinerary will be moving us through many exciting historical and religious sites, therefore we have worked in a day of leisure for you to recuperate as needed. Being a Sunday, you may choose to visit a local church in the Old City and experience worshiping in places where pilgrims have been worshipping for centuries.
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| Worshiping at Christ Church |
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| Overlooking Gehenna Valley |
As we consider a “free day,” I thought I would focus this devotional on sabbath rest. On Day 6 we will experience parts of the city completely shut down as the Jewish believers honor the Sabbath day (Friday night at sundown until Saturday at sundown). Those who observe the Sabbath on the seventh day are Sabbatarians. Most Christians are semi-Sabbatarians, meaning we set aside a day of worship but do not hold to the actual Sabbath day, the seventh day. Most Christians set aside Sunday as their day of worship. Unfortunately, many have neglected or lost the Sabbath principle of setting aside a literal day, 24-hour period of time, to honor the Lord.
On this 7th day of our trip, let’s reflect on the significance of the 7th day and the importance of resting in the Lord.
Key Text: Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (English Standard Version)
This is one of only two passages that uses the phrase, “find rest for your souls.” The LORD, through Jeremiah, calls his people back to himself by inviting them to look back and remember the “ancient paths, where the good way is.” On this trip we will be literally walking the ancient paths, remembering the goodness and kindness of the LORD through the roots of our faith. The Biblical stories will come to life as we see the Land and hear the Word of the Lord in fresh ways. God wants his people to enter into his rest, to be in a right relationship with him, to find true worship that refreshes the soul.
One of the saddest phrases in all of Scripture follows when they respond, “we will not walk in it.” This is the problem humanity has been facing since Adam and Eve gave into the temptation in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-7). We think we know better than God. We think that the world offers us something better and so we rebel against God. All we like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6), we all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and we all deserve to be punished for our sinfulness (Rom. 6:23). It has been said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay, and it will cost you more than you want to pay.” Rebellion always leads to unrest, unease, and emptiness.
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| Zion’s Gate entering the Old City |
However, God is gracious, merciful, and patient with his people, and every page of Scripture declares his faithful steadfast love despite rebellion. He points us to the only path to rest, the narrow way that leads to salvation (Matt. 7:13-14), and to know eternal life through his Son, Jesus (John 17:3). When we recognize the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9) and that following Jesus is the way to peace with God and rest for our souls, we will understand what it means to be truly saved (Rom. 10:9-10). I pray that as we walk the ancient paths, listen to his Word, and seek to grow closer to him, that we will respond with “yes I will walk in them.” And one of the principles we will encounter is the sabbath principle, the importance of resting in the Lord. Let us consider the beginnings of sabbath rest by looking at a small selection of Scriptures.
Key Text: Genesis 2:1-3
After the six days of creation, God finished his creative work and rested from it. In doing so, he set a pattern for creation and declared the seventh day holy and blessed. God is not human, and he does not grow weary, yet he chose to rest as a pattern and example to his creation. The sabbath principle is not just a command, but it is wired into the creative order.
Key Text: Exodus 20:8-11
As the Israelites were delivered from bondage in Egypt, God brought them to Mt. Sinai and gave them the 10 Commandments. These 10 statements were given to instruct the people on how to live in a right relationship with God (1-4) and with others (5-10). He reminds them of the creative order and the need for rest. Again, he states that the Sabbath day is blessed and holy, or a day to be set apart from other days. When we prioritize our relationship with God over our time and schedule, we will see God working in and through us to bless those around us. Starting from a place of peace with God empowers and motivates us to have peace with others.
Key Text: 1 Kings 19:1-8
We already read this passage on Day 3, but I wanted to remind you of a few significant points in Elijah’s encounter with God, specifically our humanness. Elijah had just had a huge spiritual victory over the false prophets of Baal, which we will read in detail on Day 11. Following his victory, Queen Jezebel threatened his life, which frightened him, and he ran far away. You will gain an appreciation for how afraid he was as you see the Land from Beersheba early in our trip and then traveling to Mt. Carmel on Day 11. His run only covers a few verses, but it is many miles of tough terrain.
God does not rebuke Elijah for running away or being frightened. He recognizes his physical limitations and allows him to rest and to eat (cf. Psalm 103:13-14). Before God would teach Elijah what he needed to learn, Elijah needed to be refreshed through rest, hydration, and nutritious food. You and I can become overwhelmed with our responsibilities and earthly concerns and neglect the most basic human needs: rest, sleep, water, and nutritious food. The principle of Sabbath rest is to be reminded that we do not bear the burdens of the world, but God does. We can release our burdens to our God and find rest in obedience to him.
Overlooking the Mt of Olives from the Old City Walls
Key Text: Mark 2:23-28
Jesus unpacks the Sabbath principle further by declaring that, “Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Jesus was speaking against a legalistic understanding of “a day” rather than embracing the “spirit” or “purpose” of the command. He declared himself the “lord even of the Sabbath,” in this, Jesus was claiming to have the right to exercise authority over the rules and regulations that God has given, including the Sabbath because he is the Son of God. However, Jesus was not casting away the Law, instead he said he came to fulfill the Law (Matt. 5:17-18, Luke 4:16-21).
Key Text: Romans 14:5-9
The Apostle Paul continues the teaching as he establishes a movement from a strict observance of the Sabbath Day to honoring the Sabbath principle on other days. The focus is not on which day in particular, but that a Christian seeks to honor God on a day. An intentional observance of the Sabbath principle means stepping away from the normal activities of work in order to rest in the LORD. Paul tells us not to judge others based on the day they choose, but to honor the Lord in what we do.
Key Text: Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus is not speaking of the Sabbath Day in this passage, but he is speaking to the internal need we who are weary feel. This is the second of two passages that use the phrase we read in Jeremiah 6, “rest for your souls.” Jeremiah’s call was to look to the ancient paths, Jesus’ invitation is to “come to him” as he is the fulfilment of the Law, the ancient paths, he is the good way (John 14:6-7). Jesus welcomes all who are weary and overburdened by legalism and business and invites them to lay down their burden and enter into his rest.
Entrance into King David’s tomb 
Just outside of David’s tomb
Key Text: Hebrews 4:4-16
The writer of Hebrews brings a summary teaching to this topic. God established the Sabbath day, but the people failed to enter into his rest due to their disobedience. Yet God was not done with his people, but promised another day where people could once again enter into his rest. He gave us his Word that we might know him and know how to be in a right relationship with him. As we continued to fail to keep his commandments, he sent us his Son, Jesus, to enter our space, fulfill the Law, and offer himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Because Jesus is our great high priest we can confidently go to and receive grace and mercy from the Father, we can enter into his rest.
Is Sunday the new Sabbath?
Sunday is not the “Christian Sabbath” per say, but it is a day that Christians have set aside to gather and worship. The practice of gathering on Sunday was established because it was the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, an act that forever separated Christianity from any other religion (John 20:1). Since that time, believers have gathered on the first day of the week to celebrate His victory over sin and death (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Keep that in mind as you prepare your heart for worship each Sunday, that you are gathering in faith as a testimony to the risen Lord.
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| The City of David |
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Original foundation walls to King David’s palace |
The early Christians honored the Sabbath Day on the seventh day, and they gathered for worship on the first day, Sunday, which the Apostle John referred to as “the Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10). Whatever day you choose, it is important is that you learn the principle to rest, to stop from your work, and honor the LORD. It is to be a practice to remember that the LORD is the King of Heaven and the Ruler of the Universe.
I was once reminded that the Sabbath is to remind me that without my work the sun will still rise, the grass will still grow, and God will still be on the throne. It is a practice that gives freedom, that lifts burdens, and provides rest for our souls. We can practice this by Diverting Daily, Withdrawing Weekly, Abandoning Annually (read more HERE). Daily pausing to recognize God’s presence. Weekly setting apart a day to refrain from work and recognize God’s provision and rest. Annually looking for spiritual refreshment and growth…this trip is a pilgrimage to learn and be reminded of God’s faithfulness.
Our free day in Jerusalem may not be a Sabbath rest day, but it is a good reminder that we are free in Christ to experience God’s presence with God’s people. Truly worshipping God is to joyfully recognize God’s presence and live in happy obedience.
Brad Horner
Reflection Questions:
1. What do you find significant about the phrase “rest for your souls” in Jeremiah 6:16 and Matthew 11:28-30? How are these passages similar? Different? How can this trip give you a desire to “walk in it”?
2. What is your Sabbath practice? How do you observe the principle? In what ways do you need to grow in this practice?
3. What are you most looking forward to doing to enjoy your free day in Jerusalem?
Prayer:
Father in heaven, King of the Universe, you are the Author and Giver of life. You have known me since before the foundations of the world. You know my strengths and my weakness, my faithfulness and my rebellions, and yet you still love me. You have invited me to enter into your rest through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to trust your Word and obey your commandments. Help me honor the Sabbath principle in my life as a regular reminder of your presence with me and your kindness towards me. May my time in Israel help me know you more and share you more. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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