WEek Eight of Ordinary Time

Holy Rest

By Andy Bast

Scripture (Genesis 2:1-3)

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Reflection

I’ve been reflecting on sabbath rest this week and was struck again by the idea that it was established by God and that our participation in sabbath is derivative...we copy God. For six days, God labored to create the world. And then God rested and blessed that seventh day which made it holy. Sabbath is not something established by people, it is an act of God that people follow (later God commands his people to observe sabbath in the law given to Moses at Sinai). And so today, Christians continue to follow the pattern that God established and Jesus continued at the very beginning of time by setting time aside for rest.

When I tend to think of sabbath, my “functional theology” is that it’s mostly about me. I know I have limits and need to rest in order to be a better husband, father, friend or simply a more centered person. I try to change my habits and find some time to recharge. If I scheduled more time for rest---get off the internet for a day, be intentional about my family, take a walk in the woods or refrain from any kind of task--then maybe I’ll be in a better space to love and work more deeply. These aren’t bad thoughts or goals, but taken by themselves, they neglect the main point of sabbath.

In his commentary on Genesis, John Calvin wrote: “First, therefore, God rested; then he blessed this rest, that in all ages it might be held sacred among men: or he dedicated every seventh day to rest, that his own example might be a perpetual rule. The design of the institution must be always kept in memory: for God did not command men simply to keep holiday every seventh day, as if he delighted in their indolence; but rather that they, being released from all other business, might the more readily apply their minds to the Creator of the world.” (my emphasis)

In Luke 6, Jesus has to redirect the Pharisees (concerned with breaking the Law of the Sabbath) to do what Calvin observes, to “readily apply their minds to the Creator of the world” and see that he is master of the sabbath. The point here is that the sabbath remains about God rather than human rules or considerations. We are called to be present with God. If God heals on the sabbath, so be it…we are to be present to that. We follow God’s example and slow ourselves (or our lives) down in order to rest in the Lord. The focus is on the Lord, to better grow in union with Christ.

Much of the Christian life is upside down: the first shall be last, the poor are blessed, in order to live God bids us come and die. In the case of sabbath, we seek God and his presence and we find rest for our weariness.

Song

His affection never wearies,

and his mercy never ends.

He reminds me every morning,

“I am still your faithful friend.”

He is good to those who seek him.

I will wait for him to bless.

And the Lord will be my portion

In the empty wilderness.

In the goodness of the Lord,

In the goodness of the Lord,

I will wait for him and set my hope

In the goodness of the Lord.

Words & Music by Wendell Kimbrough & Paul Zach. © 2017 Wendell Kimbrough (BMI) & Paul Zach Publishing (SESAC). CCLI #7100098 wendellk.com

Prayer for Quiet Confidence (From the Book of Common Prayer)

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.