Observe the Sabbath
Why Christians Should Honor the Lord’s Day
Introduction
The observance of Sunday, the Lord’s Day or Sabbath, has been lost. We tend to do what we really want to do and not what the Lord desires. The Lord’s Day is just that: the Lord’s. It is for our rejoicing and being glad in Him (Psalm 118:24). This article is intended to argue that Christians are to still keep the Sabbath, to show how profaning it are sins of atheism, and that observing it is for the soul’s supreme delight in this life.
Scriptural Pen from R. L. Dabney
When planning this article I could not articulate a sharper Scriptural argument from Hebrews 4:9 than R. L. Dabney, Southern Presbyterian, Confederate chaplain, and the chief of staff and biographer of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. The following is taken from his article, “The Christian Sabbath: Its Nature, Design and Proper Observance”1:
“HEBREWS 4:9—THERE REMAINS A SABBATH-KEEPING
The next place to be cited is Heb. 4:9. This verse (with its context, which must be carefully read) teaches that, as there remains to believers under the Christian dispensation a hope of an eternal rest, so there remains to us an earthy Sabbath to foreshadow it. The points to be noticed in the explanation of the chapter are: That God has an eternal spiritual rest; that he invited Old Testament believers to share it; that it is something higher than Israel’s home in Canaan, because after Joshua had fully installed Israel in that rest, God’s rest is still held up as something future. The seventh day (verse 4) was the memorial of God’s rest, and was thus connected with it. It was under the old dispensation, as under the new, a spiritual faith which introduced into God’s rest, and it was unbelief which excluded was from it. But as God’s rest was something higher than a home for Canaan, and was still offered in the ninety-fifth Psalm long after Joshua settled Israel in that rest, it follows (verse 9) that there still remains a sabbatism, or Sabbath-keeping, for God’s people under the new dispensation; and hence (verse 11) we ought to seek to enter that spiritual rest of God, which is by faith.
Now, let it be noted that the word for God’s “rest” throughout the passage is a different one from “Sabbath.” But the apostle’s inference is that because God still offers us his “rest” under the new dispensation, there remaineth to us a Sabbath-keeping under this dispensation. What does this mean? Is the sabbatism identically our “rest” in faith? But the seventh day was not identically that rest; it was the memorial and emblem of it. So now sabbatism is the memorial and emblem of the rest. Because the rest is ours, therefore Sabbath-keeping is still ours, heaven and its earthly type belong equally to both dispensations.”
Profaning as a Type of Atheism
When it comes to the profanation of the Sabbath, the sin is a type, or strand, of atheism. By atheism, I mean the rebellion of the idea that God rules over us. It is shown in three ways:
First, it is a sin of atheism by the Sabbath being an earthly type of heaven.
From creation it is shown as a day for man’s delighting in God (Genesis 2:2,3), for this is the chief end of man: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. God institutes from creation, for man’s purpose and benefit, a day where man may rest from his worldly employments and consecrate himself to the worship of the Lord. This is what is meant in Mark 2:27 (ESV)2, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” This day is set aside for man as a holy delight and communion with God in both public and private worship.
With this definition and purpose in mind it is clearly shown in Revelation 21:3 to be a type, or foreshadow, of heaven:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold the dwelling place of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’”
Heaven will be the ultimate rest for saints, the ultimate place for the complete and perfect delight in God. It should be noted that the word for “dwelling place” can also be translated as tabernacle, echoing the people of Israel seeking the rest in the promised land. This is what Dabney states about Hebrews 4:11, “we ought to seek to enter that spiritual rest of God, which is by faith.” This is the rest we are seeking: God dwelling with His people and they dwelling with Him.
One striking detail in Revelation 21:3 must not be left out. The promise in this verse of Christians being the people of God and God himself being their God is nearly a direct quotation of the New Covenant promise in Jeremiah 32:38, “And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” This is fulfilled in Christ for believers right now (see Romans 5:9-11). But also there remains a waiting for a complete fulfillment in the new heavens and the new earth as we will have our redeemed bodies and souls.
Each Lord’s Day is a foretaste of Heaven for believers. When it is not honored, Heaven is treated as trivial. Why do you expect to go to Heaven when you dishonor its shadow?
Each Lord’s Day is a foretaste of Heaven for believers.
Secondly, profanation is shown to be a sin of atheism because it is the disbelief of the necessity of holiness.
With the understanding that the Sabbath is a day of rest and delight in the Lord, the necessity of observing may not be so clear to some. The objection to observing it may be, “I can fit prayer and Bible reading sometime during the week” or it may be said as, “Sunday is a day off from work, so we use it as family time.” These objections are quite honestly fickle, because these things are thought or said, but when are they ever done? Using the Westminster Larger Catechism Question 121, I will display and defend the necessity of Sabbath-keeping for the necessity of holiness:
Q. 121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?
A. The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; and that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.
Focus on the phrase in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments. The proof texts of this phrase deepen the point that is being made. In Ezekiel 20, the Lord is rebuking Israel for their idolatry, faithlessness, and profaning of the Sabbath. He speaks of the Sabbath as a regulator, particularly in verses 12, 19-20, because the keeping of the Lord’s Day is a river of holiness. There is more of the true Christian religion to be experienced on the Lord’s Day than in the reading of all of the books of theology. On the Lord’s Day, the Father brings the means to us to sanctify in truth, causing our souls to be suffused with His sweetness and the aroma of Christ lingers in our presence. This is what Satan wants to destroy. As the catechism answer states, “…that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the glory, and even memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.” The forgetting of this day brings in all unrighteousness for it reminds us of both creation and redemption; where the glory of God’s eternal power, wisdom, and goodness is made manifest; the abridgment of the Christian religion. Ask yourself this, has America become holier ever since we forgot the Sabbath?
Thirdly, profaning the Lord’s Day is shown to be a sin of atheism as it is contempt for the Lord’s Kingdom.
The first day of the week belongs solely to the Lord (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Revelation 1:10). It is rightfully His. No other is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! He alone is the One who can say, “Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, O ancient doors!” He is the King of glory; the LORD, mighty in battle. It is only in pride and arrogance that we say to the Son of God, by profaning His Day, the words of Absalom:
“Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” - 2 Samuel 15:4
Christ purchased that day for Himself by His Resurrection from the dead. He declares and prescribes the mandate for His Day, no one else. His Day contains the preaching of His Word, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, bringing about the advancement of His Kingdom. His commandments, His precepts, His ordinances are given on this Day. When the King speaks, the people are silent. It is a Kingly Day. It has been His Day since creation and will be till the Resurrection. If the subjects of a King do not follow His words it is nothing short of rebellion. Believers, do not show contempt to the Lord by showing contempt for His Day.
This Day is a foreshadow of the dominion of Christ over the earth. As the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shines in churches now, so shall it, as in the promise, cover the whole earth as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14). Christ shall reign on His Day just as He shall reign till all His enemies are put under His feet (Psalm 110:1, 1 Corinthians 15:27). His reign shall overwhelmingly encompass multitudes from every nation, tribe, peoples, and language (Genesis 12:3, Psalm 72:17-19, Isaiah 2:1-4, Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 7:9-12). As it is prophesied in Isaiah 66:23:
“From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD.”
Honoring the Sabbath is the yielding of our creatureliness to the Creator. In it is reverence and fealty to the King that has conquered Death on your behalf on this Day. Worship the Lord on the Lord’s Day. “Since he is your lord, bow to him” (Psalm 45:11).
For Your Good
“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” - Isaiah 58:13-14
It is when we delight in the Lord’s Day that we are equipped more and more to delight in the Lord. Our delight in the Lord is our chief end; and if the Sabbath channels our hearts to the purpose for which they were created, the Sabbath, then, is what the Lord uses for true human flourishing. Our souls will be fed by the Lord with the fat and the sweet, the works of our hands shall prosper, and the fulness of Christ shall rest in our souls. The Spirit of God shall be with the people of God, providing supplication and grace to those weary pilgrims. Each Lord’s Day we are like that weary pilgrim, Christian, in The Pilgrim’s Progress, coming into the Palace Beautiful, when we enter the Lord’s house. Like Christian, we are fed and “furnished with fat things and with wine well refined” 3and equipped from the armory of God such as “sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all-prayer, and shoes that will not wear out.” On each Lord’s Day, feast on the sweetness and excellencies of Christ, being equipped for the journey to your Heavenly Home.
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From “The Christian Sabbath: Its Nature, Design and Proper Observance” (Richmond, VA: Presbyterian Committee of Publication, 1882); reprint, Discussions by Robert L. Dabney, D.D., LL.D., edited by C.R. Vaughan, volume I, Theological and Evangelical (Richmond: Presbyterian Committee of Publication, 1890); reprint, (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications, 1982), pp. 496-550.
All Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version Text Edition: 2011
Bunyan, J. (1678). The Pilgrim’s Progress. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, a Project Gutenberg eBook. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/39452/39452-h/39452-h.htm