Holy Days
Part Twelve
The Sabbath:
Music for the Soul
“It (the Sabbath) is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." (Exodus 31:17) The Sabbath rest is the binding tie that links man to his maker. Some might consider the need to rest a flaw in man’s design but rest is not a sign of imperfection; on the contrary, it is a fundamental part of beauty. The Sabbath reveals that both God and man share a unique characteristic unlike those in the natural Kingdom. God has intentionally designed mankind to grow weary of monotony. Change produces rest. Consider music, it is comprised of a series of varied sounds. But what if those sounds never stopped? It would no longer be considered music to our ears! Music is beautiful because the active sounds come to a rest and then start over again. No rest = No music. Likewise, activity without a cycle of rest will eventually bring a nation of souls to sadness and ruin. No rest = No refreshment!
It was not in God’s interest to give the animal kingdom the intellectual capacity to count or calculate days, weeks months and years. This makes it impossible for animals to conform to a seven day rest cycle. The bee builds its hive and the beaver falls his trees seven days a week; yet these creatures harbor no rebellion against their Creator, neither does He harbor hostility towards them. This reconfirms what Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man.” (Mark 2:27) Not even angels have the capacity to experience the deep relationship that is capable between God and Man. The Creator of heaven and earth is jealous to spend time with man, who represents the greatest achievement of His creative power.