The Fourth Commandment

                                        Exodus 20:8-11                  October 18, 2009

                                                                                                               Introduction

I.  The fourth commandment establishing the weekly Sabbath is among the most important.  Witness the fact that it is the only commandment of the first table to be stated both positively and negatively.

                                                                                                 Exposition with Application

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

I.     Two things work against the Scriptural observance of the Sabbath.

          A.  Man is a law-hater by nature. Rom. 8:7

          B.  Few will stand against popular opinion. Matt. 7:13-14

II.       God instituted the Sabbath for man’s good. Mark 2:27  It is the oldest religious institution, the second being marriage.

V.       No society that has failed to honor the Sabbath and to honor marriage has ever stood for long.

III.     The fourth commandment is an expression of God’s grace, given to His covenant people.

V.        The Sabbath day of rest cannot be imposed on a pagan culture.  It was never meant for the ungodly. Isa. 57:20-21 

IV.     The weekly Sabbath is part of the realization of the rest we have in Christ.  It is a foreshadow of the eternal Sabbath.

V.      In Exodus, we are commanded to keep the Sabbath in remembrance of God’s rest from His works of creation.  In Deuteronomy, we are to keep it in remembrance of our deliverance from slavery by God’s almighty power.

            A.  The Sabbath looks backward to the creation rest for its pattern.  Our work is not to run on in endless cycles, for that witnesses futility. Rom. 1:19-25, 1 Cor. 15:58

           B.   The Sabbath looks upwards to God in the assurance of His covenant promise of grace and deliverance.

           C.   The Sabbath looks forward to the eternal Sabbath in the assurance of Christ’s victory.

VI.    The fourth commandment presupposes work: Six days you shall work.  God doesn’t approves of idleness.

VII.   An activity is commanded on the Sabbath: Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.  This means separation and dedication unto God in acknowledgment of His absolute authority over us. 

V.       Sabbath rest flows from our covenant relationship with God.  We are His people separated unto Him in holiness.

VIII.   To be under God’s authority and to acknowledge His sovereignty requires knowledge and growth in knowledge. 2 Peter 3:18  The Christian Sabbath is geared towards knowledge; knowledge of God’s Word being the central focus.

V.        The knowledge of salvation and the assurances given to us in Scripture fill God’s people with a contentment and delight they express in song and in praise.

                                                                                                              Application

I.       The person who views the weekly Sabbath as optional, or as a chore, has reason to examine his heart for a sincere work of grace. Isa. 58:13

II.      The purpose of Christian Sabbath is not primarily to preach the Gospel so that folks can be saved.  Neither is preaching to people’s felt needs.

V.        All those things can be addressed, but they are not the main purpose Remembering the Sabbath to keep it holy.

III.     It is a day of rest from our work to consider our relationship with Christ.

IV.     It is a public witness of our citizenship in His kingdom; an acknowledgment of His Lordship over our lives.

V.        It is a day of rejoicing and celebration as we grow in grace and knowledge.