Keeping the Sabbath (Even Jellyfish Sleep)
The Fourth Commandment
Of the Ten Commandments, the Fourth commandment seems to have caused the most controversy in terms of its application:
‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.’ (Exodus 20:8-10, New International Version)
Controversies have centred around whether Saturday or Sunday should be the designated day of rest or corporate worship. In the early days, Christians worship on Sunday to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. The early Jewish believers probably continued to observe Saturday as a rest day and worship on Sunday as well. By focusing on which is the ‘correct’ day, we may have missed the main points of keeping the Sabbath.
By focusing on whether to worship on a Saturday or Sunday, we may have missed the main points of keeping the Sabbath.
Even jellyfish sleep
We’ve always known that sleep (scientific definition: a natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body) is crucial to our survival and well-being. A study published in the journal Behavioural Brain Research found that even the jellyfish, a brainless organism with simple nervous system, need rest and if deprived of sleep, acted tired the next day (took them longer to start pulsing, as if they were groggily shaking off sleep when startled). This led scientists to conclude that even the smallest building block of life, the cell, needs rest.
When God ceased from His work of creation, it was as if He stopped to admire what He had done,
Just like an artist who puts his brush down when he considers his painting complete; he steps back, takes a deep breath and savours his handiwork. It’s one thing for the Creator to cease from work to enjoy His creation but quite another for His creatures to enjoy a similar perk. What are we to make of the command to keep the Sabbath in this day and age?
When God ceased from His work of creation, it was as if He stopped to admire what He had done,
He made us this way – our need for physical rest
Countless studies have tried to uncover the reasons for sleep i.e. the need to take a break. Whilst the origin of sleep remains a mystery, there’s no doubt it’s necessary not just for survival but for our well-being. Even simple organisms with no brain like the jellyfish appear to need sleep.
We are social beings
When we’re not at work, electronic devices (computers, ipads, iphones) still occupy our attention during our day of rest. We seem to be plugged in all the time; the more (electronically) connected we are, the less we engage in personal interaction. As unrelentless work hours take a toll on health and relationships, many have taken to turning off social media periodically. The struggle to take a break is also a by-product of living in a consumer-driven environment.
Curbing economic greed
In an ever-so-growing economy centred on consumption, there’s an insatiable drive to want more i.e. it is never enough. Instead of producing to meet the needs and wants of people, the economy is now feeding on consumers who are driven to keep on consuming beyond their needs. It seems we must work tirelessly to facilitate economic growth rather than the other way round.
Keeping the Sabbath is like hitting the ‘pause’ button on a work week, to regain our dignity, that we are not slaves to work. We also rest from the anxiety and strain of non-stop work, which may be symptoms of our greed or insecurity or both.
As unrelentless work hours take a toll on health and relationships, many have taken to turning off social media periodically.
Inner rest
The Sabbath can act as a break in my routine, to stop my preoccupation with issues close to my heart or running around. Instead, we seek God, listen to sermons, serve in church and commune with fellow believers. Externally, we’re ceasing from ordinary tasks in order to focus on God. Internally, we cease from self-efforts and rest on God’s promise of providence. Hence the day of rest is a demonstration of man having been created in God’s image, a day when we hang out with our Creator.
Rest for the land
The command to rest also extends to the use of land:
‘But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.’ (Leviticus 25:4, New International Version)
Studies have found that by allowing land to lie fallow periodically, it has the effect of restoring soil fertility. Research done by the University of Arizona found that fallowed soil has greater microbial diversity, required for better nutrient cycling which enhances crop production. A period of rest does not mean inactivity but instead results in the regeneration of the soil and increased harvest.
Studies have found that by allowing land to lie fallow periodically, it has the effect of restoring soil fertility.
Hanging out with our Creator
As we come to realize the benefits of keeping the Sabbath and recognize it as part of God’s blueprint for an abundant life - essential for the well-being of individuals, communities and the earth - we will look forward to keeping the Sabbath every week.
© 2019 CC Leau
