Read: Isaiah 58:13-14 (NIV)
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
The Sabbath is more than just a personal day of rest; it is an active rest that joins us with God and with our community. Scripture points out how the Sabbath was tied to justice for the poor, the alien, the orphan, and the widow. Regulations like the triennial tithe and the release of slaves in the Sabbatical year were all part of this divine plan.
Walter C. Kaiser writes that “Sabbath rest was instituted to provide for human need.” The fulfillment of human need is the very purpose of the Sabbath. This is why Jesus said it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Our rest should not be passive; it should be active. It should involve looking out for those around us who are in need, just as God provides for us.
Adopting a Sabbath-like rhythm in our lives can be a powerful way to promote justice and prevent economic disparity, as Ronald J. Sider points out. It is a way of recognizing that everything belongs to God, and we are simply stewards. By resting, we declare our dependence on Him and our commitment to using what He has given us to care for others.
Pray: Lord, thank you for showing us that rest is an act of justice. Help us to see the needs of those around us and to use our rest to love and serve our neighbors. We want to live a life that reflects your heart for the poor and the marginalized. Amen.
