What is a Sabbath Day in the Bible?

What is a Sabbath day in Scripture? We know that one of the ten commandments is a directive to honor the Sabbath day by keeping it holy...but when are the Sabbath days and what do you need to do to keep them holy? This post will examine what it means to when the Bible says not to work on Sabbath days, which are sometimes referred to as "no-work days," after verses stipulating that we are not to do any work on these days.

When are the Biblical Sabbath days?
The weekly Sabbath. This is the seventh day of the week because "on the seventh day God rested." (Genesis 2:2)
The first and last days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Shavuot.
Feast of Trumpets.
Yom Kippur.
The first and last days of Tabernacles.

What is a Sabbath day supposed to be like?
These are days to rest; we should avoid ordinary work, professional or otherwise. We get ourselves into trouble when we focus on human ideas about the Sabbath...like saying that your house needs to be spotless or the toilet paper needs to be torn ahead of time or that you need to sit down to a formal dinner complete with ceremonial blessings at an exact time, because those are not commandments. If your house is clean for the Sabbath good for you, but if it isn't you are certainly not doomed to have some sort of lesser Shabbat.

Stick with the commandments: don't work. Rest.

So we should have the no-work days for the feasts off from our jobs, in addition to the weekly Sabbath. Scripture uses the phrase, "ordinary work," or "servile work," regarding what we should steer clear from on these days. This means it's not just a day off from work to do house projects or to spend in the kitchen whipping up a feast for your congregation. I think that's incredibly freeing and beautiful. We've all attended way too many special events or family get-togethers where one or two people sacrifice their day to prepare and organize the meal, while 20 other people relax in the living room. And mostly it's women who are working so hard so that their family can relax. When YHWH pulled work off the table for these days, I have no doubt he meant this as a way to get women celebrating and relaxing with everyone else. And because it's a Sabbath day and work is forbidden, no one has any expectations of being served by them and they have no guilt about keeping this command. What a lovely gift.

Not working is synonymous with not shopping. I, for one, basically always feel like shopping is a lot of work, but even if you don't the idea of a day of rest is to do just that. Rest. Not running errands to cross off the list. Not causing someone else to work on one of YHWH's no-work days. Nehemiah 13:17 calls buying and selling on these days "profaning the Sabbath." Put your wallet away and enjoy these days purchase free.

A holy convocation. 
Don't miss that in addition to resting, we are to have a holy convocation. In other words a gathering with believers to celebrate these set-apart times. You know, a party. This can be a challenge, but if possible get together with people willing to celebrate these days. If there's a time to make a drive to meet with believers, this is it! Make it happen, plan something fun. One of the meanings of convocation in Scripture is reading, so make it a point to read appropriate passages from Scripture as part of your festivities.

That's the gist of a no-work day. Pretty easy, isn't it? It's a major loss that so many have believed the lie that these days are about jumping through hoops or that it's too hard for us. What could be easier or less of a burden than a day off, spent with family and friends? When YHWH gave us these commandments he did so because they are good for us! 

Sabbath days are:
A day to rest!
Time to remember the awesomeness of YHWH.
Celebration of his set apart times.
Level ground for all. No one is stuck serving or in the kitchen on these days.
A happy change of pace from everyday chores.
Restorative.
An opportunity to spend time with others of the Hebrew faith.
Joyful!

Related posts:
Why I'm Still Keeping the Sabbath
Things NOT Required for Sabbath Rest
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays

A Hebrew's Guide to Getting Through December

It's the most wonderful time of the year...or is it? While winter has many lovely features, the cultural holidays can make for some uncomfortable moments. How do you live differently when your family and friends are against the change in you? How do you deal with the frustration of Christmas overload? My hometown literally broadcasts Christmas music over outdoor speakers so that it is heard throughout the downtown. And not a single business comes to mind where you won't find holiday related decorations, events, or products; driving home from anywhere is bound to take you past lots of Christmas lights. This can be sad, overwhelming, or upsetting. How do we as Hebrews get through this time with grace?

Here are a few ideas to help guide the way:

Remember why you are doing this. At this time of year I like to brush up on some of the reasons Christmas is not condoned by YHWH. Not so I can unload this on every person I know, but because this gives me fresh conviction and motivation to not take part in this. The Truth or Tradition teaching is an excellent resource for this.

Pray and think about how you will respond. Having a few catchphrases to turn to when the subject comes up can simplify things greatly. When a cashier wishes you merry Christmas you could respond with something like, "I actually don't celebrate that but I appreciate your kind wishes." Consider also the reason you'll give if you are asked why not. Something like, "I'm trying to follow the Bible's instructions and while it speaks of seven holidays, Christmas is not one of them," is a way to plant a seed. Pray about sharing extra details with those curious to know more.

It's okay to remember the good times. Most of us have good memories surrounding Christmastime and it's okay to acknowledge that and feel nostalgic. Letting go of Christmas doesn't mean you have to let go of those memories. Reminisce of the happy times you've had with friends and family. Tell the stories or write them down. 

Look ahead to YHWH's feasts. My mind can't help but wander to thinking about what YHWH desired those good memories to look like. To have memories of hearing the story of Yahusha's birth read around a Sukkot campfire instead of next to a Christmas tree. To have kids hunt for the last bits of bread in the house before Matzah Week instead of Easter eggs. These sorts of memories are still possible so start planning for them! Start saving for a Sukkot trip or think of menu options for Passover. YHWH has made seven set apart times of joy for us, knowing that some part of us needs these special celebrations. 

Connect with others. Not celebrating mainstream holidays can feel very isolating, but cutting out Christmas doesn't have to mean avoiding family. Take advantage of extra time off or relatives being in town and invite people over for dinner or games or take your nieces and nephews sledding.

Dissent in small ways. This is a non-dramatic way to align yourself with YHWH's ways. Taking a plain snicker doodle cookie from the work break room instead of the frosted Rudolph. Not wearing red and green together. Saying, "Have a nice time with your family," in lieu of, "Merry Christmas." Things like this give others nothing to be defensive or upset about. Being different in subtle ways shows others that this isn't for show or attention.

Come up with alternative forms of entertainment. Turn on the radio or the television and Christmas will come at you fast. Create a playlist for the car or at work. Borrow a few wholesome movies from the library. Put snow to use and sled, ski, or make snowmen. Take a break from social media if that helps.

Know that you are not required to participate in Christmas activities at work. It is religious discrimination and employers cannot legally fire or punish someone for not participating in holiday activities. Of course going against the grain is not always expedient to your career, and sometimes hard choices have to be made. Scripture does tell us that if we keep the commandments we will be blessed. Perhaps not right away or in the way we expect, but nonetheless blessed. If you find yourself assigned to a Christmas related task you can ask to be reassigned or offer to switch projects with a coworker. A simple, "no thanks," is the only explanation needed if you don't want to participate in a gift exchange. If your workplace is open Christmas day or Christmas Eve offering to work then so others can have time off can earn you big time brownie points.

Avoid commercial displays of the holidays, if possible. In the fall I try and get stocked up on dry groceries, hygiene products, and such so I can avoid going to businesses that have decked their halls. Seriously, if being around Christmas stuff is hard or sad for you the last thing you need to do is walk through a store's ornament isle. Utilizing pickup options or online holiday offers like free shipping also help me to avoid stores. Choose coffee shops and restaurants that are less decorated if you'll be eating out. Go through the bank drive through instead of standing in line next to the Christmas tree in the lobby. 

Don't make changing anyone your job. It would be great if our families viewed this the same way we do, but honestly December 24 is probably not going to be the day most people have a serious change of heart on this. Pray for others to follow in YHWH's ways and leave it to him. Share your heart, articles, or videos as you feel lead but also consider doing that in June when holiday emotions aren't running high and friends may be more receptive. 

Make your Passover yes louder than your Christmas no. It's important for others to learn that Christmas is not of YHWH and doubtless we will all have opportunities to share truth and our own story of walking away from this during this season. But if we are going to reprimand people for celebrating the wrong holiday, we need to invite them to keep YHWH's. If others hear you speak negatively of Christmas, make sure they hear a lot more positive talk from you about Passover, Shabbat, etc.

Offer grace to your upbringing and relatives. Many of us grew up seeing Christmas as a special time of honoring the Messiah and chances are we will meet some opposition from those who still view it that way. Acknowledge that most people are simply doing their best with what they have been taught, as you once were. Be kind and patient as the seeds you are planting in their lives take root.

Related posts:
Sharing Your Faith When Someone Wishes You a Merry Christmas
The Christmas Question
Five Things Believers Should Know About Christmas

Encouragement for the New Shabbat Keeper

Learning to set apart the Sabbath day can feel a little daunting. Forming new habits and routines is challenging in any circumstance and it is very common for those new to honoring Shabbat to feel completely overwhelmed by it. Going against society or how we were raised is not easy. I've heard from a few of you recently who truly desire to honor our Creator by resting on the seventh day as he did and are finding this transition time difficult. I've been there too, many of us have. On the Shabbat survey I asked what advice you would give to someone who is new at observing the Sabbath, so that's what we are talking about today, because you aren't alone in this.

Encouragement for new Shabbat keepers:

"Take it slow. Introduce one thing at a time to make the transition more peaceful. Don't feel guilty for not doing everything perfect. Pray and YHWH will let you know what's important to him and he will show you more as time goes on."

"Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance!"

"Remember that this is pleasing to YHWH and he delights in us when we obey his command to rest."

"Relax! Don't worry what everyone else is doing! It's not about the traditions it's about our relationship with YHWH."

"At first I was so worried about the traditions of having challah made, lighting the candles, and memorizing the ceremonial blessings that I looked at Shabbat as extra work instead of a break from it. I realized YHWH does not ask us to keep man's traditions and it was so freeing!" 

"If you're reading in the Bible and find out you're doing something wrong, then fix it, but don't beat yourself over the head trying to get it right the first time!"

"Relax. Don't worry about all the man-made rules. YHWH didn't make it hard. His laws and desires for us are not heavy or a burden. Just use the time to honor him and rest. It should not be hard or a burden or more work. Rest in his provision."

"Stand strong in your belief and don't let others discourage you."

"Have grace with yourself and your family. Go into it slowly and find what works for your family."

"Make sure you're doing this because you love the Father."

"Include your children in preparation for Shabbat as a way to diligently teach them as we are instructed in Deuteronomy."

"Make it a point to protect this time. If friends and family are unfamiliar invite them to have a Sabbath day meal with you."

"Study Scripture for yourself to see YHWH's expectations of this day for us. Many people are intimidated to keep the Sabbath because they see man made rule's about tearing toilet paper ahead of time or not being allowed to turn lights on or off but YHWH's instructions are simple and truly doable for us."

"Try to find a supportive person or community to help you through this."

"It's hard at the beginning but keep going. Think of one thing to add or remove from your Sabbath, and do that for a few weeks, then add or remove another thing."

"Expect great things!"

"Be patient and kind with yourself as you adjust to something very different."

"Use the Torah portion schedule if that helps you stay focused and active in the word."

"Delight in the gift you have been given. It is a joy not a burden!"

"Don't be too legalistic about it. You don't need to keep Shabbat like an Orthodox bubbe to keep it well. Don't lose sight of the idea that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. And even if you can't keep it perfectly, just keep it. Drop everything and rest! Your body and your spirit need it."

"It's hard at first but soon becomes the day you look forward to the most."

"Remember that YHWH blesses us when we keep his commands and that good things will come out of Sabbath rest."

"Try to find a local congregation or others around you who keep Shabbat to learn from."

"Maybe you feel alone...but you aren't. YHWH is with you in your Sabbath keeping journey."

"Approach it with baby steps."

"Don't let your pastor or family or anyone else talk you out of it. YHWH knew we needed rest and it is a gift from him."

"Just rest - don't make keeping Shabbat work."

"Take it slow. Enjoy YHWH. Love your family. Make family traditions!"

"We're commanded to rest, and do no work. Don't make it a burden to keep by worrying about the rabbinical or legalistic way of keeping Shabbat. Do not stress if things do not go perfectly, or exactly how you planned them to go, and remember that he is patient and gracious when we stumble. Remember you will have another chance next week to do things differently or better. We aren't expected to know or fully walk out Torah overnight, and this includes how to keep Shabbat. Be patient and forgiving with yourself, and remember that you are learning his ways. Keep your eyes on him and his word, and he will show you the way."

"Do your best and don't fret too much over every detail."

"Enjoy even when not perfect."

Even when it is difficult remind yourself why you are doing this. The trouble is worth it to be obedient to YHWH. Things start to go more smoothly with time and you will also see the rewards of Shabbat in your life. I can absolutely say that Sabbath rest has brought peace to me throughout the week. Hear what others have to say about good things that have come from honoring Shabbat.

Do you have advice for someone thinking of observing the Sabbath or in the early steps? Are you new to Shabbat keeping? What have you struggled with?

Hebrew Holiday Dates + Printable

Hebrew holiday dates for 2017...drum roll please.

Once again here are two sets of dates! I've done the traditional calendar dates and also the dates from Torah to the Tribes that are based on the start of the year, without an extra month. They are fairly close (of course there is some debate about when First Fruits is), mostly within a week of the other. So how do you choose?

I really can't make that decision for you but if you are in community with a group of believers the best option might be sticking together to celebrate. While there are pros and cons to both options, the fact is we really can't be certain of the dates until Yahusha returns. We can do our best now and be willing to change as we learn more. Keeping the feasts can be easier and more meaningful if you are able to do that with a group. So if you attend a congregation or at least can visit one for the feasts I would encourage you to embrace the dates that they are using.

Update: It came to my attention that I switched around the dates of the months for Shavuot and Yom Kippur on my first run of the Torah to the Tribes calendar. I have corrected the printable to show the accurate dates of May 28 for Shavuot and September 25 for Yom Kippur. So sorry for the confusion!

Get these dates and write them on your calendar. It takes intention and planning to honor YHWH by celebrating his feasts. Now is the time to prepare by scheduling vacation from work, budgeting for a celebration, and so forth.

A couple of things to keep in mind:
-The traditional calendar goes by sundown to sundown. Meaning Passover starts at sundown the evening of April 10.
-The Torah to the Tribes calendar goes by daylight to daylight. So Passover starts the morning of April 2.
-Not all set apart times are no work days. 

Like the weekly Shabbat, YHWH sets apart specific days of the year as times when no work should be done. This includes professional and household work. For the longer festivals there are days when work is permissible, giving us opportunity to labor over food preparation, shop for supplies, etc. Professional work is also allowed during this time, but if it's at all possible I would encourage you to take a few extra days off to focus on these set apart times. If vacation time is limited definitely prioritize taking off the no-work days.

No work days are as follows.

For the Torah to the Tribes calendar:
Days starting at sunlight.

Passover
April 3 and 9

Shavuot
May 28

Yom Teruah
September 16

Yom Kippur
September 25

Sukkot
September 30
October 7

For the traditional calendar:
Again, days starting and ending in the evening of the listed dates.

Passover
April 11-12
April 17-18

Shavuot
May 30 - June 1 (this is traditionally observed as two days even though Scripture mandates one)

Yom Teruah
September 20-22 (this is traditionally observed as two days even though Scripture mandates one)

Yom Kippur 
September 29-30

Sukkot
October 4-5
October 11-12

Click below to download the calendar to print. These work best as 5x7 or 8x10 prints.

Hebrew Holidays 2017 - Torah to the Tribes
Hebrew Holidays 2017 - traditional

They are completely free for your personal use.

Five Ways to Honor Shabbat

Shabbat is such an excellent illustration of how there is more to faith than simply hoping our beliefs are correct or mentally acquiescing that there is an all-powerful God. We should believe that Shabbat is a set apart day as YHWH commanded, yes. But we should also keep Shabbat as the set apart day! Just believing in it or claiming to keep it while looking absolutely the same as everyone else is not what YHWH asks of us. He requires that we do something.

These five things I am sharing with you today are simple, practical ideas to make the Sabbath look different than the rest of the week at your house. These are consistent with what the Old Testament teaches but are not expressly stated in Scripture. Please see Fifteen Things Scripture Says About the Sabbath for more on this.

1. Put the rest of your life on hold. Because, yes, Shabbat starts with a clear calendar. As the-set apart day, YHWH intended the Sabbath to be different from the rest of your week. A big part of that is not penciling in commitments or treating Shabbat as an 'overflow' or catchall day. In addition to not working professionally, don't be shy about saying to your friends that you can't make Saturday morning brunch (tell them you're free Sunday though!), or a bridal shower (you can always send a gift). There's nothing wrong with letting your child play tee-ball during the week and then having them skip Saturday practice. Your inbox can wait a day for you to get back to it.

Side note: I get that this is not exactly convenient. Sometimes it's really hard. For me, honoring Shabbat has meant missing birthday parties and bridal showers. It's meant not getting hired for jobs I've wanted because of my limited availability. It means skipping the Saturday morning farmers market and missing events that are scheduled on YHWH's set apart day. Friends and family not understanding is part of keeping the commandments, and sadly that can lead to hurt feelings. I don't wish those things on anyone but I can tell you that YHWH commands we honor him above our family and friends, even when that doesn't make sense to us.

2. Disconnect. Consider putting away electronics at the start of Shabbat or at least become more intentional with how you utilize them. Somehow when YHWH commanded us to rest I don't think he intended a day of Candy Crush gaming and Facebook posting. Keeping the television off and staying away from social media are good ways to separate the seventh day from the regular days. While I keep my phone on for calls, I've learned the hard way that getting an email about a problem at work or something to do does not make for a peaceful day, especially since these things are out of my control anyway on Shabbat. So, on Friday evenings my email gets switched off and I make it a point to avoid social media. This has been very positive for me. In addition to the ovious benefits of being more 'present' without the distraction, many studies suggest a digital day off is very beneficial to our physical and mental health.

3. Give a blessing. Judaism has a tradition of fathers speaking blessings over each family member as they sit down for a Sabbath meal. It is a combination of speaking life over your family and praying for them. While doing this as a Shabbat activity isn't a commandment, there is no better opportunity to take a few minutes to express to your loved ones how much you value them nd to remind them of their identity and worth in the Messiah. Even if you are by yourself, speak words from Scripture over your person, your family, congregation, work place, and concerns on your mind.

4. Spend some time sitting down and relaxed! It seems like outdoor activities are a big favorite for many of us on Shabbat and I agree that time outside in good weather is fabulous. Lots of studies show that fresh air is a great way to lift your mood and lessen anxiety, so I am definitely on board with that idea. But I'm also going to tell you - put your feet up. If it's nice enough to relax outside, fantastic! But Shabbat doesn't have to be all nature walks and dinner hosting. Make it a point to sit or lie down just to relax and unwind. Watch your kids play. Take a nap. Read Scripture. Pray or spend time journaling, and just take it easy.

If you are overworked or new to Shabbat keeping this might feel really strange at first. It's way too easy to get distracted by what we "should be doing," and not be able to enjoy ourselves. Something that helps me with this is just jotting down any to-do list items that come to mind. That way I know I will remember them later and my mind is free from that occupation. Figure out what works for you. Listening to music, diffusing essential oil, getting fresh air, or a cup of tea can all help to calm us.

5. Connect with like minded believers to hear the Word. In Acts 13:44 it says that almost the entire city gathered to hear the word of YHWH that Paul and Barnabas were teaching on the Sabbath. I love imagining the excitement and anticipation these people must have had for hearing the truth. I mean, is there a crowd in the world you wouldn't brave to hear Apostle Paul teach on Yahusha and the Old Testament? There is a valuable spark that happens when we are able to hear the word of YHWH with others.

Hopefully you have a congregation you are able to attend that teaches truth. This article has some ideas for connecting with others who share the faith. If you don't have a congregation there's no reason you can't sit down with your family and friends to read from Scripture together. If you have friends with similar beliefs and lifestyles that are too far away to see on Shabbat, checking in with them via a phone call or text is better than nothing.

More on keeping the Sabbath:

How to Stop Working on Shabbat
Reasons Why Believers Should Keep the Sabbath

Five Ways to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath