Happy Are Those Who Set Apart the Sabbath Day

Did you know that the Bible tells us one of the keys to happiness? I absolutely love this promise:

"Happy are those who set apart the Sabbath day." -Isaiah 56:2

First and foremost I keep the Sabbath simply because the Bible tells us to and I want to honor the Creator by doing my best to be obedient to that instruction. But I certainly cannot miss that Sabbath keeping has brought a slew of blessings to my life in the form of joy, peace, and rest.

It makes me happy that there is a day each and every week where I'm not striving or working to get ahead. Having not just permission, but specific instruction, to rest instead of head into work, or try to get a few things 'done'. It is a joy that YHWH instructed me to read or take a nap or focus on worshipping him instead of unload the dishwasher or do the laundry. In busy seasons, it gives me peace to know that I and my husband will have time together each Sabbath. It's peaceful to know that a day of restoration is never more than six days away.

Is my life perfect now that I am a Sabbath keeper? It is not, and it's important to note here that this verse doesn't say that we won't have any problems if we honor the Sabbath day. It doesn't say that we won't have worries or things to be upset about. But by resting on the Sabbath we are building up ourselves to be "content in all circumstances," (Philippians 4:12) and that means that we can have peace and joy, even when circumstances aren't to our liking. As we exercise our faith by putting the commandment of keeping the Sabbath day set apart into practice, we grow in the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, etc. If you want more of those blessings from the Creator in your life, then it's time to call his Sabbath a delight and set it apart.

More on the Sabbath:

Fifteen Things Scripture Says About the Sabbath
Things I Love About the Sabbath
What the Messiah Taught About the Sabbath

Sabbath in the New Testament

If you've ever wondered about the Sabbath day in the New Testament this post is for you. Many people have told me that if the Sabbath was truly important for us it would have been mentioned by the Messiah or in the New Testament. The thing is though that the day of rest actually gets brought up a lot in the New Testament. More times than in the Torah! And with the New Testament only making up about a third of the whole of Scripture, the Sabbath appears in higher proportions than in the entire Old Testament.

Honoring the Sabbath day is such a foundational part of the lifestyle that Scripture teaches it often goes without saying. Sort of like how I've never seen the days of the week listed in order in a newspaper or magazine. This information is so obvious in our world that it's unspoken. The New York Times does not need to tell readers that Monday is after Sunday and that it's the most dreaded day of the week, but a time traveler from another era wouldn't realize what a "case of the Mondays" means. Knowledge that's ubiquitous in one culture is often lost on another.

If honoring the Sabbath is not part of your culture, then the implied presence of it is easy to miss. I think one of the reasons Peter, John, and Paul don't talk about observing the Sabbath more expressly is that it never crossed their minds that those who follow the Messiah would scratch off one of the ten commandments. 

And speaking of those ten commandments, do you realize the Messiah spent comparatively little time on the other nine? Sabbath keeping comes up far more often in the New Testament than things like not killing or having no gods in your life besides YHWH. Do we think YHWH has "freed" us from the restriction to not murder or that we can go ahead and lie and steal? Of course not! Even without saying much on the subject we know that the Messiah still wants us to honor these commandments. Hopefully seeing how much the Sabbath comes up throughout Scripture will help us to see how valuable it is to the Living Word.

Let's take a look at where Sabbath appears in the New Testament:

Hebrews 4:9 - There remains a Sabbath for the people of YHWH.

Did you hear that? This book was written many years after Yahusha ascended into Heaven and the writer of Hebrews still believed that the Sabbath was applicable to our lives.


Luke 6:5 - The Son of Man is Master of the Sabbath.

Why would the Messiah give himself this title if he wanted us to ignore this commandment? Does that make any kind of sense? He also described himself as the Good Shepherd - do we say he is out of the shepherding game? Do we think he used to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life for other people but not for us? Scripture tells us that not only did Yahusha keep the Sabbath but also that he has taken ownership of the idea of it. The commandment that his people make the seventh day a set apart one belongs to him.


Matthew 12:12 - It is permitted in Torah to do good deeds on the Sabbath.

You know how Yahusha was accused of violating the Sabbath day? Those accusations were false. Here he explains that the Torah actually permits healing on the Sabbath. This is not him bending the rules or blowing off part of Scripture. This is the Living Word explaining correct understanding of YHWH's commandments regarding the Sabbath. If his intent was to do away with one of the commandments in a year or two after his death he would not have spent so much time working to correct our understanding of it.


Acts 13:14 - They came to Antioch in Pisidia and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath.

I used to work for a Christian ministry that is very passionate about the book of Acts being a life manual for today's Believers. The ministry believes healings and miracles were not just limited to the early church, but what YHWH desires for his people today. I totally agree with this but I would also take things a step further: look at the other parts of the lives of the people in this book. These miracles happened through Sabbath keepers. Let's view this as a manual and live the way they did.


Luke 23:56 - They went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Here is an example of the Messiah's followers observing the Sabbath after his death. Many say there is too much pressing work that needs to be done to take a day of rest, but Yahusha's followers didn't violate the Sabbath, even for his sake. I imagine if these women had ever heard the Messiah teach that Sabbath keeping was not important they would have made an exception at such a significant time. But they didn't. The spices were an important part of burial tradition and it was clear they wanted to do this as soon as possible since they went "very early" in the morning after the Sabbath to anoint his body. 


Colossians 2:16-17 - Let no one judge you in connection with the Sabbath...except the Israelite body of the Messiah.

YHWH knew that many people would not understand our desire to honor his Sabbath, which is why he warned us not to let their opinion sway us. This also tells us that it's not optional. We are not free from judgment regarding the Sabbath (and also foods and feast days) so we can just do whatever we want. This verse tells us that judgment is passed by the body of the Messiah. As the bride, the body's beliefs on the Sabbath should be unified with the Messiah's.


1 Corinthians 16:2 - After one of the Sabbaths let everyone one of you lay aside and store up what YHWH has blessed him with.

The Sabbath day is still treated like a normal part of life here because it was. The Messiah never wanted his followers to give up a commandment of YHWH and early on his followers were aware of that.


Matthew 24:20 - Pray that you will not have to escape in winter or on the Sabbath.

Yahusha is talking here about a time that 2,000 years later has not yet happened. The escape in question is after the abomination of desolation occurs in the Temple. Why does he use this anecdote about praying that you won't have to flee on the Sabbath? It's obvious he expects his people to be aware of and desire to honor the Sabbath day.


Acts 17:2 - As was his custom, Paul went into a synagogue on the Sabbath and reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

Why does Paul have a habit of teaching from Scripture on the Sabbath? Because that is an activity that is approved of on the Sabbath day. We do not see him working in his profession as a tent maker, traveling, or shopping on the set apart day. One of the greatest Scripture teachers of all time knew not to violate the Sabbath and we have no record that he ever did. The book of Acts frequently talks about what Paul was up to on the Sabbath, and his actions are always keeping with the commandment to set the day apart.


Acts 15:21 - For Moses from old times has in every city those that proclaim his teachings, with his Torah being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

Here instructions are given on how to handle people coming into the faith that have no foundation of the commandments about set apart living. A few basic pointers are given to them (stay away from idols, sexual sin, and blood), and then Scripture tells us to get these people to start observing the Sabbath. On the Sabbath day, get to somewhere that is teaching YHWH's instructions so that you can learn how to live.


Revelation 12:17 - The dragon went to make war with the remnant of the woman's children, the ones that keep the commandments of YHWH, and have the testimony of Yahusha the Messiah.

The commandments and the Messiah. YHWH wants us to have both.

There are something like 58 express mentions of the Sabbath in the New Testament, so this is by no means a conclusive list. Did you ever realize what a popular word this was in Scripture?

More on the Sabbath: 
Fifteen Things Scripture Says About the Sabbath
Six Reasons Why Believers Should Keep the Sabbath
Five Things the Messiah Taught About the Sabbath

Fifteen Things Scripture Says about the Sabbath

Keeping the Sabbath is one of the ten commandments. Do you know about this special day? What is the Sabbath? When is it? What does it look like to honor this day? Scripture has a lot to tell us.

What Scripture Says About the Sabbath:

1. It is for all believers even today.
"The people of Israel are to keep the Sabbath, to observe it throughout all their generations as a perpetual covenant." -Exodus 31:16

The Messiah did not take away this command. The New Testament tells us that believers' duty to keep the Sabbath remains (see Hebrews 4:9). Think you're not Israel? Reminder that YHWH calls all of his children Israel. But even if you don't have Israelite blood....

2. He expects you to keep it, even if you aren't a natural born Israelite.
"And the sons of foreigners that join themselves to YHWH, to serve him, to love his name, should guard the Sabbath from polluting it. They will take hold of my covenant; and I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them full of joy in my house of prayer." -Isaiah 56:6-7

This passage makes it doubly clear that the Creator expects every single person that serves him to honor the Sabbath, regardless of your family traditions or bloodline.

3. It is the seventh day of the week.
"On six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is to be a set apart day for you, a Sabbath of complete rest to honor YHWH." -Exodus 35:2

The example for this was set by the Creator himself in Genesis 2:2 when he rested from creation on the seventh day. Like it or not, Sunday is the first day of the week and does not replace the commandment to observe the Sabbath on the seventh.

4. We aren't supposed to work on it.
"The seventh day is a Sabbath for YHWH. On it, you are not to do any kind of work." -Exodus 20:10a

Honoring the Sabbath means making sure I have the day off from my job. Professional work is prohibitied, but of course this command was given to a group of freshly freed slaves wandering the desert. The Israelites had no professional work to do, and were still commanded not to work on the Sabbath day. Clearly "work" means more than just what we get paid to do.

5. It is a day of rest.
"On six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is to be a set apart day for you, a Sabbath of complete rest to honor YHWH." -Exodus 35:2

Resting is a more helpful way to describe the itinerary for the set apart day. No one is going to pay me to rake the leaves, change the oil in the car, clean my house, or check my email, but are those things restful? Then don't do them on the Sabbath!

6. We should worship YHWH on it.
"The people of the land shall worship before YHWH on the Sabbath." -Ezekiel 46:3

Physical rest is one aspect of the Sabbath day; emotional and spiritual rest are another. Worshipping YHWH brings us peace and refreshment. It is restorative and healing. Don't we all need more of those things? This verse also tells us once again, that Sabbath is for all of us.

7. We should not cause anyone to violate the Sabbath.
"On it you are not to do any kind of work - not you, your son or daughter, not your servants, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you." -Exodus 20:10

While most of us don't have traditional servants, we still pay people to work for us. We should avoid having the electrician over to fix something or having a barista whip up a latte for us on the Sabbath. If visiting a place of business causes someone else to work we might want to reconsider and save that trip for another day of the week.

8. We should not buy or sell anything on it.
"If the people of the land bring merchandise or food to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day." -Nehemiah 10:31

This expressly prohibits buying and selling on the Sabbath. This is implied throughout Scripture since everyone is supposed to be resting, and in order for things to be for sale someone has to work. Later on in Nehemiah 13:17, Nehemiah discovers food being sold and angrily calls it profaning the Sabbath. This means going out for lunch or swinging by the Saturday morning farmers market does not fit in with following the commandments of Scripture.

9. It's not a day for pursuing our own interests.
"If you hold back your foot on the Sabbath from pursuing your own interests on the holy day of YHWH; if you call the Sabbath a delight that's worth honoring then you hnor YHWH by not doing your usual things or pursuing your own interests." -Isaiah 58:13

Sabbath is for us to grow closer to YHWH, not to spend browsing the internet, getting things done, working on hobbies, or otherwise pursuing my career or self image. Sabbath is intended for rest, worship, studying Scripture, prayer, and spending time with family.

10. We shouldn't cook on it.
"Tomorrow is the day of rest, the set apart Sabbath to YHWH; bake what you'd like today, and store your leftovers for tomorrow." -Exodus 16:23

Having food made ahead of time gives us the opportunity for more rest on the Sabbath. This can be challenging but it is worth it to be able to fully honor his instructions. Random leftovers or peanut butter sandwiches are great!

11. We shouldn't start a fire on the Sabbath.
"You are not to kindle a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath." -Exodus 35:3

This verse is referring to an actual fire and not to electricity. Starting a fire is a lot of work and something we should avoid on the Sabbath. If you'll need a fire going to heat your home, prepare for that by getting it going ahead of time and having the wood split before the Sabbath.

12. It is not a day for hauling stuff around.
"Don't carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath." -Jeremiah 17:22

Historically this has to do with moving things out of your home for sale, but it is also a reminder that we shouldn't burden ourselves on the Sabbath. It's not a day for getting all the things accomplished (even if they aren't technically work). If you find yourself overloading the car before heading to congregation, stop and evaluate if you can downsize, what you can do ahead of time, or what simply can wait.

13. The Creator is angry when his people don't keep the Sabbath.
"But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not live by my laws, they rejected my rulings - which if a person does he will have life through them. They have greatly profaned my Sabbath. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness." -Ezekiel 20:13

There are something like fifty verses in Scripture where YHWH rails against his people for not honoring the Sabbath day. Let this serve as a warning for us. The Creator is serious about Sabbath rest.

14. It is a sign between us and YHWH.
"You are to observe my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you through all your generations, so that you will know I am YHWH, who sets you apart for me." -Exodus 31:13

A sign serves as a reminder for all who see it. So if you keep the Sabbath you are sharing truth with your family, friends, coworkers, and community. Additionally this verse tells us that there is something about the Sabbath that communicates who YHWH is to us. That's amazing!

15. Keeping it is a delight.
"Happy is the person who does this, who keeps the Sabbath." -Isaiah 56:2

In a world with skyrocketing rates of depression and anxiety, don't we want all the joy in our lives that we can get? Scripture tells us that keeping the Sabbath causes joy in us.

More on the Sabbath:
Six Reasons Believers Should Keep the Sabbath
Why I Started Keeping the Sabbath
There Remains a Sabbath Rest
Five Things the Messiah Taught About the Sabbath

Six Reasons Why Believers Should Keep the Sabbath

Keeping the Sabbath day is the only one of the ten commandments that is widely ignored by believers today. But the Bible says we should be resting on the seventh day and using that as an opportunity to worship God. This instruction hasn't been done away with; we will see that New Testament believers continued on with honoring the Sabbath, even after the Messiah's death and ascension into heaven. Let's look at a few more reasons why all believers are still called to keep the Sabbath.

Reasons believers should keep the Sabbath:

1. Scripture tells us to. We could stop the list right here and call it good, because if our Creator tells us to do something then we should, plain and simple. Honoring the Sabbath day is one of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:10), as I'm sure you've heard before these are commandments, not suggestions or principles. We are accountable for our decisions, and there are consequences to choosing to honor or ignore something that Scripture says.

2. YHWH himself rested on the Sabbath. One of the first things that Scripture tells us in Genesis 2, is that YHWH rested on the seventh day. It wasn't because he didn't have anything left to do, and it wasn't because he physically needed rest. I think there is a significance here that we miss, when the Creator literally set the example for us. Genesis 2:3 says that YHWH blessed the seventh day and set it apart because that's when he rested from his work. If he did it, we should too.

3. The Messiah kept the Sabbath. The authors of the Gospels made it plain that Yahusha honored and rested on the Sabbath day. And he always spoke of it highly! Are we followers of him and his ways? 1 John 2:6 says that if we are then we should live as he did! Observing Shabbat is a practical way to do that, no matter where or when we live. We should work to follow the Messiah's example.

4. New Testament believers kept the Sabbath after the resurrection and ascension of Messiah. Those that spoke with and walked with the Messiah continued to honor this commandment, even after he ascended from the earth. These were people that were obedient to the Messiah even unto torture and death, if he had told them to stop resting on the Sabbath then I'm sure they would have. But they kept on following his example in this manner, and not one of them ever suggested they wanted that to change or that we should do things differently.

5. Because you're busy. I know many of you are thinking that you're way too busy to set aside 1/7 of the week for rest and worship. Hear this though: you're too busy, not to do this! Life will always be pulling at you from a million different directions; it's time to take a stand against that. I think every Sabbath keeper I know would agree with me when I say that I accomplish a lot more now that I keep the Sabbath. Resting one day of the week helps me to have more energy and use my time better. If I'm not willing to keep this instruction from Scripture, that holds me back from living the abundant life that he has for me...because I'm too exhausted and overwhelmed from not letting myself rest to enjoy his fullness.

6. Your soul needs this. Do you want more peace in your life? Do you find yourself aching in need of refreshment? Are you weary and burdened? Is joy hard to find? Are you struggling with your faith or with not feeling close in your relationship with the Messiah? Do you feel like there has to be more to life? Sabbath rest helps with all of that an so much more. It's time to stop believing the lie that Sabbath keeping is too hard or not for us or a burden. It is none of those things. I'm closing in on a decade of Sabbath observance and it is joy, freedom, refreshment, and peace. You owe it to yourself and your family to walk in this gift from our Creator.

Want to learn more about the Sabbath?
Here are fifteen things Scripture says about it.
This is what the Messiah taught about Shabbat.
And why I started keeping Shabbat.

Four Wintertime Sabbath Ideas

How do you like to spend the Sabbath day during the Winter months? Do you embrace the seasonality of this time of year? I really enjoy the different, slower pace that the cold brings. There is nothing like snow and ice to make for a cozy day of rest, snug inside the house. Here are a few habits that I have been enjoying through the wintertime. Any or all of these would be a lovely touch to the next Sabbath!

Four Habits for Wintertime Sabbaths:

1. Soup! Lately I've been making up a big pot of soup on Fridays. It's easy to do, doesn't need to be watched too closely, is frugal to make, and creates such a cozy environment. There's nothing like walking into a house when the soups on - especially if that means dinner is waiting in the crock pot after a busy day. And eating soup calls for a certain amount of slowness, it's a nice way to settle yourself and your family down to the pace of the Sabbath. Making a big pot doesn't take a whole lot more effort than a smaller batch and is a great way to ensure leftovers for Shabbat lunch. Just reheat and serve. Need a recipe? Here are some of my favorite soups!

2. Going to bed earlier. When the daylight turns into darkness much earlier it seems natural to climb into bed sooner rather than later. Do you ever feel like it's really late, only to discover that it's 8:00pm? That might be your body trying to get you to get more sleep. With our circadian rhythm it is natural to rest more in the wintertime. I know with children, or depending on when your congregation starts, sleeping in is not an option for everyone. Try going to bed half an hour to an hour before you usually do to get more rest. Even if you don't fall asleep right away, climbing into bed earlier just to wind down, or to do some reading, can help you to rest better when you do doze off.

3. Blankets. It might be cold outside but you don't need to freeze in misery all day long. Wrap yourself up in a thick blanket while you study, watch a movie, read, or talk with family and friends. It is far more comforting and cozy to get out the blankets and thick socks than it is to crank up the heat. Plus, having blankets out signals to your body that it's time to relax. Getting outside for a bit can make you appreciate the contrast in temperatures all the more. Then get cozy!

4. Tea. Tea is perfect for the Sabbath. Do you want to extend a meal with family? Or offer something hot during fellowship time at congregation? Do you want to host a friend without it being a lot of work? Just switch on the kettle, and add hot water to a tea bag and steep for a few minutes. Having a few different selections means that anyone can find something they enjoy. Tea is the perfect way to show hospitality. With or without company, it's lovely to warm up with a steaming mug of tea on the Sabbath.

More on the Sabbath:
Sabbath in the New Testament
Tips for Resting on the Sabbath
Sabbath Prep and the Idol of Cleanliness

Diligently Guarding the Commandments

Let's talk about diligence today...recently I read one of the worst books I have ever read. It was tremendously awful.

The story was about a Christian couple who decides to implement the Sabbath day into their lives, but not once do they mention turning to Scripture see what it says about the Sabbath or how it should be honored. They had a rough idea about this but really fell short when it came to diligence.

They spent a lot of time on articles, read books (from other religions) on the Sabbath, and conduct Facebook polls but they don't turn to the Word! Because they don't turn to truth they are left with a confused muddle of an idea on how to honor Shabbat. They shuffle around days they observe it, or skip it altogether, according to what fits best in their schedules. Their Sabbath day activities range from work meetings to family time at home to grocery shopping to going to carnivals. Sometimes they have work to do or do yard work. They schedule other commitments on the Sabbath, and then just "start later." It wasn't surprising that they weren't overjoyed with the production and at the end of the book they weren't sure if they would continue to honor the Sabbath.

Honoring the Sabbath day is a key ingredient to having more peace and joy, and of course to pleasing the Creator. This couple had that ingredient, so what went wrong? It was when they stopped at the idea of the Sabbath day, and brushed aside the details. They had a rough idea of the importance of a day of rest, but the instructions were not guarded.

"Diligently guard the commandments of Torah." -Joshua 22:5

What does diligence mean to you? Is it paying attention to seemingly insignificant details? Is it being consistent? Is it putting time and energy into this effort? Is it showing great care for this task of guarding the commandments? 

Having diligence can make or break a task...if you were following a recipe would it be a good idea to be diligent about it or would you just haphazardly do what you want and hope things come out correctly? Would you say salt and sugar look enough alike that you can sub one for the other? You could have a perfect cookie dough mixed up, but if you aren't diligent about checking the recipe for how long to bake them you could end up with burnt cookies and be very disappointed that this isn't the product the creator of the recipe promised. So often in recipe reviews you will see someone announce that they made some major changes in the recipe and that it turned out awful. If that's the case, the blame is on the one making the changes, not the one who made it.

We aren't just instructed to guard, but to guard diligently. Diligence with a recipe means you would do what it says. It would be totally unreasonable to expect a recipe to turn out like it's supposed to if you don't crack the eggs or turn on the stove. Same thing with Scripture's instructions, if we want the blessings that come with Sabbath then we need to do that how we are instructed. Be diligent with the details.

Things I Love About the Sabbath

When I share with someone that I keep the Sabbath (honor YHWH's set apart day by resting on the seventh day of the week), they usually feel sorry for me. It's crazy, but many people treat the day of rest like it is some sort of huge burden. If you might be feeling that way yourself, let me tell you: it is anything but a burden. You know when you're feeling overloaded and say, "I need a vacation!" or wonder when you're next day off is? For me, that is never more than six days away. Isaiah 58:13 calls the Sabbath a delight, and once you've made it your lifestyle, it is so easy to do that. While there are many difficulties and heavy loads to carry in life, having a day to rest is not one of them.

A few things I love about the Sabbath:

1. It's a break. One of my favorite things about the Sabbath is always having an upcoming break from it all. No matter how busy things are with work, family commitments, seeing friends, home improvement projects, and whatever else I'm juggling I get to look forward to taking a step back to refresh. Before I started honoring Shabbat my calendar would often become overfilled and it would be overwhelming not to have a day off in site. No worries about that now as there is time to rest each week. That is such a gift to look forward to during busy times.

2. There's time to spend in the Word. Of course I make it a point to spend time reading Scripture, listening to teaching, and praying throughout the week but sometimes that's not as much as I would like. Honoring the Sabbath means no matter what the rest of the week was like, I have a set time for spiritual refreshment. And studying on Shabbat is so nice because you don't have that rush to finish your reading on your lunch break or in the carpool line.

3. Getting to see family. Even if my husband and I are both very busy we know for sure we will get to spend time together come the Sabbath day. We have also made a tradition of lunch with my parents and grandparents, and extended family on Shabbat so we are always able to have quality time as a family and to catch up during seasons that would otherwise be too busy.

4. No money is spent. While some might view not shopping on the Sabbath as an inconvenience, our bank account appreciates having a no-spend day each week. Honoring the Sabbath means we don't go out for a meal or go shopping or make an online purchase or buy coffee. That's a financial difference that adds up. Before you say that the same amount of money gets spent on the other days of the week let me give an example of the financial savings of the Sabbath. It's not unusual for us to think of something on Friday or Shabbat that we need or would like to have, but since we aren't able to purchase it right away we often find that the desire for that item fades or an opportunity to borrow what's needed or otherwise get it for less presents itself. Patience can save you a lot!

5. The stability of this compounds. Maybe the perks of financial savings or taking a break from it all don't sound life changing, but being able to look forward to the Sabbath each week compounds in an amazing way! The first time I observed the Sabbath I didn't feel much different, but now I can see what a huge impact this has had on my life. I am less stressed, and much less easily overwhelmed. Managing my life around keeping this commandment has brought incredible peace and contentment to my life.

There are many more benefits and joys that come with Sabbath keeping. If this is a new idea to you, which one of these things could you use the most in your life right now? If you keep Shabbat, what is your favorite part?

Want to learn more about the Sabbath? Here are fifteen things Scripture says about it and five things the Messiah taught the Sabbath.

There Remains a Sabbath Rest

"So there remains a Sabbath keeping for the people of YHWH." -Hebrews 4:9 BYNV

This passage in Hebrews, written several decades after the ascension of the Messiah, has a simple reminder for us: Sabbath remains. Many translations of Scripture even say, "there remains a Sabbath keeping duty for the people of YHWH." This is something he expects us to do, honor the fourth commandment. Many people teach that if you believe in the Messiah you don't need to do this, but Scripture says otherwise. And it says otherwise, in this passage specifically, around 30 years after Yahusha left this world.

This shouldn't be viewed as a burden, but rest that is needed for the hard work of living and creating and making and doing. Earlier in the passage we are reminded that YHWH himself rested on the seventh day from all his works (Hebrews 4:4). This verse is permission to rest and breathe and relax; actually it is a commandment given to us by YHWH himself.

Sabbath keeping is for you, today. 

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?