The Seventh Day Sabbath Part 5: No Working

When it comes to the seventh day sabbath, there are many ordinances; laws and rules that we must follow. But let us learn these laws with patience, so we may fall into compliance with what is pleasing unto The Most High God and not be led away with our own understanding.

Exodus 35:1 KJVS

And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.

One of the first things we must understand is that these are the words of The Most High God. Not what man is saying. Man is just a messenger or enforcer of the laws. But not the creator of the laws. So one must take heed to how they apply lest you offend The Most High God. As his expectation is that you learn and apply these things in your life.

Exodus 20:8

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

You know this is important when the first thing God needs us to understand is to remember the sabbath day. Which means he already knew we were what? Prone to forget! Set a timer, set an alarm, put a sticky note down because God ain’t playing around.

Exodus 20:9 KJVS

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

The most high God gave us six days to do everything we need to do for ourselves and get ready to prioritize him. Ain’t that beautiful? Think about it. As the creator of the universe he could have asked for the opposite. Naw, you get one day and I get six. Or let some people tell it, “Every day is a holy day.” Every day could have been a sabbath. God has the power to do so. But how he set things up shows you how he is trying to be fair and just. Just give me one.

Exodus 20:10 KJVS

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

The Most High God knew what he was doing when he set this up. AIn’t no wiggle room, ain’t no escape. We are not permitted to do ANY work. But not only us, that goes for our kids as well. Why? Because our people are slick. He has to break it down this way. If he said “in it a man shall not work” we would take that literally. “See, he said no MAN. A woman can work. Get the bag sis!” Nope, as Moses was addressing the whole congregation this included men and women. And the context does not single out a specific gender or stated in a way where one could wisely assume it only applies to one gender.

As you can see, it list your son next. Because we be quick to say, “naw that’s what I gotta do, I need you to do this. Let my son get out there and pull them weeds up, do that yard work, move this furniture around for me. Wash them cars. As long as I ain’t working I’m good. You need some chores, you need to wake up early and stop sleeping in like you got a job. Im gone give you a job today” Nope! He gotta rest. Same with your daughters. “Look at her, she sitting up pretty. Girl if you don’t get up and do these dishes. After that you can do this laundry, and don’t forget to mop this floor good.” Nope! But then we try to find new ways. “I got a servant or hand made to help me out let them do it.” Nope! Or even, “shoot, he said this apply to US let me gone ahead and hire somebody ELSE to knock this out today so that way it already be finished by tomorrow.” Nope! Damn, I can’t just get one of the other nations to do it? Nope! This passage covers all angles our people like to think of to finagle something and find loopholes. So that the only loopholes you will find are ones that put you in sin.

Exodus 20:11 KJVS

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Look, God said he worked six days and rested on the seventh so he expects you to follow his example. He didn’t have to do that he made that executive decision. And it is also built in to enjoy the fruits of your labor and not grinding so much chasing the bag that you begin to grind away. You need rest. This ain’t a punishment it’s a blessing.

Exodus 20:10 KJVS

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

We are informed that we cannot do ANY work. But let us examine work using the Strong’s Concordance:

Strong's Number

H4399

Original Word

מלאכה

Transliterated Word

melâ'kâh

Phonetic Spelling

mel-aw-kaw'

Parts of Speech

Noun Feminine

Strong's Definition

From the same as H4397; properly {deputyship} that {is} ministry; generally employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor): - {business} + {cattle} + {industrious} {occupation} (+ {-pied}) + {officer} thing ({made}) {use} (manner of) work ({[-man]} -manship).

Dictionary.com

WORK

Noun

• physical or mental effort directed towards doing or making something

  
  

• paid employment at a job or a trade, occupation, or profession

• 
  

  the place, office, etc, where a person is employed

  
  

From the Strong’s Concordance we get many words that are associated with work. Deputyship, which is stewardship; hence supervision. I am a supervisor on my job. I don’t do some of the labor that those under my command do but I am still working. Nope, not on the sabbath. Ministry, why? Ministry is to be a minister; hence a servant. I serve through a means of general employment or work. So no I cannot work any job I am generally employed to do by a company or corporation. Then it has work, both abstractly and concretely. That’s what many of our people need to hear. Because what does that mean? It means need you be doing labor that may range from me building a shed in my back yard, to trying to “babysit” someone’s kids on the sabbath. Nope! Ain’t no loophole. Need that be in a personal manner or in a professional manner through our means of employment or income. On the Sabbath day we rest.

“Well, I can workout on the sabbath right? It’s what I do for fun and it’s relaxing for me.” Nope! Key word WORKout. Literally the opposite of rest. We could stop right there. There is work involved; physical labor. And anyone who understands how muscular strength or cardiovascular endurance is increased would understand it is a no. You have to physically exert your body! Push it to or rather past its previous limit. Heart racing, blood pumping at high levels intentionally causing ones body to work hard to better adapt to more stress and more loads. Tearing muscles on a small level, even a microscopic one so they may grow back stronger; hence the term “getting ripped”. Well can I go for a walk on the sabbath? Yes! But I normally go for walks during the week so can I…Hold up let me stop you there, I already know where this is going and the answer is no. As your intentions is to find a loophole to try to workout. But what if my kids are playing on the sabbath running around? Key word is playing. But what if they play basketball? Sure not a problem. If they play for a team? No, that is a problem. Why? Because now the intent is different this is training. Not just playing.

We be trying to find loopholes to get out of stuff. “Well, if I am checking my work emails that isn’t a sin it’s just emails right?” You already condemned yourself, key word, WORK emails. They are emails that pertain to your job. This is why it said “work (abstractly or concretely)” or to put another way, literally and figuratively. To cover all these seemingly grey areas until you read the fine print. That’s why he put business and occupation. Because our people try to find things that are not physically laboring but it requires mental work. Or better yet, even things that can be considered hobbies. Can I pant on the sabbath? Yes. But I am an artist as my occupation or side hustle so can I still do it? No! Why not? You answered your own question it is your JOB to paint, color or draw! But I do it for fun too! Okay, here we go again, play around if you want to. Hey, even look at occupation. The root is occupy. What are you occupying your time doing? Because it’s highly likely you not gonna be able to do that on the sabbath.

Psalm 44:21 KJV

Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

God is dissecting your mind and spirit. He knows what time you are on. And if you are playing games. He knows the things no one else knows; the secrets and hidden things of your mind. God has access to that. Your thoughts are open to him.

Job 21:27 KJV

Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

God knows what you are thinking as you are thinking it. He KNOWS! He knows you better than you know yourself! He knows your past, present and future. You cannot fool him.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

He set up the scriptures in a way that he already knows what direction we be heading in. You just have to take the time to search it out. Don’t act like you ain’t read that part.

1 Samuel 2:3 KJV

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

God is going to judge you by how you decide to move and weigh your actions in the balance with righteousness and wickedness.

Job 21:29-30 KJVS

Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, [30] That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

Have you not asked someone who is learned to show you or reveal the truth of the matter? God knows how to RESERVE you to the day of destruction. Meaning you got a SPOT. He ain’t miss you. You on his list.

Job 10:14 KJV

If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

If you sin, he will mark you and identify you. You are labeled.

Exodus 35:2

2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

As you can see, God ain’t playing with his sabbath day. It IS a sin, not was a sin. It still IS a sin that CAN be punishable by death. But you know our people, “I have been doing it this long, I’m still here.” You do err not knowing the scriptures or the power of God.

Sirach 5:4-7 KJVA

4 Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go. 5 Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin: 6 And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners. 7 Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.

You can “mess” around and find out If you want to (substitute mess for you know what). But I ain’t got time to be waiting for some type of judgement to hit me when I think I’m good. That could possibly cost me (or my loved ones) my life in this flesh or the life to come next. It is not worth it. You taking an eternal penitentiary chance over a chore you can do the next day? Or a job that pays an extra $3-$5 an hour? Really? Over eternal life that could come any day now? You really wanna be caught playing games? Over there stressing about retirement when you not gonna live long enough to see it let alone enjoy it. God know how to get you late and make it hurt. Hey, you mess around and get fired a few years too early. You gone be a couple fries short of a happy meal. Don’t play with the one that is in full control.

Sirach 7:1 KJVA

Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.

Better to play it safe and fight for righteousness. Plat with your tv, wallet, game systems, shoes, jewelry, but whatever you do, don’t play with The Most High.

1 Peter 3:17 KJV

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Yeah it sucks sometimes. If you lost that job over righteousness or had to turn down a job opportunity for righteousness, that’s okay! He will get you another one! Sometimes that stuff don’t even be for you. God got something better just wait for it.

Sirach 4:26 KJVA

Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river.

Don’t try to force opportunities. Let God create them and send them your way. Satan will try to get you to trim your ways. You will get hit with different scenarios. All of which are to test and try your faith. Even to reveal you unto yourself. So you know where you stand.