Sermon preached by Robert Twycross on 26th August 2007

Today’s Readings remind us that keeping the Sabbath is one of the hallmarks of Judaism. The Hebrew word Shabbat is typically translated as ‘rest’ or a ‘period of rest’, but a more literal translation is ‘ceasing’, with the implication of ceasing from routine work.

In the Jewish Bible [our Old Testament], the Sabbath is said to serve three purposes:

  1. In Exodus, it’s described as a commemoration of God’s creation of the universe (Exodus 20.8–11)

  2. In Deuteronomy, it’s described as a commemoration of the freeing of the Israelites [the Jews] from slavery in Ancient Egypt (Deut 5.12–15)

  3. In the Prophets, it’s often portrayed as a foretaste of the world as it will be in the time of the Messiah.

click link for full text ………………………. SabbathRest