The Coolidge examiner., 1938-10-20

| Rest-how full of meaning that
little word is when we recall that
it means quiet for the struggling
one, calm for the troubled, repose
for the weary, tranquility for the
disturbed, cessation of labor for the
worn-out one. God in His infinite
wisdom saw that without rest man
would soon destroy himself, and He
made provision for one day in seven
when labor should cease and man
should be free for that recreation
of soul and body which should fit
him for the labor of the week. Men
in their greed have coveted the time
God gave for rest and have used it
for themselves, and the ragged
nerves and broken bodies, to say
nothing of the impoverished spirits
of our day, testify that it can be
done only at our peril.
Our study centers around Scrip
ture passages which have to do with
the Jewish Sabbath, but since it was
essentially a day of rest, and afford
ed an opportunity for the worship
of God, the principles surrounding it
are applicable to our day of rest
the first day of the week, the Lords S
Day.
I. Why We Keep a Day of Rest
(Exod. 20:8-1D.
/. God commanded that there
should be a day of rest-one out of
seven-and that should be sufficient
to cause His people to remember"
the day Ito keep it holy" 1t is
cause for grave concern that Sun
day has become day of swimming,
hiking, auto-driving, golfng, and one
might go on with the list almost
indefinitely. Many men or women
who have had built into their own
characters the stalWart virtues nur-
tured by family attendance at the
house Of God, have not only for
gotten their own need and response
bility but are destroying every ves-
tige of interest in divine worship in
the hearts of their children. 1t is
serious business to go astray one
self, but infinitely more serious to
mislead ones own children.
Notice that the day Of rest was
to be not only for the family but
also for servants and for visitors.
The employer who operates his fac
tory or office on Sunday violates
this commandment. Note also that
the man who is to rest on the sew
enth day is supposed to work on the
six days. Some folk neglect to do
both.
2. Gods command is strengthened
by the divine example ". ID. We
are not able to do all things that
God does, but here we are privi-
legged to follow His example.
ii. How We Keep the Day of Rest
duke 13:10-lO.
The incident recorded by Luke
does not give us an exhaustive list
of things to be done with our day of
rest, but it is interesting to note
that our Lord was
/. In the house Of God ". 10.
Jesus was in the synagogue. The
distinguished apostle Paul never be-
came too great or too good to at
tend divine worship We all need
to go to church (if it is at all posi-
BILE for us to do so) to fellowship
with others in the things of Christ.
Let us have revival of church at
tendance, and not only on Sunday
mornings, but also on Sunday night
and for midweek prayer meeting.
2. Alert to the needs of others (vv.
II, 12). 1t is not indicated that the
woman asked to be healed. Jesus
saw her need and met it. We can
not do what he did, but there are
needs that we can meet if we are
but alert to see them and willing to
help.
8. Active in service ". 13). In
spite of the criticism which He knew
would come from the lazy and help
less standers-by, Jesus did the work
of God. We may glorify God by be-
ing ready-yes anxious-to serve in
the church. Our daily work is set
aside on the Lords Day not that we
should be indolent, but that we
should be free to do the Lords work.
4. Contending for the faith (vv
14-1O. Jesus met the unjust criti-
cism (Which, by the way, was lev
eled at the poor woman because
the critic feared jesus by mas
terly appeal to the law of the Phar-
isees (vv. Is, 16). But He did more
than that, for He ably defended the
rights of humanity as superior to
the formalities of man-made law.
The law is always supreme until
the LaWgiver comes, and no law
can hinder Him by its letter, as He
fulflls it's spirit.
We may not speak as Jesus did,
that is to declare what the law is,
but we may in His name, and by
His grace and power declare the
full counsel of God, defend it against
its critics and Withstand those who
IL ~ lax-1r,