S2:E3 - Why Does God Tell Us, "Remember the Sabbath Day By Keeping It Holy"?

Welcome back Press Pause! This week we’ll be exploring the fourth commandment together. Here’s our question and answer for this week’s episode.

Q: Why does God tell us, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy”?

A: So we will rest in God and remember the finished work of Jesus.

Most of the time, we’re not really very excited about rest. We’d rather keep playing with friends, working on that treehouse out back, or practicing our latest trick on our bike or trampoline. But God reminds us that rest is important. Exodus tells us one reason we are to set aside a day of rest—because God rested on the seventh day. The book of Deuteronomy gives us a second reason. Deuteronomy 5:15 says this,

“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”

God wanted Israel to stop each week to rest their bodies and remember their rescue. We use the Sabbath for the same reason, to help us remember the finished work of Jesus. We’re free to put our work down because our hope is in our all-powerful God who’s in control. Open your Bibles to Deuteronomy 5:15, and read the passage together before diving in to this week’s devotional.