Exodus 31:16
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come.
The Israelites
This phrase refers specifically to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. In the Hebrew context, "Israelites" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, B'nei Yisrael) signifies the chosen people of God, set apart to be a holy nation. Historically, the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian bondage, and their identity is deeply rooted in their covenant relationship with God. This designation emphasizes their unique role in God's redemptive plan and their responsibility to uphold His commandments.

are to keep
The Hebrew word for "keep" is שָׁמַר (shamar), which means to guard, observe, or give heed. This implies an active, diligent effort to preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath. It is not merely a passive observance but a conscious commitment to honor God's command. The Israelites are called to protect the Sabbath from being profaned, ensuring it remains a day set apart for rest and worship.

the Sabbath
The Sabbath (שַׁבָּת, Shabbat) is a day of rest on the seventh day of the week, instituted by God at creation (Genesis 2:2-3). It serves as a reminder of God's rest after creation and His deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and His people, symbolizing spiritual rest and renewal. It is a day to cease from labor and focus on spiritual matters, reflecting God's provision and sovereignty.

celebrating it
The act of celebrating (לַעֲשׂוֹת, la'asot) the Sabbath involves more than mere observance; it is a joyful acknowledgment of God's goodness and faithfulness. This celebration is an expression of gratitude and reverence, recognizing the Sabbath as a gift from God. It is a time for communal worship, family gatherings, and spiritual reflection, fostering a deeper connection with God and fellow believers.

as a permanent covenant
The term "permanent covenant" (בְּרִית עוֹלָם, b'rit olam) signifies an everlasting agreement between God and the Israelites. This covenant is not temporary or conditional but is intended to endure through all generations. It underscores the unchanging nature of God's promises and His desire for a lasting relationship with His people. The Sabbath serves as a perpetual sign of this covenant, reminding the Israelites of their identity and purpose.

for the generations to come
This phrase emphasizes the continuity and enduring relevance of the Sabbath commandment. It is not limited to the immediate recipients but extends to future generations of Israelites. The responsibility to keep the Sabbath is passed down as a sacred trust, ensuring that each generation remains connected to their heritage and the divine covenant. It highlights the importance of teaching and modeling faithfulness to God's commands for posterity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The descendants of Jacob, also known as the children of Israel, who were chosen by God to be His people and to whom the law was given.

2. The Sabbath
A day of rest on the seventh day of the week, instituted by God as a sign of the covenant between Him and the Israelites.

3. Covenant
A solemn agreement between God and His people, often involving promises and obligations.
Teaching Points
The Significance of the Sabbath
The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and His people, symbolizing rest and sanctification.

A Lasting Covenant
The command to keep the Sabbath is described as a "lasting covenant," indicating its enduring importance for the Israelites and its spiritual significance for believers today.

Rest and Reflection
Observing a day of rest allows for physical rejuvenation and spiritual reflection, aligning with God's design for human well-being.

Sabbath as a Gift
The Sabbath is a gift from God, providing an opportunity to step back from daily labor and focus on worship and relationship with Him.

Christ as Our Sabbath Rest
In the New Testament, the concept of Sabbath rest is fulfilled in Christ, who offers spiritual rest and peace to all who believe in Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of the Sabbath as a "lasting covenant" influence your understanding of its importance in the Old Testament?

2. In what ways can the principle of Sabbath rest be applied in your life today, even if you do not observe it in the traditional sense?

3. How does the Sabbath commandment connect to the broader theme of rest and redemption found throughout Scripture?

4. What are some practical ways you can incorporate rest and reflection into your weekly routine to honor God?

5. How does understanding Jesus as the fulfillment of the Sabbath impact your relationship with Him and your approach to rest?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 2:2-3
The origin of the Sabbath is found in the creation account, where God rested on the seventh day, setting a precedent for the Sabbath rest.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
The reiteration of the Sabbath commandment, emphasizing its importance and connection to the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt.

Isaiah 56:6-7
The inclusion of foreigners who keep the Sabbath, highlighting its significance beyond just the Israelites.

Mark 2:27-28
Jesus' teaching on the Sabbath, emphasizing its purpose for humanity's benefit and His authority over it.

Hebrews 4:9-10
The Sabbath rest as a foreshadowing of the ultimate rest found in Christ.
The SabbathJ. Orr Exodus 31:12-18
People
Aaron, Ahisamach, Aholiab, Bezaleel, Dan, Hur, Israelites, Moses, Uri
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Age-during, Agreement, Celebrate, Celebrating, Covenant, Eternal, Everlasting, Generation, Generations, Holy, Lasting, Observe, Observed, Observing, Perpetual, Sabbath, Sons, Throughout, Wherefore
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 31:16

     5694   generation

Exodus 31:12-17

     1450   signs, kinds of

Exodus 31:13-17

     5338   holiday

Exodus 31:15-17

     1653   numbers, 6-10

Exodus 31:16-17

     5773   abstinence, discipline

Library
The Flood-Tide of Power.
God's Highest Ideal. A flood-tide is a rising tide. It flows in and fills up and spreads out. Wherever it goes it cleanses and fertilizes and beautifies. For untold centuries Egypt has depended for its very life upon the yearly flood-tide of the Nile. The rich bottom lands of the Connecticut Valley are refertilized every spring by that river's flood-tide. The green beauty and rich fruitage of some parts of the Sacramento Valley, whose soil is flooded by the artificial irrigation-rivers, are in sharp
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power

The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
Now the sanctifying of the Sabbath consists in two things--First, In resting from all servile and common business pertaining to our natural life; Secondly, In consecrating that rest wholly to the service of God, and the use of those holy means which belong to our spiritual life. For the First. 1. The servile and common works from which we are to cease are, generally, all civil works, from the least to the greatest (Exod. xxxi. 12, 13, 15, &c.) More particularly-- First, From all the works of our
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Gifts and Talents.
"And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him."--Judges iii. 10. We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. Scripture declares that the special animation and qualification of persons for work assigned to them by God proceed from the Holy Spirit. The construction of the tabernacle required capable workmen, skilful carpenters, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and masters in the arts of weaving and embroidering. Who will furnish Moses
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Thy Name: My Name
'I have called thee by thy name.'--ISAIAH xliii. 1. 'Every one that is called by My name.'--ISAIAH xliii. 7. Great stress is laid on names in Scripture. These two parallel and antithetic clauses bring out striking complementary relations between God and the collective Israel. But they are as applicable to each individual member of the true Israel of God. I. What does God's calling a man by his name imply? 1. Intimate knowledge. Adam naming the creatures. Christ naming His disciples. 2. Loving friendship.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prophets and Apostles.
The work of the Holy Spirit in apostles and prophets is an entirely distinctive work. He imparts to apostles and prophets an especial gift for an especial purpose. We read in 1 Cor. xii. 4, 8-11, 28, 29, R. V., "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.... For to one is given through the Spirit wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; and to another workings
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
BY REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, D.D. The Temple of Solomon was the crown of art in the old world. There were temples on a larger scale, and of more massive construction, but the enormous masses of masonry of the oldest nations were not comparable with the artistic grace, the luxurious adornments, and the harmonious proportions of this glorious House of God. David had laid up money and material for the great work, but he was not permitted to carry it out. He was a man of war, and blood-stained hands were
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Preface to the Commandments
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God,' &c. Exod 20: 1, 2. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is, I am the Lord thy God.' The preface to the preface is, God spake all these words, saying,' &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation. Other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets (Luke 1: 70), but here God spake in his own person. How are we to understand that, God spake,
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Exposition of the Moral Law.
1. The Law was committed to writing, in order that it might teach more fully and perfectly that knowledge, both of God and of ourselves, which the law of nature teaches meagrely and obscurely. Proof of this, from an enumeration of the principal parts of the Moral Law; and also from the dictate of natural law, written on the hearts of all, and, in a manner, effaced by sin. 2. Certain general maxims. 1. From the knowledge of God, furnished by the Law, we learn that God is our Father and Ruler. Righteousness
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
(at Feast-Time at Jerusalem, Probably the Passover.) ^D John V. 1-47. ^d 1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [Though every feast in the Jewish calendar has found some one to advocate its claim to be this unnamed feast, yet the vast majority of commentators choose either the feast of Purim, which came in March, or the Passover, which came in April. Older commentators pretty unanimously regarded it as the Passover, while the later school favor the feast
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian.
EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. These two short treatises were found among Mr. Bunyan's papers after his decease. They probably were intended for publication, like his 'Prison Meditations' and his 'Map of Salvation,' on a single page each, in the form of a broadside, or handbill. This was the popular mode in which tracts were distributed; and when posted against a wall, or framed and hung up in a room, they excited notice, and were extensively read. They might also have afforded some trifling profit to aid
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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