Sabbath

The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, is a central theme in the biblical narrative, originating in the creation account. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." This divine rest established the pattern for the Sabbath, which was later codified in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Exodus 20:8-11 commands, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."

The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, as seen in Exodus 31:16-17 : "The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it as a lasting covenant for the generations to come. It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed." The observance of the Sabbath was a reminder of God's creation and His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, as noted in Deuteronomy 5:15 : "Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day."

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ's relationship with the Sabbath is significant. He often healed on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisaic interpretations of the law. In Mark 2:27-28 , Jesus declares, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." This statement emphasizes the Sabbath's purpose for human benefit and Christ's authority over it. The early church grappled with the observance of the Sabbath, as seen in Colossians 2:16-17 : "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ."

New Moon

The New Moon, marking the beginning of each month in the Hebrew calendar, held religious significance in ancient Israel. It was a time of special offerings and celebrations, as outlined in Numbers 28:11-14 : "At the beginning of each month, you are to present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without blemish. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; and with each lamb, a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD."

The New Moon was a time for communal worship and reflection, as seen in passages like 1 Samuel 20:5 , where David says to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king. But let me go, that I may hide in the field until the evening of the third day." The New Moon was also a time for prophetic activity, as indicated in 2 Kings 4:23 : "Why go to him today?" he asked. "It is not the New Moon or the Sabbath." This suggests that the New Moon, like the Sabbath, was a time when people sought spiritual guidance.

In the prophetic literature, the New Moon is sometimes mentioned in the context of future restoration and worship. Isaiah 66:23 prophesies, "From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me," says the LORD. This eschatological vision underscores the enduring significance of the New Moon in the worship life of God's people.

The New Testament does not emphasize the New Moon as a Christian observance, but it is mentioned in the context of freedom from legalistic practices. Colossians 2:16 advises believers not to be judged by their observance of "a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath," highlighting the transition from the Old Covenant's ceremonial laws to the New Covenant's focus on Christ.