The Bible Says That!? - Two Reason's for the Sabbath
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Intro
Today, we’re talking about a particular textual challenge we have regarding the reason for why the Sabbath exists. Specifically, we’ll look at Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Exodus 20:8-11 and explore some explanations behind why we have two seemingly conflicting reasons for the Sabbath.
Based on your knowledge of the Bible, what was the underlying reason for why the Sabbath exists?
Interpretation # 1 – A Link between Creation and Redemption.
Read Genesis 2:1-3
What does the text specifically say about why the 7th day (The Sabbath) was created? God rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Read Exodus 20:8-11
What does the text specifically say about why the 7th day (The Sabbath) was created and should be observed? Same reason. God rested and blessed that day to make it holy.
What if I told you that there was actually another reason for the Sabbath based on Israelite theology at the time of the exodus. Let’s take a look
Read Deuteronomy 5:12-15
What does the text specifically say about why the 7th day (The Sabbath) was created and should be observed? Because the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and God delivered them with an exodus. Therefore, God commands that the Sabbath be observed.
Why do you think there are two different explanations behind why the sabbath should be observed? (Discuss)
What do you notice about the two passages and where they are situated? Specifically, in what kind of law code are these specific instructions sitting between? The 10 commandments.
So why do two separate renditions of the 10 commandments give two different reasons for Sabbath observation?
With the exception of the final commandment – coveting possessions of your neighbor – Why is this the only commandment that is different?
There are two interpretations. Let’s go over the first. The first reason has to do with Creation, Freedom, and Redemption.
Based on Exodus 20:8-11, why does God choose to link the Sabbath with creation? Keeping the Sabbath has to do with God’s creative sovereignty and our submission to Him as Creator. We depend on him solely for our existence, our food, etc. The Sabbath is a way for humanity to honor God’s sovereignty and acknowledge that our world depends upon Him. It is a time to cease from our work and trust that God provides.
Based on Deut. 5:12-15, why does God choose to link the Sabbath with the exodus event instead of creation?
What does remembering slavery have to do with rest?
How does this passage show God’s care for the weak (servants, foreigners, etc.?) With this perspective, The Sabbath is tied to freedom as well as rest. God rescued Israel from slavery and the Sabbath reminds us that God’s people are no longer slaves. For us today, we are no longer slaves to sin, the world’s pressures, culture, work, etc.
Interpretation #2 – A difference in Source
There are likely two different traditions coming from:
The 10 northern tribes and the 2 southern tribes and their history together, when the full written law was given and transmitted, and how the differences in theology may have led to a different interpretative tradition for the purpose behind the Sabbath.
Evidence to support this theory includes:
We know that in the story of King Josiah found in 2 Kings 22-23 and Chronicles 34-35, that the king's men “found” or “re-found” the “Book of the law.” Now it is not clear what exactly this “book of the law included.” It could have been the whole torah, it could have just been the book of Deuteronomy or it could have been some of the oldest pieces of the law like the Law code of Exodus 20:22-23:33. But was most likely Deuteronomy.
We also know that this all took place in 609 BCE. This is important, because in 721 BCE (When the Assyrians took over the Northern tribes of Israel and left only the southern tribes of Judah), Israel and Judah were essentially two separate nations, with two separate sets of law codes – one for the North and one for the south. Ever since Solomon died, there have been essentially 300 years of difference between these two nations.
There are lots of different data points that suggest that these two nations had very similar texts – with slight differences, then after King Josiah and the return after the exile and the people of Israel were all united once again after their return, someone compiled all of their texts together and that is how we got our OT. If you’d like to learn of these data points, the Authorship of the OT, and why there are seemingly so many apparent contradictions in the OT, we can talk more about it next time, but it is a pretty deep series of lessons so it is up to you class!
Since these texts were all compiled and all considered holy scripture, the people who compiled the final version of our OT’s didn’t want to throw any of it out so instead they meshed and wove these two traditions together to form one cohesive and unified text – despite their textual differences.
Sabbath is still extremely important to God’s people, but the two different nations had a different take that God provided to each of them and we have both compared side by side for our benefit today.
I will say that if you all REALLY want to get into specific examples of “The Bible says THAT!?” then this is the topic that explains it the most. If you are more interested in just a few instances where we talk about weird stuff in the Bible then we will continue as normal.
Take away
Does it matter that there are two different purposes for the Sabbath? Why or why not?
How does this discussion help us understand the purpose of the Sabbath?