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by Samuel Bak
OT00443B1 New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Memorial
by Samuel Bak
The true Sabbath is to put yourself aside and minister to the needs of the other, the well being of the other, to come into complete communion with the face of the other. Isaiah asks the people to question their own hearts and motives for fastening is it only for the outward appearance of worshiping God, the public fast is false it is self worship? Whereas true worship on the Sabbath interrupts you, it brings the other’s face in discourse with you, Levians explains “the Other looks at me, therefore I am responsible for him (to lose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, to share my bread, to bring the homeless poor into my home…) without even having taken on responsibilities in his regard; his responsibility is incumbent on me. This is the fast that God has called us and when we worship God by seeing the other as God sees them, than we will Sabbath in Him , to enter into resting place, a place of assurance.
ReplyDeleteSabbath time as a holy collective moment of rest, says Robert Gibbs. I am drawn into his discourse on time; how time is not private, rather time is structured communally, not a 'secret time' left to a special few. Sabbath provides that interruption in time. An interruption in time to disrupt continuum and allow time for memory and remembrance, imagination and reflection. Yet, paradoxically it is the responsibility of each individual in a community to find practices of interruption. What would I do if the chirping and chattering of the day stops and I find myself in an unknown clearing away from the noise--God and I sitting silently together? Disruption in the preconceptions and notions of my expected function as brother, servant, student or friend. Sabbath is finding the sacred sanctuary that allows me to distill all of the notions of myself (true and false) into the raw truth of who I am, my createdness and belovedness.
ReplyDeleteThe Sabbath is a period of time, not the time of our choosing, but of God’s. It is a period of time when we have the special honor and blessing of reserving everything on that day for the worship of God and the service of suffering humanity. The Sabbath is found in selflessness toward God and the rest of his creation. We put aside, thus resting, from the work of meeting our own needs, but like God does on the Sabbath, we continue the work of grace. Yet it is clear that of all days, the Sabbath is for the service of love to God and to our neighbors as our self. As we remember that Sabbath day, to keep it holy, we also remember his holiness, taking every thought captive for Christ, leaving our daily work behind, letting our whole being enjoy our devotion to God. We also, remember it as it was created by God, a day, one day of the week, a specific space and time for indulging in the holiness of God that is given us in Jesus Christ. He has written the law on the heart of the believer, written it as he did the law on tablets of stone. This is his new covenant promise, to write on our hearts the very love of God. The Sabbath is a memorial of both his works, old and new, the work of God in creation and the work of God in redemption.
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ReplyDeleteWhat is the Sabbath for?
The word Sabbath means rest. What Isaiah wanted the people to understand was to stop thinking about themselves and focus on God and others. Within this text Isaiah’s society was self seeking, and so God through His prophet wanted to show the people that true Sabbath was about - giving to others. Is not this the fast that I have choose? To loose the bounds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the opressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house…
In givng thought to such command, the true Sabbath for me is thinking about others, It’s about lending a hand whenever the need arises.
The true Sabbath in Isaiah 58 speaks of doing justice by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless. In the context of today's ministry, Sabbath involves working against oppression and building up community. While worship is important, Isaiah 58 reminds us that doing justice is what theLord is looking for in our ministry. When we do that, we will receive the joy of the Lord. And that joy is what we will rest in on the true Sabbath.
ReplyDeleteSabbath has two sides to the coin: one side being in relationship with God, and the other being in relationship with Other. Sabbath cannot exist in the abscence of wither one. However, Isaiah's criticism is relevant today because the Church is too busy doing the religious stuff and forget about the Other who are sitting in suffering right outside the Church doors which are closed. For true Sabbath to exist, the Church doors should be flung open and the Church people should be outside helping the Other.
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The Sabbath is a period of rest. Rest from the daily routine, this rest can take place at any time and is not limited to Sunday worship. In fact, if we were never to raise our hands or sing a hymn - the observation of the Sabbath in itself is an act of worship. Included in this Sabbath can be taking moments to break from the demands of our culture and society and removing our focus and sense of obligation from that and placing it on God. In some cases, like those of injustice, selfish pursuit, and lack of consideration for the other; honoring the Sabbath can be a permanent condition. There is no stipulation that you must resume the regularly scheduled program and when we are able to achieve such balance, we are able to find delight in the Lord and ride upon the heights of the earth as noted in Isaiah 58.
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Quentin Suttin
Danielle L. Brown
The sriptures in Isaiah challenges the people and their motives. In v.4 he says to them that they " fas for strife and debate, rather God wants them to commit to the type of fast wherein they humble themselves before God, by afflicting his/her souls. God desires they they not be so caught up in traditions of men and women, rather that they be in relationship with him, the True and Living God. It is not enough nor pleasing to God, that the people do all things right according to the law, or traditions, when their brothers and sisters, the other is without bread, and naked! Once the other, those who are without are taken care of, then will the Holy God hear their cry and answer them.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Isaiah the people had been celebrating the sabbath in a selfish manner, they felt as if humbling themselves was enough. The Lord was not pleased with their routines, He wanted them to truly be pondering the rest of the commandment on the sabbath day; if they were doing so, they would not forget about their sevants' need to also rest and restore their energy on that day. Sometimes the sabbath can seem like the busiest day when it is supposed be for rest. we get so busy preparing for the day that we forget what the day is set aside for. I believe the sabbath is not just the one day but it is a part of everyday and restoration and consideration of the commandments are necessary everyday.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah is pointing out to the chosen people that they are being selfish by observing the Sabbath for just their own self-care and not caring about others. We are called to be in communion with God but also in communion with each other. We should not be able to truly experience true Sabbath, if we know that, “the other” is lacking and we are doing all we can to help and assist. We are called to ensure that Sabbath is extend to all.
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