Sabbath

Sabbath

Monday, May 19                                                            Leviticus 25:1-7

Why do you think God commands (through Moses) that the Israelites take a year-long break? What do you see as potential benefits from doing so? What are the parallels between this passage and the equivalent work today? 

If you were to take a year off of work, what would you do? How could it benefit your family? Your work? Your spiritual life? What would be your priorities with that time?   

Tuesday, May  20                                                   Deuteronomy 5:6-22

What are the 10 commandments that God gave His people? Why are these so important? How do they correspond w/ Jesus' statement in Matthew 22:37-40?

When you look at each of the 10 commandments, how are you doing? Not that its about following rules, but if these are God's top 10, what does it say about how serious God takes them? How does Sabbath fit into that picture for you?

Wednesday, May  21                                                          Mark 2:23-28

What is Jesus' point in this confrontation with the religious leaders of the day? What were they trying to do with the Sabbath? How is that damaging to the basic idea of the Sabbath rest?

What does Jesus mean when He says that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath?" How are you at observing a Sabbath rest? Why?

Thursday, May 22                                                           Isaiah 58:13-14

What is this passage saying? What are the instructions about the Sabbath? What does it mean to "call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable" and to "honor it by not going your own way?" How does that differ from how we view and keep (or don't keep) the Sabbath in America?

What are the blessing of the Sabbath, according to this passage (v. 14)? Have you ever experienced a Sabbath rest? What should be the focus of a Sabbath? How does that accomplish these promises?

Friday, May 23                                                             Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6

What does it mean to find rest in God alone? How have you experienced living in that rest? How would you describe it to someone who was looking for peace and rest in their life?                                                                                   

Notice the change between v. 1 and 5. What do you make of that? What does it say that David had to focus and pray and urge himself to do what he knew would provide rest? How does that speak to you?