What was the purpose of the seventh-day sabbath? In the preceding message (#144) we observed that it was the sign of the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. We now observe:

2. The seventh-day sabbath was a shadow, or type, of that rest which would eventually be found in Jesus Christ. We learn this from the admonition of Paul the apostle to Christians to "let no one judge you ... regarding ... sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Colossians 2:16f). The seventh-day sabbath was but a passing shadow cast by the coming Christ. Therefore, the rest found in it was but a shadow of the rest which would be found by trusting in Him. Before the arrival of Christ, God required His people honor the shadow cast by Christ. But upon the arrival of Christ, God requires His people to forsake honoring the shadow and to honor instead the Christ who cast it. They who would judge Christians for not honoring the sabbaths are thereby giving more honor to the sabbaths than to Christ. Christians are therefore exhorted to ignore such Christ-dishonoring legalists. (More on this in subsequent messages.)

3. The seventh-day sabbath was a reminder that mankind needs rest from his labors.
God directed Israel to devote no more than six days of each week to the pursuit of an occupation (v.9): "Six days you shall labor and do all your work." God considers work to be very honorable. He employed the first man and woman in tending to His creation (Genesis 2:15,18), thereby teaching us that every man and woman should be occupied in honorable employment. He furthermore intends we all be occupied for as long as we are physically capable. He who seeks "early retirement" in order to "sit around and do nothing" is called by God "You fool" (Luke 12:16-20). And God requires us to refuse food to able-bodied persons who will not work (2 Thessalonians 3:10; cp. Ephesians 4:28).

God also directed Israel to reserve a weekly day of rest from their occupations (v.10): "but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates." He who never rests from his labors, to enjoy their fruits and to be refreshed for further labors, is a slave to his occupation. And he who never permits his employees, whether of persons or animals, a day of rest is a slave-master (see Deuteronomy 5:13-15)

God Himself has set the example (v.11): "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day" (cp. Genesis 2:1-3). God rested not because He was tired, but in order to enjoy the fruits of His labors and to set an example for us.

The fact that Christians today are not required to observe the seventh-day sabbath (see e.g. Colossians 2:16f; Romans 14:5f) does not negate the need for days of physical rest.

Even more important than physical rest for one's body is spiritual rest for one's soul. This spiritual rest is the cessation of works of self-righteousness in order to obtain the favor and salvation of God. It is found through trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He Himself invites us to "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you [i.e. "Become My disciple"] and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28f). Have you found rest for your soul in Jesus Christ?