Taking a Look at Isaiah

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue you own interests on that day, … .” – Isaiah 58:13a

            In this chapter the Lord speaks thru Isaiah regarding true and false worship. Some Jews worship God to appear pious, becoming ritualistic by going to Temple every day, fasting and listening to scripture readings. The Jews were missing the point of worship in that the Lord isn’t looking for their outward act of piousness when they still have unforgiven sin in their hearts. Scripturally speaking to worship God properly and live out his doctrines they were to have genuine compassion for the poor, helpless and oppressed. By doing these things they are being God’s hand extended.  

            The same applies to us today. We were grafted into the vine, which is Christ, due to Israel’s rejection of Jesus as their Messiah. Therefore we are spiritual Jews as a result of the grafting. The only difference between Jew and Gentile spiritually speaking is that Christ’s death fulfilled the OT Law, which ushered in the period of God’s grace, which is still in play today. The Jews still live under the Mosaic Law.

            There is a long-standing controversy as to whether the Sabbath is Saturday or Sunday. The Jews and the Seventh Day Adventists observe Saturday, saying that is the seventh day of the week, which ties in to the seventh day of creation when God rested. Most Christians observe Sunday as the Sabbath, believing Sunday to be the final day of the week. 

            There’s a lot more to this then just that, but suffice it to say we are all to keep it a holy day and many of us don’t. The world has encroached on our Sundays with youth athletics. It creates a dilemma for Christians who want their children to be involved in sports and what parent wants to be the one to tell their child they can’t participate in sports on Sunday because they have to go to church. The devil doesn’t play fair.  Make your decision wisely because God is supposed to come first. Some of our choices are difficult and affect more then just the decision maker.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.