Efficiency and competition have been the driving force throughout society, at the expense of the need for rest. The 2020 covid pandemic and its aftermath gave us an opportunity to rediscover a new normal where we find meaning in less activity and lower consumption.
During the pandemic, society came to an abrupt halt, giving us a good opportunity to see what the Bible says about resting and refraining from the normal routines of daily life. For efficient and result-oriented Christians, a renewed understanding of the Sabbath will help us manoeuvre in a healthy and long-term way.
God keeps the Sabbath
Already in Genesis chapter two we read about the Sabbath. After the work of creating heaven and earth was completed, God rested on the seventh day.
Sabbath (‘shabbath’, Hebrew) means to refrain from, cease or rest. God didn't rest because He was tired, but He wanted to give us a rhythm that was also reflected in what He created. God created the world to live in this rhythm and alternation between rest and labour.
The Sabbath is part of the people of Israel
The people of Israel were to be a people through whom God would show his greatness and power. People would see God's glory by observing the way they lived. That's why the Sabbath was important.
When God gave the people the commandments, the third commandment read: You shall keep the day of rest holy. God established a rhythm for His people that would ensure blessing and prosperity for all. The rhythm of this rest was a Sabbath every seventh day, a year of rest for the land every seventh year and a year of jubilee every 50 years. This would ensure prosperity, sustainability and fair distribution of resources. This rhythm would ensure rest for the people and ensure that the soil was not depleted.
The Bible says that Judah was taken to Babylon because of its disobedience. The exile gave the land rest to make up for the lost Sabbath years (2 Chronicles 36:21).
The need for Sabbath
God has laid down the rhythm between work and rest in nature. It is therefore just as relevant in our time.
Efficiency and competition are an underlying driving force throughout many societies. The fastest and hardest working people win. We see it in sports, education, business and innovation. The entire global market economy is based on competition and efficiency, and we are made to believe this is normal for our entire lives.
The negative fruit of this is comparison, busyness and burnout. In Christian contexts, we use terms such as work ethic and surrender, but the result is often the same. The distinction between work and rest is blurred. We overlook the need for rest.
The welfare society and economic growth are based on high labour force participation, efficiency and consumption. This requires the wheels of industry to turn at an ever-faster pace. The environmental movement has been speaking out against this for a long time, and most people agree that we need to reduce our impact on the planet, but we’ll let someone else start first. The price is perceived to be too high when it affects our own consumption or privileges.
During the covid pandemic, everyday life took on a different pace for a lot of people. Less stress to keep up with work and leisure activities. No queues, no crowded airports or buses. Time to be together without having to plan or arrange the next activity, day or week. Just being together and eating in peace and quiet.
For some people the silence was frightening. Others found it liberating to be with their family at a completely different pace. We rediscovered each other.
Less noise in everyday life
As time went on, many of us realised that we had a new, lower pulse rate. We became more attentive, recognised new scents and saw our surroundings in a new way. We gained new experiences of listening and waiting. Both listening to ourselves and our loved ones, and not least listening to God.
When the noise subsides and the pulse slows down, God's voice penetrates more. Not because He's speaking more clearly, but because we're removing the sources of noise that have been there.
One of the loudest sources of ‘noise’ in our culture is not living “here and now”, but constantly being on the way to something. Or thinking about all the things you didn't get done.
Another noise source is our preoccupation with what others believe and think about us, our choices and our lives. A new way of everyday life will give us the opportunity to listen to the Holy Spirit in a new way.
Jesus gives real rest
Jesus actually rose from the dead the day after the Sabbath had ended. That is, on the first day of the week (John 20:1). On that day, Jesus defeated the last enemy: death.
Jesus sorted out sin, shame, guilt, our need for holiness and purity. and we did not contribute anything.
Jesus is the Reconciler who enables us to experience a clear conscience and peace with God. We can know God and experience the fellowship that was lost when Adam failed. Therefore, we have entered a rest where we do not have to appease God. Or to try to make Him like us better by working for Him (Hebrews 4:1-3). We work from a starting point of rest and being loved. Then life takes on a healthy rhythm of work and rest.
Let's encourage each other to rediscover the Sabbath as a new normal. Time for God's Word, prayer, conversation and play. It gives us a fresh start in our relationships with God and each other. We find meaning in fewer activities and lower consumption.
Reclaiming the Sabbath will give us a sustainable life. We won't have to trample on God's order and natural laws. And it enriches the planet, our relationships with God and each other.
This article is taken from Sennep.net and reproduced with permission.