Day 332: Showing our love for God - Jeremiah 17 vs 19 – 27
19-22 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand at the Gate of the People, through which the kings of Judah go in and out. Stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem. Say to them, 'Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem who come through these gates. This is what the Lord says: be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.'” 23 Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline.
24-26 “But if you are careful to obey me,” declares the Lord, “and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited for ever. People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank-offerings to the house of the Lord. 27 But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.” Jeremiah 17:19-27 New Living Translation paraphrase ( English Standard Version link)
Long before Jeremiah spoke these words to the Israelites God gave commandments through Moses by which they could express their love for Him in obeying what He said. One of those commandments was to set the seventh day of the week aside as holy to God, and to not work and do business on that day. So Jeremiah was publicly urging the King and all people to respect God by keeping the Sabbath. But what was their response? (vs 23)
Over the years the people had grown to completely disregard that commandment. Yet what did God say would still happen if they turned from disobeying Him and began to honour the Sabbath day? (vs 24-26)
Basically it meant that their Kingdom would continue, and the land would be safe again for people to even travel from the surrounding areas to bring their offerings to Jerusalem and further show their gratitude and love to God. Blessing would follow their obedience. That's true of all of God's teaching. Our lives are always the better for following His word.
What about today? Must Christians 'keep the Sabbath' as the Jews were called to do? It's a question that sincere Christians differ over. When non-Jewish began to be converted to Christ the Church at Jerusalem held a big meeting to discuss what should be required of the gentiles. And while they said the new converts should abstain from a couple of things that would cause offense to the Jews, they did not stress that they must 'keep a Sabbath day'. So when Paul wrote to Christians at Rome he said “The law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose was to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. No one can be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.”
Many Christians, in their love for God, still choose to keep one day in the week as special. And, because Jesus rose on the first day of the week that became the day they set apart. But whatever we personally decide on this matter, we can show our love for God by loving one another as Christ Jesus loved us.