This exposition of Exodus 16:22-36 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 25, 2018.
Intro:
I had the radio on in the car a week or so ago while running some errands and I heard a caller on a talk show ranting about these “stupid” laws that won’t let you buy a car on Sunday.
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It was clear this younger man just could not understand the rationale behind “Blue Laws.” In fact when the host mentioned blue laws the man said, “What?” He had never heard of such a thing. Just another example of how things have changed. Us “old-timers” can remember when schools and communities didn’t have things on Wednesday nights because that was “church night.” There certainly wasn’t anything to compete with Sunday, The Lord’s Day. That’s certainly not true anymore even among church folks. Services are now offered on Saturday nights or other times so as to not to interfere with people’s schedules. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t think there is anything wrong with trying to provide opportunities for worship outside the “normal” times, especially for those who have no control over their work schedule. The problem is there seems to be an attitude that says, “Lord, I’ll try to work you in but my week is pretty packed.” The Lord needs to adjust to my schedule rather than my schedule adjust to His. On the other hand there are those who approach the Lord’s Day with a slavish devotion. Rigid rules mark the day demanding certain activities done in exacting ways. Just how should we approach the Lord’s Day? Do we approach it in a cavalier manner saying, “I’ll do what I can when it’s convenient?” Do we approach it with a determined devotion that says, “I’m doing this even if it kills me?” Or, might there be another option? Our text this morning is found in the 16th chapter of Exodus.
Text: Exodus 16:22-36
God’s people were on a spiritual journey. They were in the wilderness somewhere between the bondage of Egypt and the hope of the Promised Land. The way was difficult. The path was mined with physical dangers and spiritual doubts. One thing was clear, they were right where the LORD wanted them. We know that because He led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were on the pilgrim path were they would learn to trust God and to obey His word. This winding, wilderness path was not necessary for their salvation but it was essential to their sanctification.
They didn’t come out of Egypt and go north directly into the Land of Promise.
They went south into the wilderness for a time of testing or proving.
God was working in them for eternity not for the next 10 years.
Clement of Rome, writing at the end of the first century said: “God led his people through the long windings of the wilderness that he might root out the evils which clung to them by a long-continued familiarity with the customs of the Egyptians.”
God was shaping them, forming them into a holy people. The goal of the Christian life is not to make us happy but to make us holy.
So, they lived in desert tents trusting God to supply their needs. Gathering each day enough of the heavenly bread to satisfy. Morning by morning they were sustained by God’s mercy. This was a life radically different from the life they had known in Egypt. Something else set this life apart. A gift God gave to His people. A gift we neglect to our own harm.
What I want you to take away from this is…
Thesis: As a witness to the unbelieving world and out of devotion to our King, we should joyfully and enthusiastically embrace the Sabbath or as we know it, the Lord’s Day.
The principle established in the Old Testament is a Sabbath, one day out of seven set aside for rest and worship. The day for the Jews was Saturday, the seventh day. It was actually from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. The early church moved it to Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection. So, we find the church gathering on the first day, the Lord’s Day.
As we work our way through the text I want to show you three reasons why we should joyfully embrace the Sabbath or the Lord’s Day.
- The Sabbath or Lord’s Day is a means of clearly identifying ourselves as the people of God. (16:22-26)
- Violation of the Sabbath or Lord’s Day defies the command of God and is therefore an affront to God himself. (16:27-30)
- We should embrace the Sabbath/Lord’s Day as a day of rest, remembrance and worship.
(16:31-36)
Conclusion:
Does the Sabbath still matter? Yes, it does and we should joyfully and enthusiastically embrace it as a witness to the unbelieving world and out of love and devotion to our King.
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