My word for the year is focus. When my friend and I were thinking about what to study next, I came across a podcast about the Sabbath. What better way to start the year of focus than by studying about the Sabbath?
My practice of the Sabbath has ebbed and flowed over the years. Many times my excuse is that I just run out of time. When working at a church, the concept of a Sabbath on Sunday is impossible. But, I tried to give focus to the Sabbath another day of the week. At times I was better than others.
Lately, my Sabbath time has been pretty nonexistent. Besides worshiping on Sunday, mostly online due to my schedule, I can’t say I’ve thought too much about being intentional in the practice of Sabbath time. So, this is going to be a challenge… and I have discovered that that’s part of the purpose of the Sabbath. It’s not supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to be intentional and a little bit inconvenient in order to help us understand the importance of it. Afterall, if it was easy everyone would be doing it and it wouldn’t be a big deal. But, I want it to be a big deal. So, here I begin on my journey to understand and practice the Sabbath.
I’ve only listened to episode one of the podcast… and a bit of episode two. Here’s what I’m thinking so far. In order to understand the importance of the Sabbath, I think it’s important to understand the Jewish practice of the Sabbath. Now, they have a lot of rules about it that I’m not going to observe. I’m going to drive, cook, use my keys, etc. even when I’m in my Sabbath time. But, the observance of a family meal, time together, praying and singing, going to worship, those are all things I can do.
One of the speakers talked about his time in Jerusalem. He said the market was crazy busy before the Sabbath and once the sun went down, there wasn’t a person on the streets. How cool to be surrounded by people who are living the practice of Sabbath so intensely every week! He would sometimes walk around the neighborhood and hear families singing together. I love that! People were all busy before the Sabbath because they had to prepare for their time when they wouldn’t be able to do those things, not by force but by choice.
Today I listened to the first part of episode two. It was about the Sabbath being the seventh day, seven being the key because it signifies perfection in the Bible. There was some talk of grammar, Hebrew words, and the beginning of Genesis. I started to feel overwhelmed and was thinking ok let’s keep going to more of the meat of things.
Then, they started talking about the first seven days. While we always think about the seventh day as the day of rest, God actually focuses on time on the first and fourth day as well as the seventh day. On the first day He separated darkness and light, creating day and night. On the fourth day He created the sun, moon, and stars, the symbols of day and night.
Why does this matter? Well, it was really helpful to hear this as I was discerning how to observe the Sabbath. Because of my schedule, Sunday just doesn’t work, in fact I can’t get a whole day off no matter how hard I try. So I decided I would have to observe the Sabbath in parts. But, I still wanted it to be a consistent observance of the Sabbath. So, when they mentioned the three days in the podcast, I felt like that was my cue to take time on the three days God focused on time. So, Monday mornings, Thursday evenings, and Sunday mornings are now my designated Sabbath time. I am happy that even though I can’t observe the typical Sabbath time, there is purpose and intentionality to my Sabbath time.
So, how did that go on my first day? Well, since I just decided today, it wasn’t the greatest time. Here’s what was good about it. I took my three mile dog walk and listened to my podcast, listened and discussed the Sabbath with my friend, and came up with a plan. Part of the plan is writing my blog on Monday mornings. Starting my week looking back at where I saw God and looking ahead to new opportunities seems like a good way to start the week focused in the right mindset. I actually have three blog ideas and wrote the first one this morning during my first Sabbath time. So, I consider that a good thing.
Here’s what wasn’t so good. Since I just decided this morning that my Sabbath would start this morning, I wasn’t prepared. I needed to get some work done on my car before work. So, I had to interrupt my time to take my car in and pick it up a bit later. It brought me back to the point made during the first podcast about how everyone was bustling around before sundown so they could be ready. I’m going to have to work on that. And, I will have to be ready for my three Sabbath times each week. So, it’s all a work in progress.
But, as I continue on this journey of focusing on the Sabbath, I’m hoping to learn and understand more about what I should be doing during the Sabbath time. So far, I understand that it’s a time to set apart for intentional focus on God, an inconvenience by intention to help remind me of its importance, and for me it will be in three sections based on the three days of creation focused on time. I’m learning about the Jewish practice of Sabbath time and how it should be a time we focus on God, my words and actions focused on what He wants me to be doing. While on some level this makes sense, I am struggling to understand what the difference is between this time and other times. I read the Bible or study things daily so it can’t be that the Sabbath is a time of study. I should always strive for my words and actions to be focused on what God wants so the Sabbath can’t be about that.
So, I’ll keep you posted! I’d love to hear about your Sabbath time or thoughts you may have!
Blessings,
Jennifer
Want to listen to the podcast? Here’s the link! I love all of the Bible Project stuff! Check https://bibleproject.com/podcast/restless-craving-rest/
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