Keeping the Sabbath

Subject: Keeping the Sabbath
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998
From:  Cindy Maddox
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup

Dear Eddie,

I have recently seen the importance of going back to our Hebraic roots and I have seen God's truth regarding the keeping of the Sabbath as well as keeping the other festivals. I am interested in learning how others celebrate the festivals.

But today I would like to know how others keep the Sabbath. What do you do as well as things you not do.

I am seeing the Bible in a whole new light as I am reading it and studying it going back to our Hebraic roots. 

Thank you for being there to teach us and enlighten those of us who are non- Jews.  I truly believe we have looked at God's Word through "American eyes" and have lost God's truth. But I am thankful many of us are finding it.

Blessings to you,

Cindy Maddox, Houston, Texas

From:        JoAnn Kimmett
Subject:     Re: Keeping the Sabbath

Dear Cindy,

I'm exactly where you are in my Christian walk...I'm excited about how and what we should do on the Sabbath. God bless!         

JoAnn Kimmett



From:          "HaY'Did" shalom@haydid.org
Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath

Dear Cindy,

I have written a small book called SABBATH: THE LIGHT IS MESSIAH that is available from our ministry for $3/$3.50 to non-members + s/h. This small book has gone around the world to people in this newsgroup and it gives you an overview of what the Sabbath represents, and then a graphically explained "how to" section on what you would say and do during the sabbath. I include the prayers both in English and in transliterated Hebrew, as well as a quick and easy recipe for the special bread (challah) that is baked. 

What people like about the little book is, that it lays before you a picture of the Messiah Yeshua and why God directed us to keep the sabbath. It also shows you the heart of Messiah. I've smiled as around the world, people have received their copy of this little book, and then written to me to say that the Lord used that little book to change their marriage and home life! Over and over families have sat down together to read the book, and they discovered what the LORD intended-coming together as a family with HIM in their midst. 

I believe that there is a secret that we often miss in our family life. That secret is that HE must be in the midst of our table fellowship-our altar-each week. In the words of our Messiah Yeshua we read that "where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst of them" is a perfect example of what HE desires in our lives. That small intimate time that HE wants set aside for communion with HIM, is one of the first things that is deteriorated away in families today. 

When I first started studying the Jewish roots of the Bible, my husband, Tom, was not in agreement with me. But I discovered the sabbath! So I would send him off to work on Fridays, and then clean the house (a rare thing around here sometimes), bake the bread (never did it before!), and have a nice romantic evening waiting for him. He would walk through the door and discover the wonderful smell of homemade bread, a wife smiling, and a homecooked meal waiting! I didn't push the lighting of the candles or any formal service at the beginning. I just treated my husband to a rare treat---his home as his castle!

Eagerly he would come home on Friday to see if I had done it once again, or not each week! With a big sigh as he walked through the door each week, he would lovingly lean against the door as he shut it and say, "Man! I really love coming home to this!" Who wouldn't?

As we sat lingeringly over the meal, I would bring out my bible and would ask if we could study together. With joy in his eyes, he would answer, "yes!" and we were off on our adventure with Messiah for the evening! Wow! Who would go back to the old way? Not us!

Over the years our friends and family have joined us in this joyful celebration. Currently we host our local group of 25-50 regular people as a monthly covered-dish dinner that goes from house to house within our group. We've asked Randy and Betsy Felton to come up from OKC, OK to teach at these gatherings. Two weeks ago we were at a wonderful Lutheran family's home (we have always encouraged our people to remain in their churches and become a light among their people). We had about 25 people attend. We started at 6 pm with Randy and I sharing about the sabbath, lighting the candles, and sharing each part of the evening with Messiah being pointed out all along the way. Later, Randy shared a teaching on the sabbath, and everyone was basking in the glow of the evening by the time it was over. Some were new people who had never attended a service before. It was midnight, and people didn't want to go home! We knew what the first century people had experienced - house to house fellowship with a fine teacher sharing until midnight! (see Acts) The beauty of HIS PLAN was quite evident in our lives. People have simply wanted what Tom and I had in our lives. They knew that they needed more of HIM than they had, and they came to get it. "Come and dine!" are welcomed words to HIS people when HE is and has always been there waiting for us to join HIM! 

Shalom in Messiah,
Cheryle Holeman
HaY'Did Learning Center
PO Box 804
Independence, KS 67301
1-316-331-7712 (credit card orders)
http://www.haydid.org
shalom@haydid.org

From:          pottersclay@mail.icnet.net (Randy Felton)
Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath

Dear Eddie,
I have pasted below the article I have done on Sabbath.  Feel free to use it if it is of help.

Shalom, Randy
Potter's Clay Ministries, Inc.
417 NW 42nd St. 
Oklahoma City, Ok  73118
Randy Felton
Sabbath 
June, 1998

The word Sabbath occurs 137 times in 116 verses in the Bible.  We cannot look at all of them in this session, but we will consider some of them and try to get a picture of what God is trying to tell us through the Sabbath.

Exodus 16:23 is the first time Sabbath is mentioned.  It is a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.  In verse 29 the people are told that they are not to go out of their place on the Sabbath.  Here the word used for place has the concept of dwelling.  So in this instruction the children of Israel were not to even leave their homes on the Sabbath.  

Later on in Exodus 20:8-11 within the 10 commandments given, it is made a little clearer.    You, your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your cattle nor the stranger that is within your gates...are to do no work.  Again in Exodus 31:12-17 the law of the Sabbath is given again along with the penalty for the violation; death.   In Exodus 35:3 the admonition against kindling fire is given.  Now we will skip to Numbers 15:30-36. We are told when a "soul that doeth aught presumptuously shall be cut off from his people."   From the "Torah A Modern Commentary", edited by  W. Gunther Plaut, Union of American Hebrew Congregations; this means, defiantly with an upraised hand.  It is probably referring to a raised fist in public protest.  I would say an act of rebellion. Then we go on to the story of the man gathering sticks on the sabbath who is condemned to death.

This is in verses 30 to36.  It is interesting to me that the very next verse, 37,  is the  instruction to make fringes as a reminder of the Lord's commandments. Is this one more act of grace from God to help the Israelites remember not to go into rebellion?  I am convinced there is more to the story than we are told.  Complete willful rebellion always carries a heavy penalty.

In Leviticus 16:31 Israel is told to "afflict your souls" on the Sabbath. This word translated afflict has the sense of restraining yourself. Literally, it means to fast,  and again the sense is to fast from labor.

Now when we get to Leviticus 23:24 there is a Sabbath and it is accompanied by the blowing of trumpets.  There is to be no servile work but an offering accompanied by fire.  The word servile indicates the work of a servant and there is one sense from the root that it means a worshipper of God.

Let me say at this point that I am not going to address the special Sabbaths or those associated with the Feasts.  The discussion presented here is for Sabbath in general.

When we get to Numbers 28 we find instruction for offerings made by fire. In verse 9, two lambs are to be offered along with a meal offering and a drink offering.  Just who offers these sacrifices?  How are they done and who does the "work" associated with them?

II Kings 11:4-12 indicates the army could defend the king on the Sabbath. So, now we are seeing certain exemptions.  I Chronicles 9:32 tells us the Kohathites were to prepare the shewbread on the Sabbath (refer to Leviticus 24:8).  Again in II Chronicles 23 we read about the priests and the Levites that that minister in the Temple who are holy.  They are to go about their ministry on the Sabbath, verse 6.

Psalm 92 is a song for the Sabbath. Verse 1 tells us it is good to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises to the Lord.  There is not mention of corporate worship.

Isaiah 56 tells us that "Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath."  So, now along with the commandments to keep the Sabbath, we are told that it is a blessing to keep it and not pollute it.  Isaiah 58 13-14 tells us that keeping the Sabbath causes us to delight in the Lord.

According to Jeremiah 17, Jerusalem paid a heavy price for not keeping the Sabbath.   Ezekiel 46:2 again speaks of the priests preparing a burnt offering on the Sabbath.  Now we go to the New Testament and read in Matthew 12 about Jesus walking through the corn with His disciples.  In verse 5 He speaks directly to the priests profaning the Sabbath without blame.  Verse 8, Jesus says; "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." (see also; Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5)

Mark 1:21 is the first place I find where there were synagogue meetings on the Sabbath.  Here Jesus entered in on the Sabbath in Capernaum and taught.

 In Mark 3 we find that Jesus heals on the Sabbath ( see also  Luke:6:6-12, Luke 13:11-17, Luke 14:1-6, John 1:5-9. John 9:14).  Mark 6 finds Jesus teaching again on the Sabbath in the synagogue.  Also in Luke 4:16 Jesus teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath as was  His custom.

In John 9:16 we find Jesus accused of not keeping the Sabbath.  This was one of the reasons given for the Pharisees seeking to put Him to death.

Acts chapter 13 confirms the meetings in the synagogue on the Sabbath, see verse 14 and 27.  Again in Acts 15:21 we are told that Moses is read in the synagogue on every Sabbath.  Acts 16:13 tells of prayer being offered on the Sabbath by a river and not in a formal meeting place.

Finally we find the last mention of Sabbath in Colossians chapter 2:16. Paul is speaking to the saints and faithful brethren.  He tells us not to let any man judge us in meat, or drink, or respect to a holy day, or new moon or of the Sabbath day. These are a shadow of things to come.

Why would Paul feel this way and give this instruction?  I personally believe it is because the Holy Spirit has been given.  He will lead us into all truth.  We are to follow His leading and He will convict us of sin. While it is perfectly permissible to meet on the Sabbath and seems to be a very early custom among the Jews and later the Church, there is no direct commandment to do so.  Jesus entered and taught  "as was His custom" on the Sabbath.  He also did things that were not a part of the custom of the Sabbath according to tradition.  Do we serve God by tradition or from the Heart?  What is our purpose in what we do?  What are our motives?    The whole 14th chapter of Romans speaks to this very issue.  Sabbaths, meat, drink.  We have a call to maturity.  We are not to judge or be judged by what we eat or drink or the day we honor.  At the same time, we are not to be a stumbling block.   We are to consider our audience and act accordingly.  We are not to offend in what we allow.   Better to abstain when in the company of those who hold beliefs that differ than to demand our freedom  and offend  someone.

Is our walk to be bound in legalism?  NO, it is to be anchored in Love. If I offend you by what I do or allow, please forgive me.  I mean no offense.  I will attempt to not be offended by what you do or what you allow in these areas.  We do have  certain absolutes, they should not be compromised.  We have other areas that are not as clear.  We should always approach these out of love.   There are other things that Gentiles are not subject to and things that Jews are to be restrained by.     We need to walk in love according to I Corinthians 13.

II Chronicles 23 talks about the priests being holy and performing their tasks and duties in the temple on the Sabbath.  According to Revelation 1:6, we are kings and priests.   Again in Revelation 5:10 we, out of many nations, are called kings and priests.  Therefore, I conclude that there are exemptions that apply toward our service to our God that supersede the Sabbath requirements.

Shalom, Randy Felton  
June,98

From:          Steven Berkowitz 
Subject:       Re: [Keeping the Sabbath]

My wife Tina and I decided a year ago to become Torah-observant. You notice the main body of the word "observant" is "servant

For Shabbat(Shabbos), we light the candles, bless/drink the wine, bless/eat the bread, bless the children, bless the wife, bless the meal.

I put on my kippa and tallit, since the Sabbath begins even before the meal(can't light candles after Sabbath falls).

We have found this "ritual" of obedience, not bondage, to have created an excitement in our household-an anticipation for and of miraculous things from God. My children participate in the blessings 

Shabbat IS the Queen of the spiritual walk. She is the Holy Ghost, the LORD's Shekinah!

My wife comes from a Catholic childhood, I from a (non-practicing) Jewish and Baptist.

Steven Berkowitz
Hineni International Ministries


Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath
From:         Lynmarie Johns

Hello family,

I would like to share some things about how we celebrate the sabbath. Friday night starts our family night.  It is always grape juice and bread. They take turns reading from the book of blessings.   The children get to pick out the meal.  Sometimes pizza and popcorn. Sometimes we set up a picnic in the living room on the coffee table. This is a big treat, complete with good china and place mats.  It is our time to celebrate and remember the good things the holy things of G-d . We also light candles and bless the bread.  I also bless my children.  We go over our week and remember the answers to pray for that week.  We discuss what G-d is doing in our life throughout that week.  It is a joyous time and a wonderful time to hear about my childrens life and for them to hear about mine. We also know that G-d is real and living in our lives.   I am very thankful for our family time.  It is precous and I am continually astounded at how G-d is working in my childrens life.  They remind me through out the week Mom have you got the grape juice?  The bread?  We are going to need it! Even the neighbor boys ask when they can come over and light the candles You see G-d's blessing is forever and ever AMEN.

From:         Carol Melville
Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath

Dear Cindy:  

At our house, we follow an outline for celebrating the Sabbath that I found on the internet at:   http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/rtg/rtg-rts/rtgrts03.txt

This is an article from the Return to God Magazine, Vol.1, Number 1, page 27. It's very good, and I suggest you check it out.

Shalom,
Carol Melville



From:          Lori Elgin
Subject:       Keeping the Sabbath -Reply

Dear Cindy,

    About a year and a half ago the L-rd opened my eyes to Torah and Shabbat.  I found a great book Celebrating Shabbat the Messianic Jewish Way by Berkowitz.  Since then we've adapted and included many prayers from the artscroll siddur.  We light candles and have a wonderful meal and always invite friends (all of whom think we are quite mad) Shabbat is a wonderful intimate day with Abba.  We do no work.  We do not answer the phone.  We rest and pray and spend time with each other and the L-rd.  We celebrate havdalah @ the end of shabbat. Because of the intensity of my every day life in the intensive care unit it has truly changed my life.  I realize what entering into Messiah's rest means. hope this helps.... my only regret is I didn't find it earlier!! come on in, the water is fine!!!!!! 

Lori Elgin 
Park City, Utah



From:         William 
Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath

What we do:

  We begin Shabbat on time Erev Shabbat with the lighting of the candles  by the woman (queen) in our home. We then spend time reading from the  scriptures, particularly the 92nd Psalm, and generally follow a seder of  prayer, worship, song and food with Holy Communion using WHITE juice for  wine (sanctified blood - third and fourth cups of Pesach seder).

  On the morn of the Shabbat, we attend a Messianic congregation, then on  to another Messianic 'Christian' service. The morning begins at about ten  A.M. and ends about sundown in the evening when the second service is  over. Total time in Shabbat services is about 7 hours. (All at ground  level, so we shouldn't have to worry about Paul's problem.) Sleepers are  then awakened and we go to a fellowship dinner at a local restaurant.  It's usually about ten P.M. when we return home.

What we don't do:

  Any work in our normal occupations for gain or sustenance.
  Answer the telephone.
  Turn on the computer and respond to e-mail. (might look up something  using the Logos Bible Research Program.)
  Concern ourselves with politics or financial affairs or any other  interests pertaining to the world (cosmos).
  Turn on the TV.
  Much of anything that relates to the cosmos.



From:         Gregory Richardson
Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath

One of the biggest hindrances to "correct" Sabbath observance is to have a list of specific do's and don't's.  Where the Bible does not give specific instruction we must find our own way within the guidelines that are given.  What I believe may or may not be done on Sabbath would undoubtedly be disputed by others.  All of that being said, I would like to tell you what I personally believe makes for a good Sabbath.

Mark the beginning and the end of the Sabbath.

1) Welcome the Sabbath with "Erev Shabbat" (the opening ceremony for Sabbath). An excellent Erev Shabbat ceremony with explanations can be found in Richard Booker's booklet "Shabbat Shalom".  Booker is right there in Houston.  I believe that Erev Shabbat is vitally important for all Christians because it is a weekly reminder of Yeshua's(Jesus') love for us.  I think that it is important to have at least one guest for Erev Shabbat to share the blessings (physical and spiritual) that God has given you. 

2) End the Sabbath with "Havdalah" (the closing ceremony for Sabbath). Havdalah ends the Sabbath and begins the first day of the week.  Sabbath and the first day of the week actually overlap during Havdalah.  On the one hand, Sabbath is not ended until the Havdalah candle has been extinguished.  On the other hand the Havdalah candle cannot be lit until Sabbath has ended.  A Havdalah service is mentioned in Acts 20:7 [Note: Breaking of bread was done for Erev Shabbat and for Havdalah -- at other times bread was cut or sliced].

Do not work on the Sabbath. A notable exception to this would be emergency service to save life or property. Any such service performed on Sabbath must be done without compensation or monetary consideration of any sort.  I have worked for companies that were on "mandatory overtime" schedules.  When I said, I do not work on Sabbath, they quickly made an exception for me.  God gives us the day off.

Celebrate on Sabbath. Find ways to make the Sabbath a festive day.  It is a day of joy.  God calls it a "delight".

Gregory R
Christian Renewal Ministries International
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/2080/



From:          Luana Fabry 
Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath

I begin my Sabbath by making sure I'm 'prepared' before Shabbat starts. To me, this is probably the most important aspect of Shabbat  -  being PREPARED (like the 5 wise virgins) to meet the Bridegroom.

So, I do my shopping and make sure I have everything I need to get me through Shabbat.

At sunset Friday evening, I light my candles and then say the blessing. I do the same with the two loaves of bread (representing the double portion of manna YHVH gave on the evening of Shabbat) and the wine.

At 7.30pm we have our Messianic service, which involves worship, discussion of the Parasha and general sharing over tea, coffee and  TOO MANY cakes afterwards.

Once a month, we all bring a meal and have dinner together as well.

On the Saturday (till sunset) I read, visit, SLEEP or have a couple of friends over.  I DON'T shop (buy & sell) or do any usual work (including 'excessive' cooking, cleaning). These are the basic Biblical requirements.

FOR ME, I don't watch TV or use my computer.

That's about it.

Luana Fabry



From:          Sherry Ward 
Subject:       Re: Keeping the Sabbath 

Hi Cindy (and everyone :))

My name is Sherry, I am Dr. Doug's wife, from Oxford Ohio.  We really enjoy keeping the sabbath and find it a great blessing!  I have kept it from my child hood, and Doug since his college days- about 32 years for me and 20 for him :).

We have four children ranging in age from 15 to 1 1/2, and with this busy time the sabbath is a wonderful time to reconnect with family. We begin with a family dinner Friday evening, followed by bible study and family discussion-usually pretty lively and lasting until bedtime.  Sabbath morning we attend services at a WCG congregation not too far from us.  In the afternoon we have a late lunch/early dinner- sometimes from the crock pot- sometimes it's pizza :) rarely we go out for this meal- with four kids the cost can be prohibitive!  Sometimes we have company- others who enjoy the sabbath- most of the time we rest and relax and chase after the baby :)- who needs no extra rest just yet :).  Doug usually reads theology books and does his most serious bible study on sabbath afternoon. 

What we don't do is divide up the family and go our seperate ways on that day.  If an activity is planned it needs to be something that blesses the family and does not distract from God.

Well that's about it for us, it's nice to meet you all here!

Sincerely, 
Sherry Ward



From:          Glen Davis  
Subject:       RE: Keeping the Sabbath

Dear Cindy,

   Although I came to believe over two years ago that the 'new person' in Yeshua desires to please Him by keeping His commandments, I find it hard to keep the sabbath holy and/or wholly using my own power.  Thank God it is faith in Jesus/Yeshua that saves us.

If you have internet access there is a great article at the Return To God homepage (www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/rtg/rtg-home.html) called Celebrate the Sabbath.  

Among other things, it describes the sabbath as a time of relationship building.  It also describes a Messianic ritual welcoming the sabbath.  My kids love it.  During the summer months when it gets dark around nine o'clock, after welcoming the sabath, we go to bed.  During the shorter days of winter, we read Bible stories to our children (ages 9, 7 and 19 months).  Saturday day I get up early to read scripture, then fix a special breakfast for the wife and family.  We try to do things together on this day.  We don't celebrate sabbath the way orthodox Jews would (we often travel, cook, fix a few things around the house, etc.), but we try to follow Yeshua's example by meeting human needs (something He was really down on the Pharisees about because they were more into keeping score than they were into meeting human needs).

Last year, during the Feast of Tabernacles, we went camping.  It was a great opportunity to tell stories around the campfire about how the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years, living in 'tents' while God took care of their needs. Also, according to the time line in Luke 1,  this is the time when Yeshua was born, giving rise to John's saying, "He came to tabernacle among us."

Also last year, I bought a Menorah and introduced my wife and kids to Channuka with the lighting of the candles.  When my in-laws questioned whether I was changing religions it was an exceptional opportunity to witness to them first about how Yeshua is the Light of the world (from the first "Let there be light" to the creation of the sun were 72 hours of illumination; that's how many candles you burn during the eight days of Channuka), secondly about how Christians forget the Hebraic roots of our faith (as you say,..."looking at God's Word through American eyes"), and third, how professing believers in Jesus Christ should desire from the heart to keep God's commandments in order to please Him, to show the world that we belong to Him, and to evoke jealousy from our Jewish non-believer brethren.   

That's all I've been able to initiate so far.  My wife is not really "on-board" with me that 'Christians' ought to obey from the heart those things that God set out for His people to live by, but right now she tolerates the things God is asking me to live by.  We are looking into the 613 commandments and I think she is seeing much of what she believes to be true about how we should conduct our lives.  She hasn't gotten past the LAW to see the Divine Instruction that the Torah is, she hasn't reconciled Jesus to being the Word.  Please pray that God will change her heart and that if I am wrong, and it really doesn't matter, that He will change mine.

May Messiah Yeshua richly bless you. 
Glen Davis



To educate, train and equip for study both the Jew and  Non-Jew in the Rich Hebraic Heritage of our Faith.

Please visit the Hebraic Roots Global Network  Web Site located at:
http://www.hebroots.org/

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l

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