As I have been reading Ezekiel I am struck by the utter passion the Lord had for the people to come into “obedience”. . But His anger was brought forth due to their disobedience. His Laws and particularly His Sabbath was SO important to Him as evidenced by Ezekiel’s writings.
In Ezekiel 20:10 we read “Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them to the desert. I gave them My decrees and made know to them My Laws, for the man who obeys them WILL LIVE BY THEM. Also I gave them My Sabbaths as a SIGN BETWEEN US, so that they would know that I, the Lord, made them holy” Here we see that the Lord singled out His Holy Day as a “Sign” between Him and His people. Many Christians believe this “sign” still exists today. I, too, believe this and am “utterly” convinced it’s true.
Then in Ezekiel 20:13 “yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not follow my decrees and rejected My Laws-although the man who obeys them will live by them- and they ‘utterly’ desercrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert.” What strikes me here is the Lord singling out His Sabbath for special emphasis. . We can really see that He valued this most Holy Day. It’s almost as if the Sabbath is “the Commandment” that the Lord could no longer take being abused. Because we notice special mention of “utterly desercrating My Sabbath”
Again Ezekiel makes the point repeatively, from the Lord ( Ezekiel 20:20) “I am the Lord your God, follow my decrees and be careful to KEEP my Laws. Keep My Sabbaths holy, that THEY MAY BE A SIGN BETWEEN US. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God”. Twice in close proximity the Lord calls the Sabbath a “sign” between us. Can we not realize the passion and pleading from the Lord to the people? Now, can I ask you, has the Lord changed so much as to “lose” this passion for upholding His Laws and Sabbath? (Malachi 3:6) “I the Lord, change not.”
A fourth time AGAIN the Lord says (Ezekiel 20:21) “But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep My Laws–although the man who obeys them will live by them, and they desercrated My Sabbaths” Notice the Lord keeps referring to “MY SABBATHS”. They are indeed the Lord’s. The seventh day is specially made and is in fact “the Lord’s”. This day was made also for man that we might partake in communion with Him on “His Day”.
Finally a fifth time the Lord says (Ezekiel 20 :23) “Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries BECAUSE they had not obeyed my Laws and rejected my decrees and desercrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their father’s idols”
After reviewing the above words of the Lord it is clear that He gave the people great signs and wonders (deliverance from Egypt)but that in return He asked for something . It was to “obey” Him through His Laws and Sabbath. Today, can we imagine our Lord changing SO MUCH and saying “Ok, My people, never mind My prior words, go ahead and desercrate my Holy Day, it’s ok. We have a new covenant and My Laws don’t really matter anymore. ” But this is exactly what many are doing today! Assuming our Lord has changed so much and His words and ways have done a complete 180 turnaround. I say NO! Infact by His blood He has put His final stamp on His Laws and Sabbath and we have NO MORE EXCUSE to disobey His Laws or desercrate His Holy Sabbath.
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
April 25, 2010 at 2:52 am |
HELLO ROB: THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE POST WITH ME– IT IS PRECIOUS– THAT WAS THE VERY THING THAT I HAD BEEN PRAYING ABOUT. ASKING HE LORD FOR THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SABBATH– WHEN EVER I ASKED SOMEONE FROM A PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OR ONES LIKE THAT) THEY WOULD EITHER BRUSH ME OFF OR SAY THAT IT JUST MEANT SUNDAY. BUT MY PRAYER WAS ANSWERED– A COUPLE FROM THE USA CAME TO WETASKIWIN AND HAD A WEEK SEMINAR IN THE EVENINGS. THE ONLY ONE I MISSED WAS THE SECOND ONE THAT CAN BE EXPLAINED LATER. ANYWAY IT WAS THERE AT THE SEMINAR WHEN THE TRUTH WAS STARRING AT ME ON THE SCREEN– WORK WON’T LET ME HAVE EVERY SATURDAY OFF– PLEASE PRAY THAT I WILL FIND A NEW JOB WHERE I CAN HAVE EVERY SABBATH OFF– GOD BLESS
April 25, 2010 at 3:34 am |
Yes, Leona, God will always answer your prayers when they are in harmony with His will. And the Sabbath CERTAINLY is. I’ll pray for your work situation. I am so happy He’s opened your eyes to His truth.
April 29, 2010 at 1:29 am |
Wow talk about EMPHATIC…God talked about His Sabbath for the entire chapter! Surely God does nothing in vain, and His words do not return void, but accomplish what they set out to do.
I prayed for you too, Leona.
April 29, 2010 at 2:56 am |
Yes, I was struck by His repeating again and again WHAT is important to Him. His own universe is based on His loving Laws and Sabbath. Thanks Todd, for understanding such truth from the Lord.
May 3, 2010 at 12:01 am |
Good points, however Christ IS our Sabbath rest. Everyday is set aside to the Lord. Lest we fall into legalism, there is no reason that I should do something on Tuesday that I can’t do on Sunday (and vice versa). All of the OT scriptures point to Christ (ie He is our Passover lamb, yet we don’t still celebrate the Passover as traditionally celebrated). It’s dangerous to assume that keeping the Sabbath, while a good discipline, gains us any more favor with God. All spiritual blessings have been poured out from the cross and thus we receive, rather than earn, His favor. “Come to me and I will give you rest” claimed the Lamb. He is our rest. Daily.
God created the universe for His glory to unite all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10).
May 8, 2010 at 1:44 pm |
Hi Scott,
I understand your position on the sabbath but respectfully disagree. The author of this blog is correct – the 7th day sabbath was given to – man – and not the Jews only. My former best friend (his choice to end our friendship, not mine) of 20 years, has accused me of keeping the Sabbath to earn salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth!! I have yet to meet a single Sabbath-keeper who keeps the biblical sabbath to be saved, rather we keep the sabbath because we are saved and love God. Why is it that Sunday-keepers always accuse us of being legalistic without listening to what the Bible actually says. Christians who have accepted Sunday as a day of worship are basing their position on very shaky ground, for the Bible tells us no such thing. With regards to not keeping the Passover, this is the true “Lord’s Supper”, which is celebrated once per year at a specific date and time. The reason those who keep Sunday fail to grasp this is because they have rejected the true Sabbath day.
Blessings,
T.G.
http://www.learnthebible.ca
http://learnthebibleca.wordpress.com
May 3, 2010 at 2:50 am |
Scott, I pray you get away from the misguided beliefs. Check out my post “7 truths the anti-Sabbath keepers must ignore” for a more indepth look at his truth from God’s word, NOT my opinion. That is all we can go by. I, too, used to worship on “Sunday” until I tried His Sabbath just on blind faith, talk about my eyes being opened! Ofcourse Christ gives us rest, however HIS WORDS which were spoken BOTH in the OT and NT overwhelmingly show His Law (Moral)has NOT be destroyed or eliminated, the Sabbath being right in the middle of His Moral Law. Confusion sets in when we don’t differentiate from the “Mosaic law” and the “Moral law”. After exhaustive study it has been very clear we draw closer to him AFTER we obey his Commandments. Rob
May 8, 2010 at 8:50 pm |
That is sad indeed of the lost friendship of over 20 years! Satan and His angels are clinging to the “last day lie” that His Sabbath is legalistic and “not-needed”. It truly is amazing that, after the PREPONDERANCE of biblical evidence of God’s Sabbath (and how it is still in place), many close their eyes to the truth of God’s word and misquote and distort it’s true meaning. Instead of just humbly saying “God, all truth I desire. please show it and let me not interfere with your instructions”. Then if they stay true and await His guidance HE WILL SHOW HIS SABBATH AS TRUTH! Nevertheless, we PRESS ON for His truth and will not quit spreading it! Amen.
June 27, 2010 at 4:58 am |
I was brought up going to different churches where the worship was held on Sunday and during those years I didn’t realize that there were any churches that held their worship on the seventh day. Then one day I picked up a postcard for a bible study lesson when I was in the waiting room at a doctor’s clinic. I filled out the postcard, mailed it and then forgot about until a very sweet woman showed up at my house with the lessons. During her visit with me she gave me the best advice that I have ever received. She told me it helps if we pray for understanding before ever opening the pages of the bible. When she left my house I took her advice and was finally able to understand everything that I was reading. The reading turned into searching the scriptures and the searching led me to seeing the importance in the Seventh Day Sabbath. To make a long story shorter, I became determined to search until I could find a church that held its worship on the seventh day. Once I made that decision, I didn’t have to search because God led two young SDA women into my life. The friendship started out when they invited me to join a volley ball league with them and then a few week later they invited me to go to church with them. When I agreed to go they told me they would pick me up the next Saturday. The moment they said that it confirmed to me that God had been leading every step of the way. I found out a few years after I joined the church that the lady who had delivered the bible study lessons was also a SDA.
Once we reach the age of accountability God does try to lead each of us into seeing the importance in His Holy Sabbath Day. It is only when we keep our hearts open that we can truly see it and be blessed through it.
Brother thank you so much for sharing this note! We definitely must press on for His truth !!
June 27, 2010 at 5:09 am |
Barbara, your post has brought a smile to me. Isn’t it great how God brings us His truth when we are ready for it. I absolutely agree with you, we should always ask our Lord for guidance in reading scripture. Keep your great walk with Him going strong! Rob Ps. My pleasure to be used by God for reaching you and others.
February 16, 2011 at 8:04 pm |
WOW THANK U BARBRA. I MYSELF HAVE NEVER WORSHIPED ANYWHERE BUT IN AN SDA CHURCH. I GREW UP W NOTHING: &WALKED IN THE WORLD &FROM AN EARLY AGE WAS INTO NEW AGEISMS. AS FAR AS KEEPING EVERY DAY HOLY NOT POSSIBLE: NOT ACCORDING TO GOD. HE SAY NO WORK BUSINESS NADA! SO THAT SAID HOW WILL U EARN TO PAY THE BILLS? AS FAR AS ANY DAY? IF THAT BE TRUE, Y DID THE MANNA KEEP 24 1ST. -5TH DAY THEN ON THE 6TH A DOUBLE PORTION FALL AND IT KEPT 48 INSTEAD OF WORMING IN 24? Y? CUZ GOD WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THE SANCTITY OF HIS SABBATH. OUR GOD NEVER CHANGED HIS MIND-HE NEVER CHANGES. TRUE LOVE +FAITH IN HIM BEGATS OBEDIENCE IT IS THAT SIMPLE. SO *@SCOTT* DO U REALLY BELIEVE ANY DAY IS THE SAME TO GOD?
February 17, 2011 at 1:18 am |
Cynfree, we can only pray for the mis-informed. It is a snowball getting more deceived and bigger , gaining momentum as they continue to BREAK His Law , they continue to not see.
November 17, 2014 at 12:42 am |
Ezekiel 20 says sabbaths (plural) it was not just the weekly sabbath the people didn’t keep it was also God’s annual sabbaths which are to be kept today also.
November 17, 2014 at 4:13 am |
Hi Kevin. Are you an SDA? If so I’d like to discuss more of this, if not we are on two different planes of truth unfortunately.