Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Manner of Observing the Sabbath

Keeping Holy What God Made Holy

What is first commanded in the Sabbath commandment? BR-ASI9 288.10

“Remember the sabbath day.” Exodus 20:8. BR-ASI9 288.11

Which day is the Sabbath? BR-ASI9 288.12

“The seventh day is the sabbath.” Exodus 20:10. BR-ASI9 288.13

For what purpose are we to remember the Sabbath day? BR-ASI9 289.1

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8. BR-ASI9 289.2

Note.—All through the week we are to “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” This means that all our plans are to be made and all our business adjusted before the Sabbath begins. This is just as essential to spiritual growth during the six working days as upon the Sabbath itself. We are to remember that day, also, that when it comes we may not be tempted by circumstances of our own creating to treat it, or any part of it, as secular, or common, time. Thus the Sabbath commandment is to be obeyed every day, though the Sabbath itself can be kept, or observed, only upon the seventh day, for “the seventh day is the sabbath.” BR-ASI9 289.3

Who made the Sabbath day holy? BR-ASI9 289.4

“Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11. BR-ASI9 289.5

Note.—God made the Sabbath day holy; we are to keep it holy. BR-ASI9 289.6

What is it that makes a thing holy? BR-ASI9 289.7

God’s presence in it. (See Exodus 3:5; 29:43-46; Joshua 5:13-15.) BR-ASI9 289.8

To keep the Sabbath day holy, what must we recognize? BR-ASI9 289.9

God’s presence in the day, His blessing upon it, and His sanctification of it. BR-ASI9 289.10

When, according to the Bible, does the Sabbath begin? BR-ASI9 289.11

“And the evening and the morning were the first day.” “And the evening and the morning were the second day,” etc. (See Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31.) “From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.” Leviticus 23:32. BR-ASI9 289.12

Note.—The evening begins “at the going down of the sun.” (See Deuteronomy 16:6; Mark 1:32; Deuteronomy 23:11; 1 Kings 22:35, 36; 2 Chronicles 18:34.) BR-ASI9 289.13

One advantage of keeping the Sabbath according to the Bible method of reckoning the day from sunset to sunset, rather than the Roman reckoning, from midnight to midnight, is that by the former, one is awake to welcome and to bid adieu to the day when it comes and goes, whereas by the latter, he is asleep when the day begins and ends. Sunset is a great natural sign for marking the division of time into days. BR-ASI9 289.14