I have never quite felt right about going out to eat on the Sabbath with my church friends. Does the Bible allow doing such business on the Sabbath day?
When the nation of Judah returned to True Worship of Yahweh under Nehemiah they vowed, “…And if the people of the land bring ware or victuals [food] on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day…” Nehemiah says in 10:29-31.
Later Nehemiah had to deal with some backsliders in Judah who broke Yahweh’s laws by conducting such business on the Sabbath:
“In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals…Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?’” (13:17).
Yahshua had to contend as well with the merchants who were buying and selling in the Temple (Mark 11:15-16). Although this was probably not on the Sabbath, the desecration of what was considered a sanctified place is a direct parallel to defiling through worldly business the Sabbath day that is also sanctified.
When we do business on Yahweh’s holy Sabbath we also rob this worship day of its sanctity and violate the Fourth Commandment that sets this day apart from a normal day of work and worldly endeavors.
We are also prohibited from doing our own pleasure on the Sabbath, which going to restaurants would violate as well, forcing our culinary “servants” to work for us on Yahweh’s rest day. The Fourth Commandment specifically says that our servants are not to work on the Sabbath. Causing restaurant workers to serve us on the Sabbath clearly violates this command.
Some have argued that the staff of the restaurant would be there working regardless of whether we are there. Would Yahweh want us to contribute to the law-breaking of others when we are told not to do so?
So what about the servants and Levites who were ordered by Nehemiah to stand guard on the Sabbath to preserve the holiness of the Sabbath… did they break the Sabbath law by “working as guards” on that day? Or would this not count as a transgression, but a “good deed”? Just curious. Thanks! Neh_13:19 Then I commanded that the gates of Jerusalem should be shut as darkness fell every Friday evening, not to be opened until the Sabbath ended. I sent some of my own servants to guard the gates so that no merchandise could be brought in on the… Read more »
We would say that there were positions and duties that needed to be filled even on the Sabbath, watchmen, for example. Like today we have Firemen, Police and the like, while not exactly the same because most of these people are being paid, Israel would have volunteers on “standby” should these duties arise. Sort of an “Ox in the ditch” situation. Now this isn’t to say that you should go to work on Sabbath, only that in situations like the one Nehemiah, there are duties that could arise that obviously need to be addressed.
How does one in these times honor the Sabbath without getting fired? I know Father Yahweh really has thelast word, so stepping out in faith should see me through. Right?
Yahweh will always see us through if we honor his commands. While the short term is hard some times he always takes care of us in the long run. A blessing isn’t always immediately recognized as such.
No Commerce, period ! Jolae