Leviticus 23:3 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Aspects of the sabbath.

We are reminded of—

I. ITS ORIGIN IN EARLIEST HUMAN HISTORY . "The seventh day is the sabbath of rest" (see Genesis 2:2 , Genesis 2:3 ).

II. THE SPECIAL OBLIGATION RESTING ON ISRAEL , AS A REDEEMED PEOPLE , TO OBSERVE IT . "The Lord thy God brought thee out thence … therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day" ( Deuteronomy 5:15 ). We, also, as those redeemed at far greater cost, may feel ourselves on this ground constrained to observe it.

III. ITS PLACE IN THE PROPHETIC TESTIMONY . It is deeply significant that the prophets, who were the rebukers of mere ritualism and the advocates of the moral and spiritual elements in religion, should have given so high a place as they did to the observance of the sabbath (see Isaiah 1:10-15 , comp. with Isaiah 56:2 and Isaiah 58:13 , Isaiah 58:14 ).

IV. ITS CHRISTIAN ASPECT .

1 . It commemorates the greatest fact in human history the resurrection of our Lord. The crowning act of redemption is more to us than the crowning act of creation.

2 . Its obligation rests not on any one positive precept, but on the known will of Christ.

3 . It meets the two great wants of man—his bodily and his spiritual requirements.

4 . It is to be observed: