My First Post

I was reading in Leviticus today. There's a show stopper of an intro. But it was actually very interesting. There was a lot of info about the various feasts God gave to the Jewish people and a lot about Sabbaths of various kinds.

In summary, God then tells His people that if they obey Him in these things that he will provide abundantly for them even with little effort on their part. In fact rest in Him will produce more than much labor done in their own strength. (my paraphrase)

ESV Leviticus 26:9 I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. 10 You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. 11 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

But if they do not obey Him, and observe his ordinances and Sabbaths the reverse will happen.

ESV Leviticus 26:16 then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

ESV Leviticus 26:26 When I break your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in a single oven and shall dole out your bread again by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied.

As Christians we are not under the same ceremonial aspects of the law that were unique to the calendar and civil laws of the Jewish nation. Yet, the principles of Sabbath rest are still valid. When we abide in Christ, we are fruitful. Life may not always be easy, but God will provide. When we do not abide in Christ, our efforts are in vain.
ESV Psalm 127:2 “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”

Both covenants are in agreement. Living in the Sabbath of God’s strength is more powerful than the strength of men. From abiding comes abundance, but to disconnect through disobedience and unbelief means heartache and spiritual poverty.