Rest To Know The Lord – Exodus 31:15-16

February 12, 2024 Becky

A Heart Filled With A Verse

Exodus 31:15-16

“You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time.” Exodus 31:15-16 (NLT)

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Rest TO KNOW The Lord

The book of Exodus is part of the “LAW” portion of the Bible. It’s in these books of the Bible we learn about God’s standard for living. God has given all Believers instructions on how to live a faithful life, all we have to do is open the Bible and fill our hearts. God wants to guide us, and that’s where we meet up with His instructions found in verses 15 and 16 of chapter 31!

Exodus 31:12-18 shows us God’s own heart towards Sabbath rest. It’s important to Him, so it should be important to us.

The Lord gave the Sabbath rest instructions to Moses (Exodus 31:12) while he was in His presence, on Mount Sinai. The instructions Moses received weren’t just for the Israelites, but they were for us also!! He starts out this set of instructions by saying, “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep My Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between Me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.'” (Exodus 31:13)

God’s message continues into vs. 17…

“It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He stopped working and was REFRESHED.“
Exodus 31:17 (NLT)

The Lord is the Author of Rest!

He is the One that gave us the very first example in the Bible (Genesis 2:2) – an example He wanted us to embrace. Because…He knows what rest does for the heart, the body, mind, and soul! He knows we need it! And…when we choose this rest we get to know Him more and more, as He continually refreshes us!

There is REFRESHMENT in rest!

“The Sabbath had two purposes: It was a time to rest and a time to remember what God had done.”
Life Application Study Bible ©2004
(notes from Exodus 31:12-17, p. 143)

There is REMEMBRANCE in rest!

When we honor the Sabbath rest that God designed we are recognizing its worth! When we recognize its worth we grow closer and closer to Christ. Friends, these holy days, dedicated to the Lord, are important! Our relationship with our Savior flourishes as we embrace the Sabbath rest God instructed us to take. AND…we need to claim it each and every week!

If this is your first post to read of mine I thought I’d let you know the Life Application Study Bible is one of my faves!! (Make sure to read My Favorite Study Bible post to find out why.) This particular study Bible does a wonderful job shining light on Scripture passages, helping readers understand how they can apply the verses directly to their own lives! It’s a treasure in itself, and one worth checking out! So…I’m gonna leave you with the remainder of the note for Exodus 31:12-17, because resting in God’s presence is vital to a faithful life.

“We need rest. Without time out from the bustle, life loses its meaning. In our day, as in Moses’ day, taking time out is not easy. But God reminds us that without Sabbaths we will forget the purpose for all of our activity and lose the balance crucial to a faithful life. Make sure your Sabbath provides a time of both refreshment and remembrance of God.”
Life Application Study Bible ©2004
(notes from Exodus 31:12-17, p. 143)

Friends, we rest to KNOW the Lord!! There are A TON of references in the Bible about keeping the Sabbath day holy. That means something pretty significant!! I encourage you to do some digging of your own and allow God to guide your search. Might I suggest you start with Isaiah 58:13-14 and don’t stop there!

Fill up, friends!!

Cuz, that’s how we grow!

And, when we grow our love will overflow!