Exodus 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
This passage of scripture teaches us the importance of being rejuvenated over the Sabbath hours, a spiritual and physical benefit which God intended for all members of the human family, but which for various reasons, evades many of us as Christians, even Sabbath keepers. The example given is that God rested and was refreshed, not meaning that He was exhausted from the work of Creation, but rather that He took the time out for a change of pace, thereby setting us the example that we should follow. After the week of creation had come to an end, then it was natural to take some time off to reflect on the great work which had taken place over the previous days, with all of the teeming life forms, including the crowning work of His creation, man, all in excellent order and harmony with the great Life Giver.
A common mistake that is made by some Sabbath keepers, is that after the sacred hours of the Sabbath have come and gone, there is no feeling of rejuvenation or revitalization, because the holy time was spent running to and fro doing good, with no quiet time for reflection in nature, and even less time for physical rest, from the burden and care of the past week. On the one hand, we should not deplete our energies during the working week to the point where the holy Sabbath has to be used as a way to catch up on our sleep. But on the other hand, we should not become so busy with church activities that we have no time to rest in the true spirit of the Sabbath. The mad rush that takes place during the six working days, should have no place over the Sabbath hours, even if some good is being accomplished, for if this is done, then the spirit of the law is being violated, and we will incur loss of some kind.
Thus, in applying the principle of rejuvenation, it is the will of God that we plan to be refreshed in heart and mind, meaning that our Sabbath day schedules should never be cluttered with so many activities that we must fall asleep during church services, for as one familiar story in the New Testament demonstrates, it's never good to fall asleep whilst the word is being preached. Our activities should be so calculated as to incorporate periods of quiet time, preferably out in nature, so that uninterrupted communion with God can take place. Adequate time for physical rest should also be included, for at the end of the Sabbath, we should be fully recharged, like an energizer battery, so that we can take a licking but keep on ticking, and by the grace of God be prepared to face new challenges with a calmer and clearer frame of mind.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which enjoins upon all Christians everywhere, the sacred principle of "Rejuvenation" as should take place over the Seventh day Sabbath, for if our God needed to be refreshed, we who are mortal and finite will also need to be refreshed in heart and mind too, according to the spirit and letter of the law. Let's read:
Exodus 23:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!