In Jewish practice, on the Sabbath (which extends from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon), two candles are lit as soon as three stars are visible in the sky. The two candles correspond to the two Sabbath commandments in Torah*.

The first commandment is based on the account of Creation in Genesis, chapters 1 and 2, which ends with the following: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.” Note that all the other things that God made, He considered “good” or even “very good.” But the Sabbath, He considered not just good, but holy – the Sabbath is the first holy thing in creation. Note further that it is in God’s rest that creation is completed – rest is an integral part of the work of creation, both then and now.

But the Sabbath is not simply about rest. The second commandment regarding the Sabbath comes from Deuteronomy 5:15: “Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” This second commandment is not as much about rest as it is about freedom. Our God frees us from our obligations to work and to hurry and from the business of making a living for one day a week at least. In fact, in Leviticus 25, we learn that the application of the Sabbath commandment is broader even than weekly rest and freedom. For example, every seven years, the land is to remain entirely fallow. Even the land enjoys a Sabbath!

Reading this, you might be thinking that someone is thinking about vacation, and you’d be right. Linda and I are taking some time off toward the middle of the month.

The Sabbath is a reminder that rest is a necessary part of work, that the cycle of creativity includes both creativity and the appreciation of what has been created. The Lord rules both our work and our rest and rest is not just good, not even just very good, but in fact is holy.

This has been a wonderful year for Saint Nicholas, a year of much accomplishment and many moments worth remembering and savoring. Remember, too, that the church does not take the summer off and we are looking forward to Vacation Bible School, to Relay for Life and to weekly worship. Finally, remember that many people visit churches during the summer as they move or plan to move, so if you see new faces in worship please be as welcoming and hospitable as you always are.

All that being said, I do hope that you will take time for Sabbath rest, for a release from the busy-ness of the school year, time for families and cook-outs and rest, time to travel restfully (if such is possible any more!) or vacation in place. God rules our work and our rest, and rest is not simply good in itself, it is an integral part of work, it is holy and God commands it.

Have a wonderful summer!

Pastor Greg

* I’m indebted to Barbara Brown Taylor for this beginning discussion. See An Altar in the Earth (2009). San Francisco: Harper One.