There is a connection between profaning YHVH’s sabbaths and his judgments

Judgment 14747592

Ezekiel 20:12, 13, 16, 20, My Sabbaths. YHVH cites Israel’s failure to keep his sabbaths as a prime reason for YHVH not permitting the older generation to enter the Promised Land. Judah’s not keeping the land sabbaths determined the length of her captivity in Babylon; namely, 70 years. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews brings up the Sabbath issue in chapter four of that book. What is the connection between keeping YHVH’s sabbaths and entering the spiritual rest of his Promised Land? (Read Heb 4:1–11.)

The Sabbath was the eternal sign between YHVH and his people, and it was one of the first Torah laws YHVH called upon Israel to practice. As noted, the failure of YHVH’s people to keep his sabbaths prevented the Israelites from going forward into their spiritual destiny.

Likewise, the fourth or Sabbath commandment of the Ten Commandments is the only one of the ten where YHVH instructs his people to “remember” it implying that they would eventually forget to keep his Sabbaths. History records that the Sabbath was the first so-called Jewish law that the early church left replacing it with Sunday (in the second century a.d.). In the modern Hebrew Roots Movement, YHVH’s people are beginning to leave the non-biblical religious traditions of men by returning to a more true-to-Scripture spiritual walk (a fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy about the heart of the children being turned back to their fathers in the end days in preparation for Messiah’s arrival [Mal 4:4–6]).

How prominently does the Sabbath figure in the lives of those believers who are returning to the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith? How significant is this prophetically? Is history repeating itself in reverse? Instead of YHVH’s people leaving the Sabbath, they are returning to it. The keeping of the Sabbath is an acknowledgment of YHVH’s sovereignty as the Creator of all, and of his sovereignty over our time, work and lives. Keeping the Sabbath is a direct assault on idolatry, materialism, selfishness, rebellion, and assimilation into the surrounding pagan culture that occurred when Israel forsook the Sabbaths of YHVH. Notice how Ezekiel ties the idolatry, rebellion and general apostasy of Israel with her desecration of YHVH’s Sabbaths. What was Israel’s heart condition that caused her to rebel against this commandment of YHVH? What are the excuses used by many today in order to justify themselves in desecrating YHVH’s Sabbaths?

In Ezekiel 20, we see that YHVH’s feasts (or sabbaths) are a covenantal sign between YHVH and his people (Ezek 20:12) that they were to live by (Ezek 20:11), yet which Israel, in rebellion, refused to do while in the wilderness. Instead they defiled his sabbaths by, presumably, not doing them and doing other things on YHVH’s holy days (Ezek 20:13). Israel’s rebellion against YHVH with regard to their refusal to keep his sabbaths brought upon them YHVH’s judgments (Ezek 20:13). In other words, it was YHVH’s will for the Israelites to keep his sabbaths in the wilderness, but because of their idolatrous rebellion, they refused to do so. In fact, YHVH calls refusing to observe his sabbaths idolatry and for this sin (along with other sins), the Israelites had to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Ezek 20:15–16). In profaning his sabbaths, YHVH accuses the Israelites of despising his Torah (Ezek 20:16). YHVH then goes on to urge his people to not follow the example of their rebellious forefathers, but rather to walk in all of his Torah commands (including his sabbaths, Ezek 20:18–20). Because of their profaning his sabbaths, he punished them by scattering them in exile among the heathens. Those modern saints who refuse to keep YHVH’s Sabbath and feasts are walking in the same sin as the ancient Israelites. Often people who refuse to keep YHVH’s feast days holy do so because the feasts conflict with their secular activities (such as their jobs and recreational activities). YHVH calls this idolatry and being like the heathen (Ezek 20:30, 32). In the end times, YHVH is going to separate his people out from the heathen and bring them back into covenantal agreement with him including obedience to his sabbaths (Ezek 20:33–38). He will purge from his people those rebels who refuse to obey him including keeping his sabbaths (Ezek 20:38), which are a sign of his covenantal relationship with them.

 

5 thoughts on “There is a connection between profaning YHVH’s sabbaths and his judgments

  1. Last week I spoke with some people from a Seventh Day Baptist Church, mainly, out of curiosity. I figured, if they were able to recognize the Truth about the Sabbath Day, then they would be open to other often neglected aspects of the Torah as well. Unfortunately, I was wrong. When I began talking to the pastor about the dietary laws and feast days and advocated for the Hebrew Roots he treated me as if I was a demon-possessed heretic, and seemed disgusted by the notion that I would believe that such things are still relevant to the church today. I am learning that the words “Hebrew Roots” is a bad word in mainstream christianity, and they see this “movement” as a false-teaching. I was saddened by the Pastor’s reaction. However, at least they obey and observe the Sabbath Day and are willing to separate themselves from the mainstream on that level, even if they are extremely protective over their Baptist Traditions. I guess this is why they call themselves Seventh Day Baptist. LOL

  2. “…How prominently does the Sabbath figure in the lives of those believers who are returning to the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith?…”

    >>OXYMORON, as christianity was created by Constantine.

    “…YHVH then goes on to urge his people to not follow the example of their rebellious forefathers…”

    >>As do Paul/Shaul in the “new testament”

    “…Often people who refuse to keep YHVH’s feast days holy do so because the feasts conflict with their secular activities (such as their jobs and recreational activities)…”

    “…What are the excuses used by many today in order to justify themselves in desecrating YHVH’s Sabbaths?..”

    >>Or rather ask; How many put in leave at work to attend the Yearly Sabbaths?

    “…He will purge from his people those rebels who refuse to obey him including keeping his sabbaths..”

    >>to be purged from among His people, >>it will thus be a physical exodus coming.

  3. Yes it is amazing how many 7 th day sabbath groups there are out there. I was born again, baptised in the spirit way back in June / July 1991 ….seems like so long ago.

    I was introduced to an understanding of the Holy Spirit ( RUACH ) way back but it was in a Sunday church. The father knew just what my husband & I would have to walk & wade thru to get to the fullness of biblical truth. Sorting out the true from the false.

    It was certainly a journey from all those years ago. We were so indoctrinated by Sunday churches until we left one of them after a division in that particular congregation.The father showed us much thru that very painful time. But our hearts were always open to truth…& thru seeking him in the wilderness of those years…wondering where he was in all of it…we met some people who introduced us to the Seventh Day Adventist group & they told us their beliefs re the true 7th day Sabbath , how it was changed etc,. so we did learn something from them / a piece of truth..however we were still seeking & wary. ??

    We also met some 7 the day Baptists, lovely people etc..friendly just like the Adventists but as we were learning one truth ; father showed several others re His Appointed times ( feasts etc..) & paganism behind Christmas & Easter etc..this was all happening from 2003- 2006 & onwards ; so in saying all this it appears that the people in these congregations can handle the 7 th day
    But when it comes to seeing the truth re how pagan Christmas, Easter are they have a hard time dealing with another deeper truth. We can only pray for them that father can touch them & open their eyes…some may, some may not. ( see the full truth) …but we keep marching on to his heart beat…& upholding the truths he has shown thru his word.Some see the feasts as just Jewish in nature ..& can’t grasp the deeper prophetic understanding of them.
    Shalom.

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