OF THE MEANING OF THE WORD,

SABBATH

Psalms 111:7-10 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name [not man’s]. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

     Of the Ten Commandments the seventh day Sabbath stands unique. It is the one pointing every man, woman and child to the Creator Who enters His Rest, knowing that He has provided His children with every provision, including eternal life. This is the utopian tranquility that we are called to believe will one day be restored after sin plays out its hand. And GOD'S day of rest (in His providing for all of our needs and desires) will last throughout eternity (Isa.66:22,23).

     The infinite expanse of time before the creation of life was solely devoted to fulfill one purpose and one purpose alone according the words of Jesus: “that your joy might be full” (Jn.15:11). Today, multitudes are in misery. GOD never intended this course for freewill beings, and the Holy Bible describes precisely how He has provided every means for man’s deliverance from all that opposes the dignity of life in both its purpose and tranquility.

     Let us review the cause and effect of where we are today and where it is leading. GOD established many laws when He created our Universal Home. There is the law of gravity, laws of physics and biology, and none of them will ever change; with each of them contributing to the everlasting security of the heavens. GOD even gave to men the moral code for living: The Ten Commandments, that if followed, no man, woman, or child would suffer injustice at the hands of another. GOD said, “ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16. But the world is filled with unrest. The many struggles people face is simply due to the world making a conscious judgment to disregard GOD’S Holy Law. A system of government rules over life that is defiant to Utopian Law.

     Society imposes many harmful traditions on every child born into this world. And because they are concealed within a framework containing many useful benefits to society their poisoning effects are not readily recognized. If I place before you a box of rat poison and say, "Eat," your discernment of the threat would prevent your taking that action. But if I mingle the rat poison within your favorite foods, you'd be none the wiser until it was too late.

     It is on this basis that we see the exponential increase in disease, crime and war. Passed from generation to generation these traditions, (many of which were established by insatiably greedy men), hold back the needed changes that if made would enlighten, bless, and protect every child born into our world. But this has ever been the great danger of what Jesus called "the tradition of men."

     Today, a thousand destructive values that all would agree hold back the progress of civilization continue in the freedom to exercise their harmful influence day after day, and with no end in sight. This is simply due to man's eternal trademark of fraudulent behavior: the two-step sequence leading to the betrayal of everyone: bribery and coercion. These are the two steps universally accepted in government, religion and science that are shaping our world. The use of flattery and threats have caused every war seen in earth's history. This method, which always corrupts the leadership of men, withholds the restful life that every man, woman and child aches with a heavy heart to receive.

     But man does not realize his peril, nor the infinite worth of what he is opposing. Among the many established laws in our universe is the law of music. A wonderful lesson is learned when we examine this law and see its relationship with GOD’S other established laws. When we pluck a string on any instrument it vibrates producing the sound we hear. But the vibration of a string produces many other sounds as well. These other sounds are called harmonics (or overtones). Harmonics are produced because a string subdivides its length during the vibration: first by half, then by quarters, eighths, etc. We can hear these natural harmonics of the string, but because their influence is so quiet when compared to the fundamental tone they remain largely hidden to our notice. And yet, it is their influence that explains our love for music. So, when we play as a chord the ten primary harmonics of a string it produces a quality of sound that absolutely rejoices the human heart. In music we define this quality as major. The unchangeable law for the vibration of sound produces a lush and lovely sound, drawing from the heart a deep emotional rest.

     When we compare the joy found in the law of music to God's other established laws we discover that all of them were given to rejoice the hearts of people and provide rest to the soul no less than the law of music. And by remaining within the boundaries of their jurisdiction this will always guarantee our happiness.

     But now we must ask the question: Why is there so much unhappiness, injustice and cruel indifference, even within the Christian church? Man is at war with the very laws that make him happy. He defies what GOD has provided to secure our mutual peace. Can you now see something of the foolishness of sin? And yet, these laws exist to provide the means for utopian life. But there is no utopia on earth—yet. This war, GOD says in the Holy Bible, is a battle between sin and righteousness; and this is why the Ten Commandments declare all self-worship, idolatry, misusing GOD’S name, Sabbath breaking, dishonoring of parents, murder, adultery, theft, lying, and covetousness to be sin, for sin always robs from man the security and joy GOD ordained for His children to receive from His hand.

     GOD’S Law works to the promotion of life, never its harm or destruction! But society’s continual indulgence in sin shows the foolishness of man, for sin is at war not only with the security of life but also the aspirations of the human conscience that God has placed into every heart. He gave to us our deep abiding love for music, and He works to draw from human hearts that same love for His other equally commending laws, through whose obedience all would be safe.