ROOTED - Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Ezekiel 20:12-13

12 Moreover, I gave them my
Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am
the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the
house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk
in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall
live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned.

“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the
wilderness, to make a full end of them.

Reflection: Sabbath

Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro

The
sabbath, and keeping it holy, is a big deal! Ezekiel 20, and to a lesser degree
the chapters around it, emphasize sabbath keeping. In chapter 20 alone, sabbath
is mentioned 6 times as God indicts them for profaning and mistreating the
sabbath. It is hard to miss the references to sabbath. God gave them the
sabbath so that they could know the Lord, as a sign to them (20:12). Nevertheless,
the rebelled against God, even in this small thing.

What
might ask, “what is the big deal? So what? They did not follow all the sabbath
rules… why does God care?” Many years ago, I was reading a lot of Eugene
Peterson and I learned, through him, about the significance of the sabbath. It
is not merely a day of rest. It is, fundamentally, a day to learn to trust God.
Peterson says that sabbath is a day when we refuse to get ahead. For one day of
the week we totally rest and trust God that the things I need to get done in
the future will. In this construct, I do not have to return a phone call to a
prospective client. I can wait and trust God that, because I have chosen to
honor the sabbath, he will bless my job and my income. That is a bit of a
specific illustration, but I encourage you to apply sabbath to your life. How
might taking one day TOTALLY off (no getting ahead)… how would that impact you.
Could you trust God that he will manage your week without you having to be
proactive? This is the training ground of the sabbath. It is a BIG DEAL. And
the children of Israel profaned it! May we learn to honor God by taking a day
to rest in him!

Prayer

Heavenly
Father, may we be trustful of you in our rest. Protect us and honor our rest,
so that we can learn to be trust you.