On August 16, 2015, the adult Sunday School class reviewed Exodus 31:12 through 32:6.
In the last section of Exodus 31 the LORD gives Moses further commands regarding the Sabbath. The LORD had provided commandments regarding the Sabbath before in chapters 16, 20, and 23, but three additional issues are provided at this point. The first is that “above all” the Sabbath is to be kept during the construction of the tabernacle. The verses immediately preceding identified the artisans responsible for the construction, so here the LORD commands that there will be rest on the Sabbath. Second, these verses reveal that the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant and that its observance would result in increased knowledge of the LORD. Finally, for the first time a penalty is identified for failure to observe the Sabbath. That penalty was death.
We too are to rest on the Sabbath and engage in corporate worship and learn more on that occasion about the LORD through Bible study and worship. Fortunately the penalty of the civil law has been suspended (else our population would be greatly reduced). But the penalty highlights how serious the LORD considers faithful Sabbath observance even in our day.
For the New Testament church, the Sabbath is observed on Sunday recognizing that something equally important to creation rest has occurred: the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week.
Also reviewed were the opening verses of Chapter 32 which detail the Israelites’ impatience with the long time Moses was spending on the mountain and their resorting to the making of a golden calf. This and the consequences of their sin will be reviewed next week.–Chuck Cain
Listen to Sabbath Commands and the Golden Calf (Exodus 31:12-32:6) at mcopc.org.
Mid-Cities Presbyterian Church Library 