Sabbath Heart

Paula Shockley
Aug 21
2 min read

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

and the Lord’s holy day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the Lord,

and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 58:13-14)

The people of Israel had been instructed on the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. That command was included in the Law (Ten Commandments) given to Moses and, through God's prophets, the people were admonished by God when they were unfaithful in this and other parts of their covenant relationship with God. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God's wrath was unleashed on the people (Ezekiel 20), and the prophet Nehemiah worked to bring the nation back onto alignment with the covenant when he found that they were, again, desecrating the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13). God had been very clear and the people were

rightly afraid of disobeying God.

It wasn't completely unreasonable, therefore, for the synagogue leader to think he was speaking for God when he chastised Jesus for healing a woman on the Sabbath. But, it's likely that Jesus had purposely set himself up so that he could right this misunderstanding. In an attempt to obey the rules, the intent and the heart had been forgotten. God had given the Sabbath as a gift and a reminder that they were made holy (Ez. 20:12). It was supposed to be an opportunity for restoration and renewal and a reminder to rely on God. When people are healed, they are restored physically and communally, and only God can bring such transformation. Jesus was, in fact, fulfilling the purpose of the Sabbath when he healed a bent over woman (Luke 13) and a disabled man (John 5)

on that sacred day.

When we are unsure if our actions are pleasing to God, we can ask ourselves if we are showing love, and if we're offering restoration and liberation - especially to those who are suffering. Loving God by loving others is an excellent way to honor God any and every day!

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” 17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13: 15-17)

Click below to listen to an original song by yours truly - brought to life using Suno - that expresses the possible sentiments of the healed woman.