Leviticus 23:1-3 | Holy Convocations

Preacher: Joel Fair
Leviticus 23:1-3

Exodus 20:8 (ESV)
8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Matitiahu Tsevat, The Basic Meaning of the Biblical Sabbath
Man normally is master of his time. He is free to dispose of it as he sees fit or as necessity bids him. The Israelite is duty-bound, however, once every seven days to assert by word and deed that God is the master of time. One day out of seven, the Israelite is to renounce dominion over his own time and recognize God's dominion over it. Every seventh day, the Israelite renounces his autonomy and affirms God's dominion over him. In the conclusion that every seventh day the Israelite is to renounce dominion over time, thereby renounce autonomy, and recognize God's dominion over time and thus over himself. Keeping the Sabbath is acceptance of the Kingdom and sovereignty of God.

Exodus 6:6-8 (ESV)
6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.' "

Leviticus 26:12 (ESV)
12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

Genesis 2:1-3 (ESV)
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.