Then You Shall Delight Yourself in the Lord

Over the last three weeks, we have been considering God’s instruction concerning keeping the Sabbath as laid out for us by the prophet Isaiah.

God inspired Isaiah to tell us that we must honor God in our approach to the Sabbath. We keep the Sabbath holy as we avoid doing our own ways, finding our own pleasure, or speaking our own words. This approach to the Sabbath requires us to change our approach to life. We must put God first, instead of ourselves, and focus our thoughts and deeds on keeping the Sabbath holy.

Keeping the Sabbath as God instructs goes against our natural inclinations and it most assuredly goes against the direction the world is going. We must make choices in regard to what is most important in our lives.

Here are few examples to consider. On the Sabbath, should we devote extra time to prayer, or should we work on the house project that needs doing? Should we take extra time to diligently study God’s word, or should we tune into a TV program we like on Friday night. After all, watching TV is relaxing, isn’t it? On the Sabbath should we meditate on the things we have been studying in the Bible, or should we think about the work week ahead? On the Sabbath should we go to church services, or should we rest up from a hard week at work? After all, can’t we just listen to a sermon online or tune in to the cybercast?

It is true that to keep the Sabbath we must deny ourselves. But is that denial of self all that significant when we consider what God offers us?

Isaiah 58:14 describes the impact of our taking seriously God’s instruction concerning the keeping of the Sabbath. Verse 14 says, “Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Let’s consider a few points in verse 14. “Then” tells us that if we implement God’s instructions in verse 13 there will be a most positive result. The most significant result of living by Isaiah 58:13 is that we will delight ourselves in the Lord. In other words, we will find pleasure in God, His truth, and His way of life.

Not only will we take delight in the Lord, but there are also specific rewards that will come our way. I think Deuteronomy 32:9-12 offers us some insight into what God offers the Sabbath keeper, “For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness. He encircled him; He instructed him; He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings. So the Lord alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him.” Figuratively speaking, God offers us the physical blessings of Jacob now and the spiritual blessings of Jacob in the future.

Is it worth keeping the Sabbath holy? Only if we truly want to honor God and to enjoy the blessings God only offers to those who honor Him by keeping the Sabbath.

Gary Smith

What About Pleasure on the Sabbath Day?

Last week’s Sabbath Thought addressed our approach to the
Sabbath in light of God’s instruction concerning our “not
speaking our own words” (Isaiah 58:13). This week we
continue this line of thought as we consider the words “nor
doing your own pleasure.”

In the verse, we can see that the word “pleasure” is used twice
which would seem to indicate emphasis. “Your pleasure” and
“your own pleasure” clearly show a selfish focus.

We live in a society in which “pleasure” is something that is
readily available on a round the clock basis. “Pleasure” can be
found in sporting events, in shopping, in making money, in
listening to music, in eating a gourmet meal, in being catered
to at the spa. There are abundant ways in which we can titillate
the senses here in the 21st century. In fact, the pursuit of the
sensual is a central focus for some and no sensual stimuli is to
be denied.

The Bible addresses the futility of living for one’s own
pleasure, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of
the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it;
but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-
17).”

Tying 1 John 2:15-17 to Isaiah 58:13, who will abide with
God forever? He who will live forever is the one who turns
his foot away from trampling on the Sabbath by not doing his
own pleasure.

Does this mean there are to be no pleasures in life? Consider
another location where the same word found in Isaiah 58:13 is
used. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “To everything there is a
season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” In other
words, there is a time for “pleasure” and “delight” in life, but
it is not all the time. There is a time and a place for “pleasure.”

What about pleasure on the Sabbath day? Notice a couple of
passages concerning pleasure:

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; in
Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand
are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 36:8-9 They are abundantly satisfied with the
fullness of Your house, and You give them drink
from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the
fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

These passages describe what the prophet Isaiah was
addressing in Isaiah 58. God’s people find their greatest
pleasure in God and His way of life. Notice the verse says
God’s people “call the Sabbath a delight.”

The Sabbath is not a denial of “pleasure.” It is the greatest
opportunity that we can have to enjoy the pleasure of knowing
God and all that He offers us. The Sabbath offers time
designated by God for us to focus upon and drink from “the
river of Your (God’s) pleasures.”

Consider this and enjoy the pleasure of the Sabbath day.

Gary Smith