law, in the fourth commandment; it had been annexed to the judicial law;
(Exo 23:12) and here it is added to the first part of the ceremonial law,
because the observance of the sabbath is indeed the hem and hedge of the
whole law; where no conscience is made of that, farewell both godliness
and honesty; for, in the moral law, it stands in the midst between the two
tables. Some suggest that it comes in here upon another account. Orders
were now given that a tabernacle should be set up and furnished for the
service of God with all possible expedition; but lest they should think
that the nature of the work, and the haste that was required, would justify
them in working at it on sabbath days, that they might get it done the sooner,
this caution is seasonably inserted, Verily, or nevertheless, my sabbaths you
shall keep. Though they must hasten the work, yet they must not make more
haste than good speed; they must not break the law of the sabbath in their
haste: even tabernacle-work must give way to the sabbath-rest; so jealous
is God for the honour of His sabbaths. Observe what is here said concerning
the sabbath day.
1. The nature, meaning, and intention, of the sabbath, by the declaration
of which God puts an honour upon it, and teaches us to value it. Divers
things are here said of the sabbath.
(a.) it is a sign between me and you (v. 13), and again, v. 17. The
institution of the sabbath was a great instance of God's favour to them,
and a sign that he had distinguished them from all other people; and their
religious observance of the sabbath was a great instance of their duty and
obedience to Him. God, by sanctifying this day among them, let them know
that He sanctified them, and set them apart for himself and His service;
otherwise He would not have revealed to them his holy sabbaths, to be the
support of religion among them. Or it may refer to the law concerning
the sabbath, Keep my sabbaths, that you may know that I the Lord do
sanctify you. Note, If God by his grace incline our hearts to keep
the law of the fourth commandment, it will be an evidence of a good
work wrought in us by his Spirit. If we sanctify God's day, it is a
sign between Him and us that He has sanctified our hearts: hence it
is the character of the blessed man that he keepeth the sabbath from
polluting it, (Isa. 56:2). The Jews, by observing one day in seven,
after six days' labour, testified and declared that they worshipped
the God who made the world in six days, and rested the seventh; and so
distinguished themselves from other nations, who, having first lost the
sabbath, which was instituted to be a memorial of the creation, by degrees
lost the knowledge of the Creator, and gave that honour to the creature
which was due to Him alone.
(b.) it is holy unto you (v. 14), that is, "It is designed for your benefit
as well as for God's honour;" the sabbath was made for man. Or, "It shall be
accounted holy by you, and shall so be observed, and you shall look upon it a
sacrilege to profane it."
(c.) it is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord, v. 15. It is separated from
common use, and designed for the honour and service of God, and by the
observance of it we are taught to rest from worldly pursuits and the service
of the flesh, and to devote ourselves, and all we are, have, and can do, to
God's glory.
(d.) it was to be observed throughout their generations, in every age, for
a perpetual covenant. v. 16. This was to be one of the most lasting tokens
of that covenant which was between God and Israel.
2. The law of the sabbath. They must keep it (v. 13-14,16), keep it as
a treasure, as a trust, observe it and preserve it, keep it from polluting
it, keep it up as a sign between God and them, keep it and never part with
it. The Gentiles had anniversary-feasts, to the honour of their gods; but
it was peculiar to the Jews to have a weekly festival; this therefore they
must carefully observe.
3. The reason of the sabbath; for God's laws are not only backed with the
highest authority, but supported with the best reason. God's own example
is the great reason, v. 17. As the work of creation is worthy to be thus
commemorated, so the great Creator is worthy to be thus imitated, by a
holy rest, the seventh day, after six days' labour, especially since we
hope, in further conformity to the same example, shortly to rest with
Him from all our labours.
4. The penalty to be inflicted for the breach of this law: "Every one
that defileth the sabbath, by doing any work therein but works of piety
and mercy, shall be cut off from among his people (v. 14); he shall
surely be put to death".
