The Two Temples
(A Christian Workbook)
Section 1: Chapter 7 – A Settled Place: The Principles of Rest
est, as we
saw in the last chapter, is one of the vital elements of human health, whether we
are discussing the body, mind or spirit. So important was this principle that
it found expression in one of the very articles of the Decalogue. A stone that
is strained too much cracks, and if it is a part of a wall, the entire
structure is weakened by the disintegration of a single brick. So it is with
the Temple of Yah. We are told, by way of another analogy, “That there should
be no schism [separation] in the body; but that the members should have the
same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members
suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” (1
Corinthians 12:25, 26)
In the
section of the book following this chapter, we are going to look at the
Spiritual Temple of the Almighty, of which we are individually single bricks.
In this last chapter that looks at individuals as Temples in their own right,
we bridge the gap between the two concepts, and see that by each individual
body-temple standing in place, maintaining wholeness, the entire structure
stands together in Christ and is built up a glorious whole. The principle by
which this is accomplished is through the right application of one of the laws of
health – rest.
The
commandment in the law regarding this principle reads as follows: “Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yahweh thy Almighty One: in it thou shalt
not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in
six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested the seventh day: wherefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed
it.” (Exodus 20:8-11)
Though
some may obey this simply because “God said so,” and not understanding the
blessing it truly is, the Messiah told us, “The Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) This blessing has always been a gift to
man, and made to serve our spiritual and physical well-being. Before the Law
was given on tables of stone, the 7th day was “sanctified,” or set aside for
righteousness. (Genesis 2:3) During the time of Israel it was a national symbol
of loyalty to the Creator of Heaven and earth, and an invitation extended to
the Gentiles. (Jeremiah 17:24, 25; Isaiah 56:6) During the time of Christ it
was a burden imposed by the Pharisees, but restored to its original blessing by
the Savior. (Mark 2:28; 3:4; Luke 14:5) After His Sacrifice, it was a continuing
commandment left with His disciples. (Luke 23:56) In the Church age, it
continues to be “a shadow of things to come.” (Colossians 2:17) In the New
Heavens and New Earth it will remain a time of rest, fellowship, and worship.
(Isaiah 66:23)
Yet
despite all this, the day by itself has no value. If one keeps the 7th
day as a period of time during which to do no work, to refrain from buying and
selling, to take physical relaxation, yet does not use the hours to draw closer
to the Most High, the blessing is wasted. The Pharisees and Sadducees who
crucified Christ were Sabbath-keepers. It did them no good, for they crucified
the Lord of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:28) To keep the letter of the law, yet miss
the spirit of it, which is “Rest,” is to deny the commandment altogether. Paul
tells us, “the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)
To be sure, although we have examined, and will examine, many “laws” during the
course of this workbook, it is always with an eye to understanding why the principle
was given, and the benefits that our Father intended us to gain by them. How do
the teachings that our Creator gave us establish us as Temples of his Glory in
either the spiritual or the material world? This is one of the questions we
seek to address.
In the
Book of Hebrews, the Bible gives us a beautiful teaching on the true meaning of
the Sabbath rest principle. “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left
us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto
us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [the unfaithful ones in Israel
under Moses – Heb 3:17] but the word preached did not profit them, not being
mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter
into rest, as He said, ‘As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into
my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.’
For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, ‘And God did
rest the seventh day from all His works.’ And in this place again, ‘If they
shall enter into my rest.’”
“Seeing
therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was
first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, He limiteth a certain
day, saying in David, ‘To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if
ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.’ For if Yahshua had given them
rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day.
“There
remaineth therefore a rest [Gk: Sabbatismos – a keeping of the Sabbath] to the
people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from
his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter into that
rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Hebrews 4:1-11)
To
summarize all that: yes, Israel of old was told of the Sabbath day, yet their
understanding of the day of rest was not “mixed with faith,” and thus they
often fell away, neglecting to understand what it was that the Almighty was
truly trying to show them. Many did not enter into the true “rest” to which the
day was pointing, and thus, even today, there “remains” a true Sabbath-keeping
for the people of God. Paul explains it in this way, “he that is entered into
[Yah’s] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.” If
we have truly entered the Sabbath rest, we no longer attempt to be justified by
our actions; we no longer strive to be good or pure by our own efforts alone.
Indeed,
to enter into the true Sabbath means to acknowledge that we are justified by
faith, and to be content to have Yah be our righteousness for us. “We are all
as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all
do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
(Isaiah 64:6) “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 8:5) “In His days Judah shall be
saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be
called, YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:6)
We know
that it is the people of the city that are called by that name, and not Christ
Himself, for the parallel passage in Jeremiah 33:16 says that this is the name
by which “she,” meaning the city and her inhabitants, shall be called. It is
understanding this, all of it, that allows us to enter into the true rest that
Yahshua has prepared for His people.
The
Spirit of Sabbath is more than just the day, it is contentment. The day
continues to be a sign in the physical world of that spiritual rest, and
continues to be a day “sanctified” for this use, see Appendix B, yet
this is not the rest of which it was said, “Let us labor therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Hebrews
4:11) Many who entered into the letter of the 7th Day commandment fell after
the various examples of unbelief, but those who enter into the rest of Yahshua
the Messiah need never fear falling. As Temples, they will stand forever. As
stones in the Spirit Temple of Yahweh, they will maintain their place for all
time; as the Master has said using a slightly different visual description,
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my Elohim, and he
shall go no more out.” (Revelation 3:12a)
How
important is the spirit of the Sabbath rest? It is of the ultimate importance.
Had the Sabbath rest been understood by even the mighty angel Lucifer, sin
could not have found entrance into his soul, and thus all creation. The
archdemon said, as he fell from grace, “I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt
my throne above the stars of Elohim: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the
clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:13, 14) Lucifer wanted more
than he had been given, despite his place of highest honor. He was not content.
How
different was the spirit of the apostle Paul, who wrote in the midst of a
lifetime of hard, and often thankless service to the Master, “I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be
abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed
both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:11-13) This
is the spirit, the very essence, of the Sabbath.
As he
reflected on his long and eventful life, King Solomon wrote these words, “To
every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A
time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up
that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather
stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A
time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A
time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A
time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
This is
not to say that we must develop a fatalistic attitude toward life, and not
attempt to accomplish anything. Instead, we must take from those words that Yah
has appointed set times for all things, and that our job is to find our place
within His divine plan. As Solomon concludes at the end of this very book, “Let
us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep His
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
From
our previous lessons, we should understand that the keeping of these
commandments is not blind obedience, but a loving and intelligent assenting to
the things given to us by an omniscient and benign Father. In Christ we are
more than servants, and He points this out as He speaks to His followers,
“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord
doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my
Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15)
This is
nothing new, and even the Old Testament believers had knowledge of this desired
familiarity, “‘And it shall be at that day,’ saith Yahweh, ‘that thou shalt
call me Ishi [my Husband]; and shalt call me no more Ba’ali [my Lord/Master].’”
(Hosea 2:16)
Thus we
work, as a contented wife for her husband, to please him, and not because he
has threatened her with violence if, on his return, the supper is not on the
table. And as we work, we never cease to give Yah the glory for the energy, the
will and the perseverance to complete the tasks set before us. By doing this,
we lose sight of “self,” and labor in the knowledge of His care over us, “Being
confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Yahshua the Messiah.” (Philippians 1:6) As we enter
into the rest Christ provides for us and cease from our own labors, we find
that it doesn’t matter that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,” and
that of our own selves we can do nothing. Christ covers us with a clean
garment, His own garment of righteousness, (Zechariah 3:4) and our actions
spring forth naturally from His indwelling Spirit that fills our hearts.
(Galatians 4:6)
The
prophet Isaiah foresaw the day of the Redeemer’s appearing. Speaking of Him
hyperbolically, with reference to a servant named Eliakim, (God raises up) with
the voice of the Father he said, “And I will clothe Him with thy robe, and
strengthen Him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into His hand:
and He shall be a Father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of
Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon His shoulder; so He
shall open, and none shall shut; and He shall shut, and none shall open. And I
will fasten Him as a nail in a sure place; and He shall be for a glorious
Throne to His Father’s house. And they shall hang upon Him all the glory of His
Father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity,
from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.” (Isaiah
22:21-24)
We know
this is a reference to the Messiah, for He applies the same symbolism to
Himself, stating to the apostle John, “These things saith He that is holy, He
that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth…” (Revelation 3:7) The important
concept in that passage for the purpose of examining the principle of rest,
however, comes from the promises given to the Messiah, and the reason why they
can be fulfilled.
All the
glory of the Father’s house, we are told, was to be hung on the Servant. The
offspring were to depend upon Him, and all the vessels… but why? The Son of Yah
is a safe place on which to hang these things, because He is fastened “as a
nail in a sure place.” This is a reference to the building of the Temple, or
indeed any structure: “Then Solomon began to build the house of Yah at
Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where Yahweh appeared unto David his father, in the
place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And
he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of
the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he
overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. And the weight of
the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with
gold.” (2 Chronicles 3:1, 8, 9)
A lot
of nails went into the building of the Temple, and with good reason. The
construction and organization of the Sanctuary was a detailed and delicate
task, designed for a supremely important function. If the foundation, framework
and walls could not be trusted, the Temple could hardly be a proper
representation of the building of Yahweh. Christ is represented in other places
as the “chief corner stone” of the Temple of His Father, (Ephesians 2:20) and
here in Isaiah as a nail on which was hung the entire plan of Salvation. We,
who are to be like Him, must possess that characteristic as well.
Nails
were employed in matters sacred, profane, and idolatrous, to fasten something
in place, “that it should not be moved.” (Isaiah 41:7, Jeremiah 10:4) The
righteous may profess, “I have set Yahweh always before me; because He is at my
right hand, I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:8) “He only is my Rock and my
Salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 62:6) In these
things we see security, and confidence, and trust… we see Sabbath.
It is
often through trials and adversities that we learn to put our trust in the
Almighty. It may take a bit of pounding to set a nail in place, but when it is
in place, it is a safe point on which many things may be hung. The Spirit of
the Sabbath for a believer is that, after he may have tried to be just before
the Almighty, after he realizes that he can of his own efforts do nothing, he
gives up, surrenders, and allows himself to be set in the place his Father has
had for him all along.
Peter
says of the Savior, humble yourself before Him, “Casting all your care upon
Him; for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) He says of Himself, “Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew
11:28) We are not promised an easy walk, only an easy burden. (Matthew 11:30)
“In the world ye shall have tribulation,” Christ tells us, but at least our
consciences will be clear as we undergo those troubles and, “Be of good cheer,”
He assures us, “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) If we trust Him, and
allow Him to guide us to where we need to be, we will be able to endure any
suffering, any trial, and we will not grumble, we will not lose our peace or
our contentment. We will be in Sabbath, and we will not be moved.
When we
have this peace, it is not for our sakes alone, for Christ’s peace was such
that He was able to bless others therewith. He said to His disciples, “Peace I
leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
This peace is not like that of the world, which counts peace as an absence of
war. The peace of Yahshua, the Sabbath of Yahshua, is deeper, and more
powerful. In the midst of adversity, in the middle of war, we abide in peace
and we have perfect confidence and trust. As the Psalmist writes, “Thou shalt
not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that
wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy
right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” (Psalm 91:5-7) We are not told
that we will be removed from these troubles, or that they will be taken from
us, but that we will be at peace with them, wholly unafraid. When we have this
trust in the providence of our Father, those around us will see it as well.
Paul
writes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing
into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food
and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all
evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
“But
thou, O man of Yah, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay
hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:6-12)
By this
profession, by this word of our testimony, we will stand as Temples of the Most
High, sure against the storm, a safe port on which others may rely, and a
witness of the glory that dwells within us by the Spirit of Yahweh. When we
have done this we have surely entered that rest which awaits us, and we are
ready for eternal fellowship with the saints of Elohim – both here and in the
world to come.
Quotations:
The Sabbath was given as a blessing to mankind:
“Great blessings are enfolded in the observance of the Sabbath, and God desires
that the Sabbath day shall be to us a day of joy. There was joy at the
institution of the Sabbath. God looked with satisfaction upon the work of His
hands. All things that He had made He pronounced ‘very good.’ Genesis 1:31.
Heaven and earth were filled with rejoicing. ‘The morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy.’ Job 38:7. Though sin has entered the
world to mar His perfect work, God still gives to us the Sabbath as a witness
that One omnipotent, infinite in goodness and mercy, created all things. Our
heavenly Father desires through the observance of the Sabbath to preserve among
men a knowledge of Himself. He desires that the Sabbath shall direct our minds
to Him as the true and living God, and that through knowing Him we may have
life and peace.” [Testimonies for the Church Volume Six, page 349]
“The
Sabbath and the family were alike instituted in Eden, and in God’s purpose they
are indissolubly linked together. On this day more than on any other, it is
possible for us to live the life of Eden. It was God’s plan for the members of
the family to be associated in work and study, in worship and recreation, the
father as priest of his household, and both father and mother as teachers and
companions of their children.” [Sons and Daughters of God, page 181]
“When
there shall be a ‘restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth
of all His holy prophets since the world began’ (Acts 3:21), the Creation
Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in Joseph’s tomb, will still be a
day of rest and rejoicing. Heaven and earth will unite in praise, as ‘from one
Sabbath to another’ (Isa. 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful
worship to God and the Lamb.” [The Desire of Ages, page 769]
The
spirit of the Sabbath day is rest:
“Jesus would teach his disciples and his enemies that the service of God was first
of all; and, if fatigue and hunger attended the work, it was right to satisfy
the wants of humanity, even upon the Sabbath day. That holy institution was not
given to interfere with the needs of our being, bringing pain, and discomfort,
instead of blessings. ‘The Sabbath was made for man,’ to give him rest and
peace, and remind him of the work of his Creator, not to be a grievous burden.”
[The Spirit of Prophecy Volume Two, page 196]
“The
holy hours of the Sabbath have commenced. I thank my heavenly Father for the
peace and rest of spirit that I have in Him. I can trust in His love.” [Undated
report of a camp meeting in Ashfield, Australia; published in Manuscript
Releases Volume Four, page 103]
“To all
who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it
will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The
Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power
in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace
restored through the Savior. And every object in nature repeats His invitation,
‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you
rest.’ Matt 11:28” [The Desire of Ages, page 289]
Resting
is a vital part of human health, both spiritually and physically:
“I was shown that Sabbath-keepers as a people labor too hard without allowing
themselves change, or periods of rest. Recreation is needful to those who are
engaged in physical labor, yet still more essential for those whose labors are
principally mental.” [Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October
8, 1867]
“The
restfulness which is in Christ Jesus, the peace of Christ, how precious, how
healing its influence, how soothing to the oppressed soul! However dark [the
Christian’s] prospects, let him cherish a spirit to hope for good. While
nothing is gained by despondency, much is lost.” [The Upward Look, page
102]
“My
son, you need the peace of Christ. God is your Father. He would have you take
more time to rest, that you may have a healthy spiritual experience. He loves
you with a deep and tender love.” [Letter to J.E. White and wife; published in The
Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, page 1808]
Complete
trust in Yah and His Son is vital to our Christian walk:
“All blessings are bestowed upon those who have a vital connection with Jesus
Christ. Jesus calls them to Himself not simply to refresh us with His grace and
presence for a few hours, and then to send us forth from His light to walk
apart from Him in sadness and gloom. No, no. He tells us that we must abide
with Him and He with us. . . . Trust in Him continually, and doubt not His
love. He knows all our weakness and that which we need. He will give us grace
sufficient for our day.” [God’s Amazing Grace, page 117]
“Unless
there is genuine conversion of the soul to God; unless the vital breath of God
quickens the soul to spiritual life; unless the professors of truth are
actuated by heaven-born principle, they are not born of the incorruptible seed
which liveth and abideth forever. Unless they trust in the righteousness of
Christ as their only security; unless they copy His character, labor in His
spirit, they are naked, they have not on the robe of His righteousness. The
dead are often made to pass for the living; for those who are working out what
they term salvation after their own ideas, have not God working in them to will
and to do of His good pleasure.” [S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 4, page
1166]
“The
Lord Jesus loves His people, and when they put their trust in Him, depending
wholly upon Him, He strengthens them. He will live through them, giving them
the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, imparting to the soul a vital
transfusion of Himself. He acts through their faculties and causes them to
choose His will and to act out His character. With the apostle Paul they then
may say, ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me’ (Gal. 2:20).” [That
I May Know Him, page 78]
Questions:
1) Do I ever believe I have too little to work with?
2) Do I
ever believe that I have too much to do?
3) Have
I understood the blessing in the Sabbath beyond the physical rest that the day
itself provides?
4) What
is my true motivation for my obedience to Yah’s laws?
5) Do I
seek to find blessings in adversities?
6) Do I
see difficult times as “obstacles,” or “challenges?” What distinction do I make
between the two?
7) Do I
manifest a spirit of resistance against advice that is given to me?
8) Do I
tend to constantly offer advice even when it is not requested?
9) Do I
know how to ask others for help?
10) How
do I deal with temptations to become unjustly angry?
11) How
do I deal with temptations to become depressed?
12) Do
I rejoice that I have the peace of Yahshua, even when things are not going as I
had planned?
Exercise:
After contemplating and, if possible, discussing with others the above
questions, find a verse or passage of the Bible that gives a promise or an
answer for each.
