Reflections on the Fourth Commandment, the Sabbath Day!
As we reach the halfway mark of 2026, it is hard to believe how much has happened already. At times, it has felt as though an entire lifetime has been lived in just a few short weeks, especially the two weeks between 5th & 20th June. We’ve journeyed through all the seasons described in Ecclesiastes 3—a time for rejoicing and a time for mourning, a time for celebrating and a time for grieving and so on 😞
As we come to the end of June, I would like to pause and revisit our family devotion from May, which focused on the Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).
In the midst of life’s constant changes and the many seasons we encounter, the Sabbath serves as a gentle reminder to slow down, draw near to God, and find rest in His presence.
Bible reading 📖
Exodus 20:8 NKJV
[8] “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Reflections 🙌
Remember! This is how the fourth commandment begins.
Remember! It takes us back to the creation account in Genesis, where God created the heavens, the earth, and mankind in six days, and on the seventh day He rested.
Remember! It takes us back to Israel’s journey through the wilderness, when they grumbled because they had no food. God provided manna from heaven and instructed them to gather a double portion on the sixth day, because on the seventh day—the Sabbath—there would be none.
The fourth commandment is not introducing something new; it is calling God’s people to remember what He had already established from the beginning. Long before the Law was given at Mount Sinai, God was already teaching His people to trust Him, honour His rhythm of work and rest, and keep the Sabbath holy.
Hebrews 4:9–11 (NIV)
“[9] There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; [10] for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. [11] Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
Remember! As Christians today, we are reminded that rest is essential in our daily lives. We are to rest from our work, from our play, and from whatever else consumes the twenty-four God-given hours of each day. Our rest is not to honour ourselves or satisfy our own earthly desires, but to honour God.
Remember! Rest is an act of worship. It is an opportunity to glorify God and to keep the Sabbath holy, regardless of which day you set aside for rest.
Remember! God’s command to rest is not just for us. It extends to our families, those who work for us, the stranger among us, and even the animals in our care. The Sabbath reminds us that rest is one of God’s gifts—not just for us, but for everyone and everything He has placed under our stewardship.
Remember! Over the years, there has been much discussion—and at times even division—over which day is the true Sabbath: Saturday or Sunday. While these conversations may be well-intentioned, they can sometimes create confusion within the church and become a stumbling block to those looking in from the outside. When our focus becomes fixed on which day, we risk missing the heart of God’s command.
Remember! God Himself rested. The Creator of heaven and earth, who neither grows weary nor lacks anything, chose to cease from His work on the seventh day. If God saw the importance of rest, how much more do we, His children, need it?
Remember! God’s invitation is not simply to observe a day, but to enter His rest. It is more than physical rest from our labour; it is spiritual rest that quiets our anxious minds, renews our weary souls, and draws our hearts back to Him. Whether you set aside Saturday, Sunday, or another day, the heart of the command remains the same: make intentional space to stop striving, to be still, and to spend time in the presence of God.
Remember! Sabbath rest is not merely about taking a break from work. It is about returning to God—the One in whom we find our true rest, our peace, and our strength.
Mark 2:27-28 NIV
[27] Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. [28] So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Remember! Remember who created you. Remember who provides for you. Remember who calls you to rest. And above all, remember the God who never grows weary, yet lovingly invites His children to find their true rest in Him.
To God be the glory always 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 