Sabbath
Words of Faith 8-14-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 10
[31]"When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year, we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.

The walls were up. The people were feeling strong in the Lord. In response to the great Nehemiah revival, the people committed themselves to several reforms— a renewed commitment to the Law of God, a commitment not to marry outside the faith, and a new commitment to the Sabbath. All were aimed at keeping the repentant changes that God had brought to their hearts.

This third reform was not just personal observance of the Sabbath. It essentially created a ban on doing any business on the Sabbath, much like the blue laws in the United States did some years ago. Even further than that, the commitment called for the forgiveness of all debts in the seventh year and a Sabbath rest for the land itself. Such Sabbath-day business bans exist today in many parts of Israel and reflect the spirit of this time of reform after Nehemiah rebuilt the walls.

The word Sabbath is an interesting one. It simply means… quit. Cease. Desist. Rest. God provided the Sabbath as a much-needed rest for His people. The Sabbath also honors the day when God ceased from the work of creation because it was good and it was complete. Observance of the Sabbath connected people to that creation.

Sabbath is also an act of faith because it is a commitment to trust God as the provider. In the wilderness, the children of Israel were to gather manna on six days but not on the seventh. God provided an extra portion on the sixth day so that they would have enough, but on the other days they were not to store up God’s provision. God provided daily bread, enough in six days to feed them for seven. This is much like the practice of the tithe, which sets aside a tenth of God’s blessing to return to Him. The practice of Sabbath sets aside one seventh of the week to focus on God and trust that six days' work will be blessed.

This is one reform that would eventually become steeped in legalism. Jesus would have to clarify that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of people. People were not created to serve the Sabbath. That would be just another religion.

Today, we probably take the idea of Sabbath far too lightly. We work harder than ever and often neglect time set aside for God just to revive us. God tends to get leftover time in our weeks. Modern society has no honor for the days the church once held as family times.

We also tend to carry around a lot of debt. If not financial debts owed to us, there are the emotional debts that we carry on account with people. These weigh on that person— but more so upon us. Perhaps periodically clearing those debts would be a good idea.

How would God call you to reform in relation to the Sabbath? Do you keep a Sabbath? Do you have a day that you rest? Do you have a part of your week that is Holy and committed to the Lord? Do your business practices or buying habits prevent others from having a day of Sabbath? How do you allow God to use His Sabbath in your life? Do you allow God to renew and re-create you? Are there debts that God would have you forgive? Is there emotional indebtedness that you need to cancel? Even financial debts that are a burden and need to be set aside in someone's life?

Lord, reform me after Your image. Renew Your Sabbath in my life. Refresh and restore me so that I am prepared to do what You desire in my life. Allow me, by Your grace, to rest in You and be renewed in You. Give me times of re-creation. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.