July 3, 2011
Sabbath: The Rest of God Wk 1: Awe
Posted by Michael
Learn:
Psalm 62: 1 – 8
1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man?
Would all of you throw him down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to topple him
from his lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Main Idea:
The Sabbath is a very intentional day of rest. When God was done with creation, He made a decision to stop and rest. He modeled this concept out for us because He knew we would need a Sabbath. In the book of Exodus, He enacted the Sabbath as a law, not simply a suggestion. He set that boundary for His children out of love. Fast forward to Jesus’ day and we see that the Pharisees have made the Sabbath all about law keeping. Externally, they kept the Sabbath. But internally, they were doing so for all the wrong reasons. The Sabbath is about focusing your heart on Jesus. One of the ways of doing that is by adoring God for who He is – our salvation. It can be hard to trust God, especially when our outward circumstances look grim. When David wrote Psalm 62, he was facing hard times. But he chose to see God’s goodness through his pain. How do we see God’s goodness? By cultivating a thankful heart. When we take time to intentionally be thankful to God, it gives us a growing awareness of Him.
Know What: The Sabbath is both a day and an attitude. It isn’t a call to do nothing, but to very intentionally do something.
So What: We can find rest in God by focusing our attention on His goodness.
Now What: Cultivate a thankful heart toward God, but not simply in theory. Find something every day to adore Him for.
Discuss…
1. What is your opinion of the Sabbath? Do you observe a Sabbath? If so, what does it look like for you?
2. Why do you think God rested after He was done with creation? Why is it so important to Him that we observe a Sabbath as well?
3. In what ways did the Pharisees get the concept of the Sabbath wrong? In what ways is the Sabbath not simply a day, but an attitude as well?
4. How can you begin incorporating a Sabbath into your life? What are some things you may have to sacrifice in order to prioritize your time to observe the Sabbath?
5. Is it easy or hard for you to make the statement, “My soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him”? Why? What are the implications of admitting to God that He is in control and you’re not?
6. What is the difference between saying, “I do rest in God” and “I can rest in God”? Are both of these statements honoring to God? Is it possible to declare that you trust God even when it doesn’t feel like you can?
7. What are some things that you are carrying on your shoulders that you need to give to God? Why is it difficult to trust God with them?
8. What are some things that you are genuinely thankful to God for? Does being thankful for these things remind you of other things you can be thankful for? How does a thankful heart lead to a sense of awe toward God?
Next Steps…
This week, read and reflect on Acts 16. Think about how Paul and Silas were able to maintain a heart of thankfulness despite their circumstances. Think about how their attitude affected the other people in the jail. Wake up each day and tell God one thing you are thankful for. Focus on His goodness every day, and especially on the Sabbath.
