1. The sabbath was ordained by God as an everlasting sign to the Jew. (Exodus 30:12-17)
   

• To violate it was punished by death
  
• It was an everlasting sign, it is still it effect
  

Q) Why was there so severe a punishment accompanying the Sabbath?

1. The Sabbath was enacted before the law was given on Mt. Sinai. ( Exodus 16:16-30)
   

• Things before the law are still God's commands. Under the new covenant though, the principals take on a spiritual meaning:
  

1. Animal sacrifice = Christ's sacrifice
   
2. Mandatory tithing = grace giving
   
3. Physical Sabbath = Sabbath rest of Christ
   

1. The Sabbath has a spiritual / physical meaning for the christian (Hebrews 4:1-10)
   

• It is to be applied with kingdom principals in mind , not legalistically or under compulsion ( Luke 12:1-14, Mark 2:27, Isaiah 1:11-17)
  
• Under the NT, the Sabbath was a foreshadow of the finished work of Calvary.
  

4) Why do we need to follow the Sabbath?

1. Today's compressed schedules allow us no time to rest
   
2. Why are we so busy?
   
3. Are we busy because of necessity or desire not to be "bored"
   
4. Why can't we seem to slow down?
   
   
   1. Sensory overload
      
   2. We need all the "gadgets" that overload our senses: cell phones, tv, radio, pagers, computers, laptops, palm organizers, email, movies,
   3. A stressed people or society cannot hear the "still small voice of god"
   4. Can mental fatigue, nervous breakdowns, divorce, poor decisions, anger, stress, road rage, and societies breakdown be a result of a stressed, overworked people who refuse to create "down time" for their lives?
      Would a "sabbath" rest day restore health and sanity to us and our society?