What Sabbath Actually Is (And What It Isn’t)
Welcome to Part 3 in our 8-part series, Sweeter Than Honey, where we’ll use the rich imagery of bees, honey, and the rhythms of creation to explore how Sabbath invites us to step out of exhaustion and rediscover the sweetness, rest, and delight found in the presence of God.
Exodus 20:8–11
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
For many people, the word “Sabbath” feels unfamiliar or maybe even a little intimidating.
Some picture strict rules. Others imagine legalism, rules, and endless lists of what not to do. But Sabbath is far more beautiful than that.
One of the clearest descriptions of Sabbath comes from the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy...”
But the origins of Sabbath actually go back even earlier than Exodus. In the passage we looked at in last week’s blog post, we saw Sabbath from the very beginning of creation, didn’t we?
After six days of creating the heavens and the earth, God rested on the seventh day. That means Sabbath was not merely a rule given to Israel. It was a rhythm woven into creation itself.
At its core, Sabbath is a set-apart time of rest, worship, and delight in God. It is not merely a break from work (a very important distinction!).
It is a turning toward God. A holy pause where we stop striving and remember: God is God… and we are not.
Sabbath is where we rest our bodies, quiet our minds, and re-center our hearts on what is most true—that we are held, known, and loved by God.
And perhaps most importantly, Sabbath is a gift.
Jesus Himself said: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
In other words, Sabbath was never meant to crush us under impossible expectations. It was designed to restore us. Unfortunately, many people only encounter a legalistic version of Sabbath-keeping.
I think of Laura Ingalls Wilder describing Sundays in Little House in the Big Woods. She couldn’t run, play, or knit. Sunday wasn’t life-giving to her and at one point she cried out to Pa, “I hate Sunday!”
That is not the heart of Sabbath.
Sabbath is not about asking, “What am I forbidden to do?”
It’s about asking, “What helps me notice God?”
What is it that restores your soul? What helps you delight in God’s goodness? What quiets the noise long enough for you to hear His still, small voice again?
That is the invitation of Sabbath.
