I’ve been challenged by a recent article in Christianity Today. The subject was Sabbath – what does a day of rest mean.
In simple terms: as part of a creation story in the middle and near East, the king would create his kingdom. When the creating was done – the labour was finished – the king then went about ruling the kingdom. The rest was in the ability to enjoy the finished project. When the infrastructure was completed, you begin to reign.
Which is somewhat opposite to many views of the Sabbath. Prominent is the idea of leisure – escaping the current situation to dismiss responsibility. Or the idea of sleep and inactivity. Or perhaps even becoming deeply “selfish” and abandoning the world around to find yourself.
If I read this interpretation rightly, what you are building during the week should be that which provides you the most enjoyable activity on the Sabbath. To work righteously, to be merciful, to love justice then requires on the Sabbath a way to see that work of creation come to the enjoyment of those work hours by reigning within those areas. Settling in to the creation and loving it!
Will that look like work? To those around you – probably! To yourself = not at all.