How to observe the Shabbath completely ?

Question

Please tell me each and every thing about the sabbath

Answer 1

A Day of Rest -What a Wonderful Gift!

God gave us the Sabbath (Hebrew: Shabbat) as a day of rest and rejuvenation, a day to enjoy His creation and focus on Him. Shabbat means "to rest". How many times in our busy lives we don't take time for needed rest! The pace of life today is much faster than it's ever been. Today's families seem to never have enough time to spend together. Celebrating the Sabbath provides time to unwind, be with family and refocus on God. The Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday evening and lasts until sundown on Saturday evening. The Friday evening meal (Erev Shabbat or "Sabbath Eve") is very special and celebrates entering into Sabbath rest. Saturday evening it is customary to celebrate the close of the Sabbath with the Havdalah service.

Unfortunately, the celebration of the Sabbath is a tradition that has been lost to many Christians. The celebration is an excellent teaching tool about God and His plans for humanity, and a wonderful "family time" as well. This article will provide basic information to help you to celebrate the Sabbath.

History of the Sabbath

The Sabbath was the first festival to be outlined by God to Moses in the book of Leviticus. It was the first festival observed by God Himself in the book of Genesis, as well as being the first to be observed by man, even before the revelation at Mount Sinai when the other festivals were commanded. The Sabbath is a time of rest and is a Picture of the Bride (God's people) resting with the Bridegroom, Yeshua (Jesus). It is very symbolic of the ultimate fulfillment of the Sabbath -- the 1000 year rest (the Millennium).

In ancient Jewish eschatology, it was believed that time was a seven thousand year period, starting with the creation of the Heavens and the Earth in Genesis 1 and ending with the Messianic Kingdom in years 6000 - 7000 (Revelation 21). Time was divided into three stages of 2000 years: Years 1-2000 (after the fall) called Tohu or desolation, years 2000-4000 called Torah, or instruction (after the giving of the law), and years 4000-6000 called Y'mot Mashiach, or days of the Messiah (starting with the Messiah's birth in the 4000th year). We are currently in this time period. In the 6000th year the Messianic Kingdom is thought to begin until year 7000, when the Olam Haba or eternity will begin. Ancient Rabbis saw the 7 days of a week as a pattern of the seven thousand year plan of God. They believed that the Sabbath was a picture of the Messianic Kingdom, which we refer to as the Millennium.


Sabbath Eve Celebration

(Erev Shabbat)

The Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday evening (Erev Shabbat or "Sabbath Eve"). The Friday evening meal is very special and celebrates entering into Sabbath rest. At this time, the focus should turn from the activities of the week and should center on God, our family, rest and rejuvenation.

What You Will Need to Celebrate!

1. A pair of candle holders with two white candles and matches

2. Wine or grape juice with glasses

3. A pitcher of water, a bowl and a towel

4. Two loaves of bread (challah is traditional)

5. A salt shaker

6. A nice napkin to cover the bread

7. A special dinner

How to Celebrate

Traditionally, the man and woman lead their family in celebration of the Sabbath, however anyone can perform the service. The steps are numbered in the order that they should be performed. The speaking parts are denoted by blue text. Explanations for each step are included in italics. For people not familiar with celebrating the Sabbath, it is useful and edifying to read the explanations aloud as the celebration is being performed.

Woman

1. Preparation Prayer

The preparation prayer is spoken by the woman before lighting the Sabbath candles. Traditionally, the woman covers her head with a scarf while lighting the candles. A small pair of candles may also be lit by a daughter, as she learns from her mother.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings of your rest and peace this evening. Holy Spirit, be with us as we partake of this Shabbat. Fill our hearts and minds with your shalom, your peace that surpasses all understanding. Guide each of us that we may bless one another with our words and actions. We ask your blessing over our home and family. Pour out your Spirit upon us as we partake of your Shabbat, your rest.
May our home, our hearts and our minds be used by you to bring the news that your Messiah has come, has risen and will come again! In the name of Yeshua Ha Mashiach we pray. Amen.

2. Lighting the Candles

As the woman lights the candles remember that God chose another woman, Mary, to bring forth "The Light of the World" (John 8:12).

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitz-votav, v'tzinvanu l'hadlik neyr shel Shabbat

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe who has set us apart by Your commandments and has enjoined upon us the kindling of the Sabbath light.

Creation (lighting the first candle) This candle represents creation. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...And God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light." -- Genesis 1:1,3.

Redemption (lighting the second candle) This candle represents redemption. Yeshua said, "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -- John 8:12.

The woman may now pray silently for her children.

Man

3. Blessings

The man lays his hands upon his wife and each child as he asks the Lord's blessing upon them. To the wife, he may read Proverbs 31 "A wife of noble character..." He continues with an appropriate blessing, such as:

Lord, I thank You for Your blessing of this woman to me. I ask that You bless her. Remove all fear and doubt from her heart and mind. Grant her Your shalom, Your peace that surpasses all understanding. I ask that You guide her steps and guard her path from Satan. Let her know that I am committed to You, and I am committed to her. In the name of Yeshua the Messiah I pray. Amen.

To the children he may read Psalm 127:3 "...children are a reward from Him." He continues with an appropriate blessing such as:

Lord, I thank you for the blessing of this child. I ask that You fill him/her with Your Holy Spirit and guard his/her footsteps. I ask that You guard his/her path from Satan. I ask that You build his/her character in Your likeness, in truth, honor and light. I ask that You remove fear from this child and fill him/her with Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Yeshua the Messiah I pray, Amen.




4. Wine

The cup is held at the base by the fingers, causing them to point upward. They represent the children of God, reaching up and longing for Him.

The wine symbolizes Yeshua's shed blood. In Matthew 26:27, Yeshua "took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'"

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, boaray peree ha-gofen

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Everyone drinks of the wine.

5. Washing

This blessing is intended to show gratitude to God for His sanctification of us.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us through Your commandments and instructed us concerning the washing of hands. We dedicate our hands and ourselves to you.

The man pours water from the pitcher for everyone to wash their hands.
6. Bread

In Leviticus 24:5-9, bread was to be set on the altar each Sabbath as a lasting covenant. The two loaves on the table are symbolic of the double portion of manna which God provided on Fridays for the children of Israel when they wandered in the wilderness. The bread is covered with a cloth, which symbolizes the dew that was around the camp when the Israelites woke up in the desert. When the dew evaporated, the manna, God's provision of bread was on the ground.

Traditionally, Challah (pronounced "Halla") is used as the bread (see related recipe). Challah is a braided bread formed by braiding strips of dough. This braid is said to represent folded arms, as in rest.

The bread represents Yeshua, the Bread of Life. Yeshua said "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." -- John 6:51.

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, ha-motzee lechem min ha-aretz

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Starting with the man, everyone breaks off a piece of bread to eat. A tradition is to sprinkle a little salt on the second bite, recalling Genesis 3:19: "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food."
7. The Dinner is served

A special dinner should be served.

8. Grace after the meal

Deuteronomy 8:10 says, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you".

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the blessings you have given us. I thank you for the blessing of this family to me. I ask that you strengthen our love for each other and that you fill us with your Holy Spirit as we continue to enjoy your Shabbat, your rest. I thank you in the name of Yeshua, the Messiah, who came, died for our salvation, was raised from the dead and will return to receive all who call upon His Name. Amen.

9. Rest!

The remainder of the evening and the next day, until sundown are for rest and enjoying God's world!

Answer 2

To completely observe the Shabbath:

Trust God. He is trustworthy.
6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (Matthew 12)

Exodus 31:13
"Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy."

Answer 3

Observing Shabbath according to Jewish law is very complex. Irreligious Jews think of Shabbat as a day of no work, similiar to another Sunday - a day to "chill out." In fact, Shabbos is more intricate and detailed than that. There are two main aspects to Shabbos from which everything else comes from and that is actually doing specific actions and refraining from actions forbidden on that day. There are 39 central activities which are forbidden and from there many, detailed laws are derived. Examples of one of the 39 actions (or in Hebrew, Melachot), would be planting, cooking, writing, etc... Yet, it is not merely planting which we are forbidden from but many things that have to do with planting, or are derived from the forbidden commandment.
There is so much to learn about Shabbos that this question can not be answered fully on this forum.
You check out this link for more info, http://aish.com/literacy/mitzvahs/Shabbat_-_Heaven_on_Earth.asp

Answer 4

That is beautiful, David! I have never heard just how the Sabbath should be celebrated! I think I will have to try this! May the Lord bless you all!

Answer 5

Why do you need us to tell you about the sabbath? Do you not have the scriptures already?
If you really need help, then I would suggest www.e-sword.net and the program there, and do a word search for sabbath.
Don't forget to read Nehemiah as well.

Answer 6

remember jews have a better idea of what it is really for

Answer 7

A day for God.