ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sapate Sanuali 8, 2023

God's First and Last Sabbath

Ko e Sapate ‘Uluaki mo e Faka‘osi

GENESIS 2:2-3

AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY GOD FINISHED HIS WORK THAT HE HAD DONE, AND HE RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORK THAT HE HAD DONE. SO GOD BLESSED THE SEVENTH DAY AND MADE IT HOLY.

SENESI 2:2-3

Pea na‘e faka‘osi ‘e he ‘Otua ‘i hono ‘aho fitu ‘a e ngāue na‘a ne fai; pea ne mālōlō ‘i hono ‘aho fitu mei he ngāue kehekehe na‘a ne fai.  Pea na‘e tāpuaki‘i ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘aho ko hono fitu, mo ne tapui ia: koe‘uhi ko ia ia na‘a ne mālōlō ai mei he‘ene ngāue kotoa pē, ‘io, mei he fakatupu me‘a mo ngaohi me‘a ‘e he ‘Otua.

The first part of creation that is called holy is not land or a person but time. Indeed, time beats at the heart of creation's story. We hear of the times called day and night. The celestial bodies are "for signs and for seasons, and for days and years" (1:14). Like a dance, creation has rhythm and movement, guided by the music of time. And the refrain of this music is Shabbat ("Sabbath"). The verb shabbat means to rest, cease, or celebrate. Israel's weekly Shabbat celebrated God's love in creation (Exod. 20:11) and redemption (Deut. 5:15). They were both very good-complete, perfect-so Israel could rest in the Lord of creative redemption and redemptive creation.

When God's Son came to us, he beckoned, "Come to me... and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). In other words, "I will be your Shabbat." Having completed his work of re-creation and redemption while nailed to the wood of his creation, he said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). He then rested in his Shabbat tomb and stepped forth alive again so we can rest forever in his unending grace.

 Bring us, O Lord, through your Son, into the Sabbath rest for the people of God (Heb. 4:9).