Good Sabbath!
Posted 02-14-2015 at 09:35 AM by NT Fellowship
Good Sabbath!
“Shabbat Shalom,” calls out the sons of Abraham. The Sabbath blessing is one of family peace and love. Each day of the week is remembered as a day in which God has created the world we live in and on that seventh day He rested.
The preparations begin at mid-week as the guest list is prepared. Mother and children busily prepare the home to receive aunt and uncle, or other family and friends. The cleaning and straightening ensues with flair and anticipation of that special day of blessing. One of the things done on sixth day (Friday) is the braiding and baking of the Challot (or double portion of Challah).
The woman of the family may remember the giving of the Torah as she recites the words of Moses, “…man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.” (Deut. 8:3). As she braids the dough she carefully intertwines it so each rope is baked together, creating one loaf.
The Torah is wound around our very lives, telling us that God’s Word, the Torah, trains the heart and soul to live by faith in the One who spoke it into being. In deed! The Challah is a symbol of what Messiah has spoken for He is the Torah made flesh. As He was conceived in the virgin’s womb, the divine and human natures were intricately intertwined, becoming one flesh. With love He was poured out in service to mankind to come down from the Throne of God and became the Son of man (Phil 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”)
Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)
Every time we read in His Word, take it into our hearts and ponder on it, the Holy Spirit makes it to be Manna, living bread to us. This is how we take of Him as the Bread of Life. This happens on every day of the week, but especially as we gather together to celebrate His death and resurrection.
Just before the Sabbath begins, the Jewish husband goes to the mikvah (ritual bath) on Friday afternoon. This symbolizes spiritual cleansing, refreshing and quiet prayer and reflection, and disengaging from the past week. This sets the heart to prepare for Shabbat.
For the spiritual seed of Abraham, this is a daily process as we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. We are not to be conformed to this world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom 12:1-2). Beside that, the Apostle Paul wrote, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind…For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we dieunto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Rom 14:5-6)
On arrival home, it is customary for the father to bless his children. The traditional blessing is, "May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh" (for the males) and "May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah" (for the females). The father places his lips on the child's forehead and holds the child while blessing him/her.
This is particularly unique to the Jewish Sabbath keeping home. The pushke or Tzedakah Box (charity box) is also set out so the children can contribute to the poor in the community.
Each child of God in the truest sense is blessed in evening devotions and encouraged to be like the Messiah in all they do and say (Col 3:17-25). We are told to give alms privately so that the poor are taken care of through the abundance of the community of faith. Our children are also blessed to follow after godliness and good works.
As the Sabbath evening continues, the mother dons her prayer shawl and begins to pronounce the Sabbath blessing. The Shabbat candles are lit and the prayer is begun for the evening Sabbath. The husband sings to his wife the verses from Proverbs 31:10-31, speaking of her love and care for the family.
The eyes and hearts of the family now turn to the sanctifying Kiddush which comes with a blessing that recalls the creation and God’s act of setting His people as separate unto Himself. He created the heavens and the earth in purity and holiness; then He delivered His people from their bondage and fulfilled His promise.
Jesus Christ, the only Messiah, came to save us and sanctify us with His Word and His sacrifice on the cross. He said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:16-21)
The mood of the evening is filled with the smell of delicious food, quietness, and the enjoyment of family love. In the spirit of thankfulness to the God of the universe, the family sings Aleichem Shalom – the melody of peace to the home. This is a welcoming and an offer of hospitality to the angels who accompany us during Shabbat. "Angels of peace, may your coming be in peace; bless me with peace, and bless my prepared table. May your departure be in peace, from now and forever. Amen."
Truly, our worship of Christ as our Shabbot fills us with quietness of soul and the enjoyment of His peace within our hearts. He is truly our Sabbath celebration!
“Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor 5:8)
--Pastor David Lee, NT Fellowship
“Shabbat Shalom,” calls out the sons of Abraham. The Sabbath blessing is one of family peace and love. Each day of the week is remembered as a day in which God has created the world we live in and on that seventh day He rested.
The preparations begin at mid-week as the guest list is prepared. Mother and children busily prepare the home to receive aunt and uncle, or other family and friends. The cleaning and straightening ensues with flair and anticipation of that special day of blessing. One of the things done on sixth day (Friday) is the braiding and baking of the Challot (or double portion of Challah).
The woman of the family may remember the giving of the Torah as she recites the words of Moses, “…man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.” (Deut. 8:3). As she braids the dough she carefully intertwines it so each rope is baked together, creating one loaf.
The Torah is wound around our very lives, telling us that God’s Word, the Torah, trains the heart and soul to live by faith in the One who spoke it into being. In deed! The Challah is a symbol of what Messiah has spoken for He is the Torah made flesh. As He was conceived in the virgin’s womb, the divine and human natures were intricately intertwined, becoming one flesh. With love He was poured out in service to mankind to come down from the Throne of God and became the Son of man (Phil 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”)
Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)
Every time we read in His Word, take it into our hearts and ponder on it, the Holy Spirit makes it to be Manna, living bread to us. This is how we take of Him as the Bread of Life. This happens on every day of the week, but especially as we gather together to celebrate His death and resurrection.
Just before the Sabbath begins, the Jewish husband goes to the mikvah (ritual bath) on Friday afternoon. This symbolizes spiritual cleansing, refreshing and quiet prayer and reflection, and disengaging from the past week. This sets the heart to prepare for Shabbat.
For the spiritual seed of Abraham, this is a daily process as we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. We are not to be conformed to this world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom 12:1-2). Beside that, the Apostle Paul wrote, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind…For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we dieunto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Rom 14:5-6)
On arrival home, it is customary for the father to bless his children. The traditional blessing is, "May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh" (for the males) and "May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah" (for the females). The father places his lips on the child's forehead and holds the child while blessing him/her.
This is particularly unique to the Jewish Sabbath keeping home. The pushke or Tzedakah Box (charity box) is also set out so the children can contribute to the poor in the community.
Each child of God in the truest sense is blessed in evening devotions and encouraged to be like the Messiah in all they do and say (Col 3:17-25). We are told to give alms privately so that the poor are taken care of through the abundance of the community of faith. Our children are also blessed to follow after godliness and good works.
As the Sabbath evening continues, the mother dons her prayer shawl and begins to pronounce the Sabbath blessing. The Shabbat candles are lit and the prayer is begun for the evening Sabbath. The husband sings to his wife the verses from Proverbs 31:10-31, speaking of her love and care for the family.
The eyes and hearts of the family now turn to the sanctifying Kiddush which comes with a blessing that recalls the creation and God’s act of setting His people as separate unto Himself. He created the heavens and the earth in purity and holiness; then He delivered His people from their bondage and fulfilled His promise.
Jesus Christ, the only Messiah, came to save us and sanctify us with His Word and His sacrifice on the cross. He said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:16-21)
The mood of the evening is filled with the smell of delicious food, quietness, and the enjoyment of family love. In the spirit of thankfulness to the God of the universe, the family sings Aleichem Shalom – the melody of peace to the home. This is a welcoming and an offer of hospitality to the angels who accompany us during Shabbat. "Angels of peace, may your coming be in peace; bless me with peace, and bless my prepared table. May your departure be in peace, from now and forever. Amen."
Truly, our worship of Christ as our Shabbot fills us with quietness of soul and the enjoyment of His peace within our hearts. He is truly our Sabbath celebration!
“Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor 5:8)
--Pastor David Lee, NT Fellowship
