Embracing Joy and Delight Through Sabbath Rest

Devotional

Day 1: Intentional Delight in God's Creation

In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to overlook the beauty and joy that God has placed in the world around us. Taking time to intentionally delight in God's creation, such as enjoying the simple pleasure of fresh peaches, requires us to pause and appreciate the wonders of His handiwork. This practice not only reconnects us with the joy and beauty of the world but also helps us to see God's presence in the everyday moments of life. By setting aside time to enjoy and reflect on these gifts, we can cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and joy in our hearts. [32:59]

Isaiah 55:12 (ESV): "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

Reflection: What is one aspect of God's creation that you often overlook? How can you intentionally take time today to delight in and appreciate this part of His creation?

Day 2: The Purpose of Sabbath

The Sabbath is more than just a day off from work; it is a divine gift designed to provide rest, joy, and delight. Observing the Sabbath allows us to step away from the busyness of life and experience God's presence more fully. It is a time to rejuvenate our souls and align ourselves with God's design for a flourishing life. By properly observing the Sabbath, we can achieve a deeper sense of Shalom, which encompasses wholeness, wellness, and peace. This practice protects us from the dangers of overwork and helps us to live more balanced and fulfilling lives. [38:38]

Exodus 31:16-17 (ESV): "Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."

Reflection: How can you intentionally set aside time this week to observe the Sabbath and experience the rest and delight that God intends for you?

Day 3: Stopping Work and Self-Centeredness

To truly observe the Sabbath, we must stop our work and refrain from self-centered activities. This means setting aside our to-do lists and focusing on what delights God, which often includes honoring and caring for others. By doing so, we create space for true rest and delight, allowing us to experience God's presence more fully. This practice helps us to shift our focus from ourselves to God and others, fostering a sense of community and connection. [43:44]

Isaiah 58:13-14 (ESV): "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Reflection: What self-centered activities or work do you need to set aside to fully observe the Sabbath? How can you focus on what delights God and honors others during this time?

Day 4: Avoiding Idle Talk

Engaging in idle talk or meaningless activities can steal our joy and prevent us from experiencing true rest. By avoiding these distractions, we create space for meaningful interactions and deeper connections with God and others. This practice helps us to be more intentional with our words and actions, fostering a sense of purpose and fulfillment. By focusing on what truly matters, we can experience the joy and peace that God desires for us. [46:48]

Proverbs 10:19 (ESV): "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."

Reflection: What idle talk or meaningless activities do you need to avoid to create space for meaningful interactions and deeper connections with God and others?

Day 5: Practical Ways to Delight

Delighting in the Lord can take many forms, such as spending time in nature, meditating on Scripture, enjoying music, or resting. These practices help us experience God's presence and rejuvenate our souls, aligning us with His design for a flourishing life. By intentionally incorporating these activities into our lives, we can cultivate a deeper sense of joy and fulfillment. This practice helps us to see God's hand in all aspects of our lives and to live more fully in His presence. [50:43]

Psalm 37:4 (ESV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Reflection: What practical ways can you incorporate into your life to delight in the Lord and experience His presence more fully? How can these practices help you to align with God's design for a flourishing life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Seneca Creek. Today, we explored the theme of joy and delight, particularly through the practice of Sabbath. In our busy lives filled with work, stress, and endless to-do lists, it's easy to forget to take time for joy and delight. This morning, we delved into the importance of intentionally creating space for these experiences, as God intended for us to live flourishing, abundant lives. We looked at the Hebrew concept of Shalom, which encompasses wholeness, wellness, and peace, and how practicing Sabbath can help us achieve this state.

We read from Isaiah 58:13-14, where God calls us to honor the Sabbath and find joy in the Lord. This passage was written to the Israelites who had returned from exile and were rebuilding their lives. God reminded them that their outward religious practices were meaningless without a heart for justice and care for the vulnerable. Similarly, the Sabbath had lost its original purpose of providing rest and delight for everyone, including the most vulnerable in society.

We discussed how our culture often glorifies overwork and productivity, leaving us exhausted and far from the joy and delight God desires for us. The practice of Sabbath teaches us to stop work, stop being self-centered, and stop engaging in idle talk, creating space for true rest and delight. We explored practical ways to delight in the Lord, in rest, and in community, emphasizing that Sabbath is a gift from God meant to rejuvenate our souls.

Finally, we engaged in a practice called Lectio Divina, focusing on Matthew 11:28-30, to help us experience God's presence and rest. As we go forward, let's remember to create those spaces for joy, rest, and delight, aligning ourselves with God's original design for our lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. Centeredness**: To truly observe the Sabbath, we must stop our work and refrain from self-centered activities. This means setting aside our to-do lists and focusing on what delights God, which often includes honoring and caring for others. [43:44]
4. Avoiding Idle Talk: Engaging in idle talk or meaningless activities can steal our joy and prevent us from experiencing true rest. By avoiding these distractions, we create space for meaningful interactions and deeper connections with God and others.

5. Practical Ways to Delight: Delighting in the Lord can take many forms, such as spending time in nature, meditating on Scripture, enjoying music, or resting. These practices help us experience God's presence and rejuvenate our souls, aligning us with His design for a flourishing life.

### [43:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction to Joy and Delight
[02:30] - Delight in Peaches
[04:00] - The Practice of Delight
[05:30] - Concept of Shalom
[07:00] - The Reality of Our World
[08:30] - The Gift of Sabbath
[09:30] - Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:13-14
[11:00] - Context of Isaiah 58
[12:30] - Misunderstanding Fasting and Sabbath
[14:00] - Purpose of Sabbath
[15:30] - Modern Misconceptions of Rest
[17:00] - Stopping Work
[18:30] - Stopping Self-Centeredness
[20:00] - Avoiding Idle Talk
[22:00] - Practical Ways to Delight
[24:00] - Lectio Divina Practice
[26:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
[28:00] - Announcements and Opportunities
[30:00] - Closing Blessing and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Isaiah 58:13-14, what are the specific actions God calls us to take in order to honor the Sabbath?
In Matthew 11:28-30, what does Jesus promise to those who come to Him?
How does Deuteronomy 5:15 connect the practice of Sabbath to the Israelites' history of slavery in Egypt?
What examples did the pastor give of activities that can help us delight in God's creation? [32:59]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Isaiah emphasize the importance of not doing as we please on the Sabbath? How does this relate to the concept of Shalom? [34:23]
How does Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 to find rest in Him challenge our modern understanding of productivity and rest?
What does it mean to stop engaging in idle talk according to Isaiah 58:13-14, and how can this practice lead to deeper joy and delight? [46:48]
How does the historical context of Deuteronomy 5:15 enhance our understanding of the Sabbath as a gift of rest and liberation?

Application Questions

Reflect on your current weekly schedule. What specific activities can you stop or reduce to create space for intentional delight and rest? [32:59]
How can you practically honor the Sabbath in a way that aligns with God's intention of providing rest and delight for everyone, including the most vulnerable in society? [38:38]
Identify one self-centered activity you often engage in. How can you replace it with an activity that honors and cares for others, especially on the Sabbath? [43:44]
Think about the types of idle talk or meaningless activities you engage in. What steps can you take to avoid these distractions and create space for meaningful interactions with God and others? [46:48]
Choose one practical way to delight in the Lord this week, such as spending time in nature, meditating on Scripture, or enjoying music. How will you incorporate this practice into your Sabbath? [50:43]
How can you involve your community in your practice of Sabbath to multiply joy and delight? Consider planning a communal activity like a shared meal or a group walk. [53:11]
If setting aside a full day for Sabbath feels overwhelming, start with a smaller commitment. What specific hour or afternoon can you dedicate to rest and delight this week? [54:09]

Sermon Clips

1. "But it's easy to get caught up in our lives, right? We can get in this trance of work and deadlines and stress and laundry and shuttling the kids to all their things and medical decisions and all the things that we get caught up with. That we can forget. We get to the end of the day and it's like, oh, I didn't take any time today to delight. I forgot about the joy this entire week went by. And my head was so focused on the work and the stress that I completely missed the joy and the delight." [33:00] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The truth is that we live in this world where things are very often not as God intended them to be. And so that's why it takes practice and intentionality to create those spaces in our lives where we're able to experience that life that God has created us for. That little by little as we practice, God shapes and forms us into people who are flourishing. And experiencing God's abundant life." [34:23] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The truth is that we've become a nation and a people that has in many ways forgotten how to really rest. We're surrounded by these messages that good things come to those who work hard. That you can't rest until everything is done. Everyone ever heard that saying I'll sleep when I'm dead? Yeah I think we've all heard that. And you will but it's better if you sleep before then." [39:54] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "But time after time. We realize that all of this striving and this working is not satisfying us. So how do we find this joy and delight? The delight that we were literally created to experience. Maybe the practice of Sabbath has something to teach us. So we're going to look through this passage in Isaiah. First to see some ways that Isaiah tells us to live. To stop so that we can experience delight. And then we'll look at some ways that we can delight once we have stopped." [41:52] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We're busy, I know. We're balancing different responsibilities and roles and bills. And our souls can just get dried out and weary. We need to stop. In order to find time to delight and rest. And Jesus is a really good example. Because Jesus didn't just keep working and working until all the work was done. And all the people were healed. No. He stopped when it was time to stop. And regularly went away by himself or his disciples to pray. And simply rest in God's presence. And that's what Sabbath is about. Simply stopping because it's time to stop. Not because everything has been done." [43:44] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Sabbath is not a day to do what you please at the expense of others. Now I understand it's not very practical to say, Okay, we're not going to go out to eat on Sabbath. We're not going to go shopping. Because that's not going to guarantee that anyone gets a day of rest. Like I understand that. That's not how the world works. But I encourage you to think about what you're doing on your Sabbath. How are your activities affecting other people? Is what you're doing and your plans allowing for everyone to have a time to delight in God? A time to renew their souls?" [44:44] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "So when we take the time to stop working, to stop being self-centered, and to stop engaging with idle talk, we can find space to delight. In the Sabbath. And I understand that those three things might sound a little bit like rules. Which we just said are stealing the joy. But really those are guidelines that create this space of freedom. They free up time in your schedule and in your hearts so that you can really fully enter in to rest and delight." [50:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Well Isaiah has three things that we can take away. The first is to delight in the Lord. He says that then you will find your joy. So find a way to delight in God's presence. On whatever day that you choose to be your Sabbath. How can you delight? Maybe you find delight in God by being in creation. So go for a long walk. Take your time. If you see something that's interesting, stop and pay attention to it." [50:43] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Perhaps the idea of setting aside 24 hours each week for rest sounds overwhelming or impossible. Or maybe you're so busy that this thought actually makes you like break out in hives and start sweating. It's okay. You can start slow. Maybe pick an hour. Intentionally set aside an hour each week to say, Okay, this is when I'm going to rest. This is when I'm going to stop my work. I'm going to stop focusing on my own desires. And I'm going to stop engaging in the, you know, the mindless, the scrolling through social media, watching, the idle words, right? Take an hour or take an afternoon. But I encourage you to do something." [54:09] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Because we're human. We have limits. We're not machines designed to work 24-7. And God has so much delight and joy to offer us when we're fully rested. When we develop this rhythm of regular rest and delight, we actually are taking a step closer to that original design that God has for us to be flourishing people of God, created to be full of joy and delight." [54:09] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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