Sermon Tone Analysis

*Text:* Exodus 20:8-11

 

*Thesis*: To note the importance of resting with God.

 

*Introduction*:

 

(1) “Two words summarize the lives of most Americans – hurry and worry” (R. Atchley, Sinai Summit 82).

(2) “I’m in a hurry (and don’t know why)” – Alabama

(3) The 4th command seems to be the one that is out of place in the list.

(4) Let us note the importance of seeking rest with God.

 

*Discussion*:

 

I.

What was the purpose of the command then?

A.

The Sabbath rest was a safeguard.

1.

It was a gift from God.

a.     “/And on the seventh day God finished His work that he had done, and rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because God rested from all his work that he had done in creation/” (*Gen.

2:2-3; cf.

Exod.

20:11*).

b.     “/You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day/” (*Deut.

5:15*).

c.      “/And he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’/” (*Mark 2:26*).

d.     Note: “/May be refreshed/” (*Exod.

23:12*).

2.     Since God made man and knows man’s tendency to be workaholics, then He commanded Israel to take a day to rest.

a.     Also, in order to stress the necessity of it, God attached the penalty of death to those who disobeyed.

(1) “/Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord.

Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death/” (*Exod.

31:15; cf.

Exod.

35:2*).

(2) “/While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.

And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation.

They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.

And the Lord said to Moses, ‘The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.’

And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the Lord commanded Moses/” (*Num.

15:32-36*).

b.

Unfortunately, we too often live like children fighting sleep (cf.

*Psa.

23:2* – /Makes me lie down/).

c.      Need rest – E.g., shoes, bowling pins, farming

d.     There’s always another job to be finished and another dollar to be made, but at what expense to yourself?

e.      Illustration – “When billionaire Bill Gates was asked why he didn’t believe in God, he said, ‘Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient.

There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.’”

f.

Unfortunately, people continue to think that they know better than God and work themselves to death.

(1) For example, most stores and restaurants used to be closed on Sundays.

(2) Eventually, some began opening from 1-5 P.M. 

(3) However, many now are open to regular business hours.

(4) Therefore, we must commend Chic-Fil-A’s owner, Truett Cathy, who still closes on Sundays in order to give a day off for the employees.

3.

We must learn that there is more to life than work.

(1) Illustration – Harry Chapin’s song “Cat’s in the cradle?”

My child arrived just the other day \\ He came to the world in the usual way \\ But there were planes to catch and bills to pay \\ He learned to walk while I was away \\ And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew \\ He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad \\ You know I'm gonna be like you" \\ \\

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon \\ Little boy blue and the man on the moon \\ When you comin' home dad? \\ I don't know when, but we'll get together then son \\ You know we'll have a good time then \\ \\

My son turned ten just the other day \\ He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play \\ Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today \\ I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok" \\ And he walked away but his smile never dimmed \\ And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah \\ You know I'm gonna be like him" \\ \\

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon \\ Little boy blue and the man on the moon \\ When you comin' home son? \\ I don't know when, but we'll get together then son \\ You know we'll have a good time then \\ \\

Well, he came home from college just the other day \\ So much like a man I just had to say \\ "Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?" \\ He shook his head and said with a smile \\ "What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys \\ See you later, can I have them please?"

\\ \\

 

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon \\ Little boy blue and the man on the moon \\ When you comin' home son? \\ I don't know when, but we'll get together then son \\ You know we'll have a good time then \\ \\

I've long since retired, my son's moved away \\ I called him up just the other day \\ I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind" \\ He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time \\ You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu \\ But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad \\ It's been sure nice talking to you" \\ \\

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me \\ He'd grown up just like me \\ My boy was just like me \\ \\

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon \\ Little boy blue and the man on the moon \\ When you comin' home son? \\ I don't know when, but we'll get together then son \\ You know we'll have a good time then

 

(2) “/For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?

Or what shall a man give in return for his life?/” (*Matt.

16:26*).

B.