Episode 27: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Translation: Common English Bible (CEB)

3 Questions:
What word, phrase or image strikes you in this text?
Toward what is God calling you in this text?
For what reason does God want you to observe Sabbath?

Additional texts:
Psalm 81:1-10
2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Mark 2:23—3:6
1 Samuel 3:1-20
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

Transcript

00:04.10
nathanpile
Welcome back to tend a bible podcast this week we're going to make today a day to tend

00:18.18
Kevin Shock
Okay, that's right.

00:21.10
nathanpile
Whatever today is and so it doesn't matter what day we're gonna talk about the sabbath but we're um, but any day can be a day that you take to tend so today is that day.

00:36.93
Kevin Shock
Um, maybe we can Maybe we can talk about the purpose of tending on the sabbath too. Yeah.

00:37.30
nathanpile
Ah, maybe maybe interesting ah 3 questions two are familiar to our past listeners what word phrase or image strikes you in this text. Toward what is god calling you in this text and then a third question for this week for what reason does god want you to observe sabbath. Mmm I like the way you worded that question.

01:08.00
Kevin Shock
Um, well we'll we'll see where it goes. Ah yeah, right? You can let me know.

01:10.96
nathanpile
That would be interesting. Let's see if I still like it at the end of the podcast when I'm answering it.

01:19.33
Kevin Shock
Ah, here's some information about your hosts Nathan and Kevin we are men married to women in financially stable households white in our late 40 s college and seminary educated we work in the lutheran church and were born and raised in Western Pennsylvania all this affects how we read scripture and discuss it. But none of this makes us better able to read and discuss scripture than anyone else. We believe that the wisdom of scripture is the whole community's compiled interpretation for life with god and one another. So we want to know what you hear and think from your life experience our reading today is from Deuteronomy chapter 5 and you did say Nathan we're reading from the common english bible. Did you not? Okay, yeah yeah, no, that's.

02:00.85
nathanpile
Oh I did not no I I just launched in to the questions I didn't even announce what we were reading good good catch. This is why we do it twice.

02:08.50
Kevin Shock
That's great. That's fine. Okay, so that's this to people working on it right? Um, so today's reading is deuteronomy 5 I threw you off with all that sabbath talk deuteronomy 5 versus 12 through 15

02:16.13
nathanpile
That's it.

02:26.26
Kevin Shock
And we are reading it from the common english bible. Ah, and again biblegateway.com or the biblegateway app is your friend for finding all kinds of translations of scripture. But any translation you have in front of you is a good one to use to follow along. So from deuteronomy 5 keep the sabbath day and treat it as holy exactly as the lord your god commanded six days you may work and do all your tasks but the seventh day is a sabbath to the lord your god don't do any work on it. Not you your sons or daughters your male or female servants. Oxen or donkeys or any of your animals or the immigrant who is living among you so that your male and female servants can rest just like you remember that you were a slave in Egypt but the lord your god brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That's why the lord your god commands you to keep the sabbath day if you are meeting with a group you can engage the questions together with your group as you pause the podcast or listen to Nathan's response ah Nathan what word phrase or image strikes you in this text.

03:41.68
nathanpile
Um, one of the things that I deeply appreciate about the old testament is it's um, continued Um, it's continued way of bringing up our past and reminding us of it.

03:57.71
Kevin Shock
Um, Wow say more.

04:00.52
nathanpile
And so this idea in verse 15 of remember that you were a slave in Egypt um remembering ah that we were on the bottom of society.

04:19.25
nathanpile
At some point in our time even if it wasn't really us who was there like we didn't generations later we did. We weren't actually slaves in Egypt. Um, but our ancestors were slaves in Egypt and so reminding us.

04:37.77
nathanpile
Of reminding me um, remember reminding God's people that that though they may be in a place of power and privilege today. Um, this idea of sabbath. Not only applies to them but of for all the of the people that live in their family work for them or live among them and so that to me is ah um is a powerful piece of the of the.

05:08.30
Kevin Shock
Um, ah yeah.

05:14.39
nathanpile
Of the first testament that that old testament the first covenant that god makes with god's people of of being reminded of how we live in this relationship and remembering who we are even if even if we weren't slaves um. It's it's ah it's a part of our history. Our ancestors were slaves our ancestors were on the bottom of of of society and that we need to remember that as we live today and because we're god's people. It should. It should trickle down among the people that we work and live with um so that was that was the um that was the part as you were reading that kind of stuck out to me of.

06:04.50
nathanpile
That idea of that word remember is a powerful word but to remember that that um that God did this thing for us and not just once but God continues to be our um, ah.

06:23.56
nathanpile
What was what was the the word a couple of weeks ago I was going to use the word advocate. but but um companion god is our companion. Um, in the midst of life and because of who god is and god being that companion it changes the way that we live our life with those.

06:31.47
Kevin Shock
Yeah.

06:42.73
nathanpile
In our family and within our community. Um, it changes who we are.

06:49.34
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, and exactly as you point out here that it's it's not um, not not just you but your sons and daughters your male or female servants your oxen or donkeys or any of your animals or the immigrant who is living among you? yeah.

07:03.10
nathanpile
Yeah.

07:05.53
Kevin Shock
I remember 1 time I think we we I know we've talked about sabbath before on this podcast. Um I don't know that it was in relation. Yeah I don't know that it was in relation to this text necessarily but it but we have talked about it and um, and.

07:08.90
nathanpile
Now it's been a while it has been a while. Yeah.

07:17.85
nathanpile
Yeah.

07:23.61
Kevin Shock
I Ah I remember I don't know if we talked about it exactly in that episode. But I know we've also talked about um, trickling down and and in our world. Um, we kind of the the usual context for. When we talk about trickling down is when it comes to wealth. Um, although we can. We can certainly ah discuss whether wealth actually trickles down or not. But but what we I know we've talked about before is the that. That rest and health and well-being trickled down if people are mindful of if people are mindful of being mindful of those who are um, below them on the social scale so to speak and and that's and that's what's being asked of here. That's what's being commanded here is that.

08:13.73
nathanpile
Yeah.

08:18.45
Kevin Shock
This is this is something for you to observe and when you observe it. It means that you observe it on behalf of all of the people who are serving you as well. Yeah, yeah, it's just not so that you can get rest so that everyone and everything even that works for you.

08:26.50
nathanpile
Yes, yeah.

08:36.95
Kevin Shock
Can get rest as well. Yeah, um, the the thing that the the word that ah grabs my attention in this text is "to" ah and it sometimes a little preposition you know perks our ears up. Um. In verse 14 ah, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the lord your god and the reason that that grabs my attention is because I remember when I was in seminary years ago um preaching on sabbath 1 time and kind of.

09:14.61
Kevin Shock
A bit of a at least a more than a shallow dive a bit of a deep dive into what sabbath actually means in Hebrew and one of those the the meaning that I remember most is that it means to yield. Um, and that you know.

09:35.60
Kevin Shock
We we we kind of we press pause on all of the things we would normally do the other six days ah but it also means that we are yielding to something someone who is greater than we are and so it's that it's that word. Um.

09:53.80
Kevin Shock
Sabbath for me in in this scenario and with that preposition takes on the meaning of um this this is the day that you ah quit paying attention to all of the things that you think you need to pay attention to and you pay attention to the one who um has made you who you are.

10:13.72
Kevin Shock
Who has gotten you to this place and and I think um I think that as a society we're not very good at doing that and not just when it comes to um, ah, not just when it comes to God um. But also when it comes to recognizing that. Um,, there's There's no such thing as a I mean I believe this people can argue with me and if you want to argue with me send us an email and I would like to hear what you think about it. Um I really would I'm I'm not just saying that. Ah.

10:49.90
Kevin Shock
But there's there's a fallacy about like self-made success and that doesn't mean that like people don't work hard and and people don't get you know like people can't um, earn good things for themselves or you Know. Or what they consider to be good things but the idea that we're we're like kind of each in this on our own and we don't accept help from anyone else or don't benefit from any system or anything else is a fallacy in my mind. Ah, everyone has a certain amount of a different level of privilege or um or or help even if you just want to say that um because I don't because I think we're all. Even if you're a person who builds a business from the ground up your your business is reliant upon the people who are your customers and and it's not that they it's not that you necessarily owe them anything. Um, but I Think. Think at least it's good to recognize some level of gratitude for the people who have been partners in business with you and things like that. Um, So anyway, um, it's it. It's that it's that too. It's it's a recognition that there's something greater than just me.

12:19.23
Kevin Shock
And the work that I'm doing and the work that people do on my behalf. Um, there's there's a reason I'm here and part of that reason in this text that that reason is that um god freed you and brought you out of there. Brought you out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That's why the lord your god commands you to keep the sabbath day it this sabbath day ah isn't just about physical rest. It's also about keeping us in check I think and it's it's about the the.

12:57.89
Kevin Shock
The opportunity to pause to yield to recognize what our what our place in the world actually is and what and and how we have benefited from the work of others and and from the grace of God so. Yeah.

13:18.34
nathanpile
Um, there's many things I want to say about yours but let's do this a second time and then I'm answering the second question because I'm definitely going to bleed into the second question with my response ah to your reflection. So.

13:23.80
Kevin Shock
Okay, okay, all right. Okay, that sounds good.

13:32.40
nathanpile
Um, we might jump a little soon here to the second round but but just thinking about my response to what you've said is absolutely going to bleed into what I feel called toward here. So.

13:40.74
Kevin Shock
Okay, all right.

13:47.47
nathanpile
All right? Ah Deuteronomy the fifth chapter keep the sabbath day and treat it as holy exactly as the lord your god commanded six days you may work and do all your tasks. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the lord your god don't do any work on it. Not you your sons or your daughters your male or female servants your oxen or donkeys or any of your animals or the immigrant who is living among you. So that your male and female servants can rest just like you remember that you were a slave in Egypt but the lord your god brought you out from there brought you out of there with a strong hand in an outstretched arm. That's why the lord your god commands you to keep the sabbath. Day.

14:45.10
nathanpile
Ah, Kevin Toward what is god calling you in this text.

14:50.76
Kevin Shock
I think part of it at least is to ah reimagine the sabbath and reimagine the sabbath around the um verse thirteen six days you may work and do all your tasks.

15:06.63
Kevin Shock
If the sabbath becomes one of our works or the sabbath is about um, just crossing off a different set of tasks off our list then it's not sabbath and um.

15:24.21
Kevin Shock
And so like you know I mean we we can talk pretty plainly about for for pastors and church professionals. Ah Sunday is not the sabbath so Sunday's a workday. But um I mean I I take a sabbath.

15:33.62
nathanpile
Right? but.

15:42.90
Kevin Shock
Ah, usually for me, it's Friday and that's a day that I I don't necessarily refrain from doing work. Although I ah honestly I will often um I will often refrain from I'll definitely refrain from doing um the work.

16:02.10
Kevin Shock
Of my called job that you know the job that I get paid for um I I will refrain from doing that work. But I will also refrain from like ah I mean it sounds stupid but like if I don't if it's going to feel like a burden for me to mow the lawn on Friday I'm I'm not going to do it I'm not going to do it.

16:21.71
Kevin Shock
And this week was a perfect example. It was it was going to be sunny on Friday and um and I even said to my spouse over facebook messenger um, ah I'm tired I should really mow the lawn though and she said don't do it. Now, I should have done it because the next two days. It just rained all day long. Ah and and now it's it's a sunny day again as I'm looking outside and I know the height of the grass out in the backyard. So. There's a chance I'll be mowing after we get off of this tonight. But anyway, um.

17:00.53
Kevin Shock
It It was the right decision to make not to mow the grass um because it it allowed me to rest and it allowed me to like keep keep myself in check I think um, yeah, and and I have other examples recently too that I just think of where I've kind of um. Not not not shirked my responsibilities but I've made I've taken taken days where I was going to do something like for myself. Um, and and I instead you know like Midstream. Ah. Switched it up and did something else because the thing that I was going to do for myself felt like it was becoming a burden and so I Um, yeah, and so I did other things. It's ah it and again it's not.. It's not like just you know it's.

17:57.40
Kevin Shock
Sabbath is more about not doing things that you don't want to do. But if if ah if even the things that you want to do become something to you that feels like a work and becomes more tasks for you to cross off your list. Then I don't think that I don't think we're living into I don't think I'm living into what God commands.

18:19.81
nathanpile
Yeah, yeah, the the part about your reflection that I appreciate it all that that meshes so nicely with mine is that idea of redefining what sabbath is um, ah and and. And what that looks like in in my life. Um, that idea of how do I how do how do I look at um, the world in which I live and operate. And recognize that that there used to be in my lifetime. There was a time still in our rural communities that that I lived that there was a um that there was there was more downtime. All the stores weren't open twenty four seven and really none of those stores are open twenty four seven here but um but we're open seven days most stores now are open seven days a week which means somebody is still working so that I can go to the restaurant. Go buy stuff at lows. Um. And so that idea of how do I and I'm not going to be able to change the way I'm not going to be able to change our economy and our capitalistic structure. Um, just by my own decisions. but I but I can by my own decisions change the way that I view and live into the world.

19:53.58
nathanpile
And so if it's truly going to be about not getting things off of my own work list or to do list again whether they're home. It's a homework list or it's a work work list. Um, you know oftentimes we talk about this I feel like this this kind of sabbath. Ah, theme shows up a lot in the fall after my summer and so I'm always talking about how much I need to scale back after the summer um and and and absolutely that's true because my summers are are long and um and beautiful things but they they are long. And so that idea of sabbath is very very appealing to me. but but how do I now today as I'm as I'm trying to live you know in in the month of may um how how do I seek to redefine sabbath for myself and. And though I can't change it for all of my neighbors who still need to to work and find um you know they they need a good solid healthy paycheck too. Ah so when they can work they should be able to to do that work. But how are we also making sure that then then then that they also are getting that sabbath space and time not that I have any control over that. Um, because I'm not their bosses necessarily but it does cause me to kind of question and think about the culture that I'm a part of and and how I spend my money and.

21:26.66
nathanpile
When I spend my money and and and what that looks like. So um, there's ah, there's a piece of this of of this idea of not doing work and um and this is the critical part of the redefining. The sabbath by not doing work or not spending my money on these days. Ah but it helps me to refocus on the God who has has has freed me. Um and so how do I do that. On those during that time. How do I How do I take more walks because those are free but I know that when I take that walk. Um I'm also going to encounter the holy whether it be in a conversation with a hiking partner or. Whether it be simply because I'm in the woods and you can't help but see God at different points of of that natural world that you live In. Um, but how do I reprioritize that that that day of rest that that um that that that time of sabbath. Helps me reconnect with the one who has has has pulled me out of slavery has has pulled me out of my own selfish. Um to do lists so that I might encounter God and Encounter god's.

23:02.50
nathanpile
Creation. Um, and God's people in new ways.

23:08.51
Kevin Shock
Um, yeah I yeah I I think um I ah, the 1 thing I struggle with in this. Um I mean this is related but the 1 thing I struggle with in this reading is that. Um.

23:28.32
Kevin Shock
God god says here remember that you were a slave in Egypt. Um I I was not nor were my ancestors. Um, and so although I have ah I have a strong belief that we are um, heirs.

23:45.72
Kevin Shock
Heirs of Abraham through the through the the faith that god has gifted us with um my my people did not experience actual physical slavery and we can talk about yeah that metaphorical slavery and and.

23:59.99
nathanpile
Sure.

24:01.94
Kevin Shock
Being as we as we say in our tradition being in bondage to sin or captive to sin. Um, but I think I think also it it can be helpful for people who live in relative privilege which I will say that I do and I don't think that that's something that.

24:22.82
Kevin Shock
That word has become such a buzzword in our society that people like shy away from it. But um, but I feel like it's the right thing for me to say that I live in at least relative privilege especially when we look at the state of the whole world. Um.

24:38.40
Kevin Shock
And it's also not a harmful thing. Um for me to say and I don't know this for sure. But I think another way to look at this text can be remember that you were a slave owner or that you were an oppressor. Um.

24:57.46
Kevin Shock
And and again it it because I think I think the thing that you and I are circling around here in this text is that sabbath is important for us to remember our place in the world and to a take note and. Even be in awe of what God has done for us but also be aware of what other people do for us to get us to the place where we are and um and I don't I don't want to make light of anything around slavery. But you said something in your in your reflection that really got me thinking and that is um, there is ah I think I think an important part of sabbath is keeping in mind our own place in the world and how our way of life. Affects the way of life of other people and being cognizant of that and reflective of that and and making choices that again won't won't change the way the world operates necessarily but will make choices that will.

26:13.93
Kevin Shock
Make our life less me centered and and make it so that we are aware of and and choose an alternate way than placing more burden on somebody else.

26:33.17
Kevin Shock
Um, I you know I think I think I'm one of those pollyanna people who I I do think that like if if all the world were to do that then it would change the way the world works. Um, you know if we were all to consider you know. Ah, if if this day that we're taking is about um, refraining from the work and all the tasks that we have to do then this day is also about um. Easing the burden of other people who have to work and also do all the tasks that support us and and the tasks that serve us. Ah I'd like to think that if we all made a conscious decision about that then perhaps people would have more. Rest and would be taken care of in in a different way. Um, but until that happens I certainly can be in control of what I do and can be in control of. Can can be cognizant of how my choices either place Burden on others or relieve the burden of others so that's yeah.

27:55.75
Kevin Shock
That I you know I think I think just the um as you were talking and it wasn't necessarily anything that you said but right away that um I mean from the first reading that verse 15 just kind of clanged in my ear because i.

28:16.28
Kevin Shock
Neither me nor my ancestors have known slavery and again it doesn't mean that um you know I look at my life and in a certain way I've had relative privilege for a majority of my life. And there have been other times in my life where I've had relative I don't want to say poverty. But I think relatively speaking. Yes, Ah, you know, relative Burden Maybe I don't know what the opposite of privilege is but um, ah.

28:47.94
Kevin Shock
But that doesn't negate just because just because I've had some tough times doesn't negate that I can still hold a position of privilege for a variety of reasons and so and I think it's important for me to say that and um and to recognize that this.

28:56.40
nathanpile
Sure.

29:06.49
Kevin Shock
This really is about slavery and I think and I think why? um why God brings it up here isn't so that people can say Well yeah, we were slaves and so now we deserve this I don't think that that's the point at all I think the point is you know.

29:19.93
nathanpile
Yeah, right.

29:24.19
Kevin Shock
Remember now that now that you have servants remember how you were once treated and and how God responded to that and then and then shape your life around that understanding around that remembrance.

29:43.12
Kevin Shock
So I think I think whether we are privileged or oppressed God calls us I'll say God calls me to be aware of um how. How I have been how I've been gifted by certain people. How I've been served by people and and how um, how I have it within my ability to either. Place Burden on people or Relieve burdens of people. So.

30:28.11
nathanpile
Well and I deeply appreciate that. Um, that sediment of how do we? How do we recognize that we can be a burden or. We can help unburden others and how do we? How do we keep that in the front of us. Um, as we as we as we as we live as god's people today. Um, because I do think that's ah, that's a powerful witness of our sabbath.

31:01.44
nathanpile
Recognizing um, recognizing our own again. I there's only so many things there's only 1 thing that I really have any control over and that's myself. Um, and so how might I how might I um reduce the hardship of those around me. And and absolutely how how might I be aware that that I make life harder for those around me. So how can I keep that lens um, prepared and ready and helping me to kind of stay what I'm doing here what I'm here doing here and now in this moment in time.

31:40.61
nathanpile
Is making it a ah burden for somebody else and so how do I How do I recognize that and and um and be working towards.

31:55.13
nathanpile
Reducing that and in my own words actions, etc in life.

00:01.48
nathanpile
A quick commercial break here. Um on 10 the bible podcast just to talk about the 10 festival coming up here at Sequanota June twentieth to the twenty third you can come for the day you can stay overnight and live in community. Ah, with us. Ah, it's ah, a gathering of those seeking to engage our faith and and live with one another um in god's ways.

00:33.21
Kevin Shock
Yeah, you might remember last year ah the well festival was at Sequanota this is ah it's kind of been rebranded as ten because it is about tending community and um so you're invited Thursday through ah Thursday afternoon into the evening. Ah, through Sunday morning there will be times for worship. There will be some workshops and opportunity for guided conversations. But also the important thing is it's just the time for people to get together ah to share ah who they are and and. Thereby also sharing who Jesus is for them so please consider coming and ah Nathan tell them where to go to get more information about it.

01:15.59
nathanpile
You're going to go to Sequanota.com um and under events. Um, there'll be a tab that you can click on and learn all about the different speakers. The recreation. Um the space and time to take a step away to take time to live in your faith. But also to kind of renew yourself within a um, ah loving christian community look forward to seeing you in June Twenty to the twenty third at Sequanota and peace.

01:43.49
Kevin Shock
Grace to you.

34:06.47
Kevin Shock
Yeah, um, should we look at this a third time.

34:09.84
nathanpile
Let's do it.

34:14.58
Kevin Shock
I'm I've been I've been trying to use ah with with liberal liberality. The mute button on the ah on the podcast recorder today that.

34:25.70
Kevin Shock
Now that it is a nice day and not raining there are people moving around outside and I can hear dogs in various parts of my house in my yard like just completely losing their minds because ah yes, the the the arch nemesis of our big dog which is um who is positioned downstairs is ah.

34:33.70
nathanpile
Wanting to know yeah wanting to be let the person.

34:45.14
Kevin Shock
Ah, just saw his archnemesis walk by on the street and then I heard him erupt down there. So anyway. Okay I'm going to I'm going to read this read it. Oh he he really he really does he really does? Yeah yes I yeah.

34:49.70
nathanpile
And yeah, yeah, well that it he feels burdened. He feels burdened that you have him inside. He wants to be outside where he's free.

35:03.91
Kevin Shock
I I don't have I don't have oxen or donkeys but I do have dogs who rely on me to give them exercise and rest and so yeah, anyway, deuteronomy 5 keep the sabbath day and treat it as holy exactly as the lord your god commanded six days you may work and do all your tasks.

35:21.75
Kevin Shock
But the seventh day is a sabbath to the lord your god don't do any work on it. Not you your sons or daughters your male or female servants your oxen or donkeys or any of your animals or the immigrant who is living among you so that your male and female servants can rest just like you remember that you were a slave in Egypt. But the lord your god brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That's why the lord your god commands you to keep the sabbath day Nathan ah for what reason does god want you to observe sabbath.

35:56.98
Kevin Shock
Have we already answered this.

35:59.20
nathanpile
Um, probably on some levels but I'll say directly. Um and I've and I know if we went back to the fall I'm better when I'm rested I'm stronger. Um, when I have. Taken that time to unburden myself of my to- do lists I am and I am better for those in in relationship with those around me. Um, if I have cared for myself and when I say care for myself. A healthy portion of that is engaging with god um, the one who the the one who has created me and has um, has you know, gifted me with the gift of the spirit and and the gifts and talents that are mine. Um, but also has called me to recognize um that my sinful self my selfish self of of making myself. Um god of my world trying to make myself top and and first most.

37:09.43
Kevin Shock
Um, ah there you go.

37:13.69
nathanpile
Um, that I need a break to connect to God so that I can see more fully sometimes that um vicious cycle that I've created for myself and so um, so that idea of of having sabbath God wants me to be able to See. Um, my own. Um, ah my ah my own drive to put my my lists of of what's important on top of ah on top of and above everybody else's. In the world I try to do that myself over and over and over and over again. Um, and so sabbath gives me an opportunity to recognize Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Are you are your is your to do list really that important. Um, and. And to consider what might God God's to do list and dreams for the world. Um, that might actually displace my things farther down the list So that God's things are closer to the top of the list of my list that I'm working on and so. Um, you know God Wants God wants me to to God wants all of us. Not just me but God wants us to to to have life and to have it abundantly and to to um to be able to live into what that looks like.

38:49.15
nathanpile
Um, means to put my wants and my to do lists aside um because sometimes they're about selfish things they're about my own so pride. Um, or they're about. Um, making myself look good because 1 more project got done at camp um, and is it really is that project really about god's people learning and living in love which is. Goes to the kind of the core of why camp was created and why we want camp to be here for the next generations is is around that idea of love and so yes, having a brand new cabin with shiny showers and sinks is impressive. But. If it becomes the so the the most critical critical critical function or focus of my attention then I've I've lost place of that and so having sabbath helps me to. Knocked down my to do list so that god's to do list can be closer to the top.

40:05.45
Kevin Shock
Um, yeah, what? Ah what? what you were reflecting on um, just made me think that maybe the sabbath is about recognizing that um God is God and we are not.

40:21.30
Kevin Shock
Um, even though we again I think I think um ah being being God is something that we would not explicitly say that we do. But when we put. Our needs our to do list our desires first before those of anyone else or anything else. Um, then. That's what that's what we're doing I mean that's what we're That's the Position. We're putting ourselves in.

40:58.12
Kevin Shock
We're putting ourselves in a position where we are expecting other people to serve us. Um and we are not necessarily taking a position of being in service to other people. Um. And and again service doesn't always necessarily mean ah and ah it it doesn't always mean working on behalf of somebody else. Ah it it can perhaps even simply mean making conscious decision not to. Further Burden other people like that that may be a form of service in my mind. Yeah, um I feel like ah like I said I feel like I've maybe already answered this question of.

41:41.51
nathanpile
Yeah.

41:54.30
Kevin Shock
Hundred different ways in this episode. But um I do think um I think I think that god wants me to observe sabbath so I can be a a participant in the.

42:13.90
Kevin Shock
Holy and redemptive work that god is doing I think I think that you know it's I'm I'm the more we read this the more taken I am by that um that that thirteen thirteenth and first half of the fourteenth first

42:33.22
Kevin Shock
Six days you may you may work god's giving permission six days you may work and do all your tasks but the seventh day is the sabbath to the lord your god ah so yeah, it it. It makes me it makes me more deeply consider what it means to. Do work and all my tasks. Yeah and lord knows I sometimes feel like I have a lot of tasks. Ah, and so so doing them on this on a day when I am supposed to be yielding to the lord. My god is a tempting thing to do.

43:10.45
nathanpile
Right? Yeah, absolutely sure.

43:12.40
Kevin Shock
Um, because if I do it now then it just gets off my list and and I don't have to think about it. Um, but the reality is it. It's I mean that's the thing I've noticed about our society is that no no at. No point did anyone say well instead of having like two days off a week or at least one full day off where all society takes a break. Um, let's just let's just launch into twenty four seven commerce

43:48.30
Kevin Shock
Like that's not how it happened how it happened was you know well okay, we can to help ease the burden of other people we can. We can open the grocery stores you know on Saturday morning and and and maybe the bank tellers can come in. You know for a couple hours on Saturday morning. And then next thing we know it's well once once a month let's ah let's do Saturday afternoon too because it would be helpful to people and then and then before you know it? Well you know I know so you know Sunday is pretty sacred but um. But boy for all those people who have to work Monday through Saturday and don't get any time off. Maybe we should open first on Sunday too. So they can do it and and you know it's just like it's this we slowly get used to each little advance in the wrong direction. Um, that before we know it our our world is.

44:35.26
nathanpile
Yup.

44:39.00
Kevin Shock
Operating Twenty four seven and and there are people who never get rest and certainly as a whole um as a whole society. We don't get an opportunity to rest together and I I think that um, all the.

44:58.22
Kevin Shock
All the spiritual stuff aside, um, although like you can't put it aside I think there's spiritual. There's spiritual consequences too. But I think I think both from an individual physiological standpoint and also a a social standpoint a social emotional standpoint. It's detrimental to us not to have time where we cease from doing our work in all our tasks and um and I think I think I'm.

45:33.32
Kevin Shock
I'm probably one of those people who's an advocate for a common day off. Ah and and I it if if I were to advocate for that. It would not be from a standpoint of because God says that's what we're supposed to do. Because that's it even even for people who don't worship God that I I believe this is a healthy thing and um and and and because God said we're supposed to is is probably a good reason for me to do it.

45:53.88
nathanpile
Yeah yeah.

46:07.70
Kevin Shock
But I can't use that as Justification for everyone in society to do it. Ah um, but what I can't you know I mean there are other things that I can point to to say you know we really like we really lose out on stuff by not having this common day off. Yeah.

46:10.13
nathanpile
Right.

46:25.83
Kevin Shock
So anyway, that's what I think about in that in reference to that last question.

46:28.46
nathanpile
Yeah.

46:36.41
nathanpile
Well and and and that idea of because essentially that that would have been a part of this this command um in the faith community was to give everyone a day off together to have that time off. Um.

46:47.97
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah.

46:54.19
nathanpile
And and and to watch it change the way community functions together.

47:03.65
Kevin Shock
Um, it's it's right there the end of verse 14 so that they can rest just like you. Yeah, that's that's why we do it? yeah.

47:08.10
nathanpile
Yeah, yup.

47:14.38
nathanpile
Ah, and and instead what has now happened is that that it makes our company spreadsheets look better to work seven days a week

47:28.97
Kevin Shock
Um, well theoretically speaking of those? Yes, yeah yeah, yeah, we don't We don't necessarily know what the improvement to those spreadsheets would be if we gave our employees.

47:31.40
nathanpile
Theoretically speaking? Yeah no so um.

47:41.56
nathanpile
Valued he valued life and and yeah.

47:43.43
Kevin Shock
If we if we valued our human resources and gave employees good time off so that they could be more productive the hours that they do work. Yeah yeah, but yeah, that would take a we someone would have to experiment with that. Ah yeah.

47:56.80
nathanpile
No well and we and and and figuring out what we're so driven by the dollar in our in our culture that.

48:13.68
nathanpile
Being able to value it as as something else like because I could even see if somebody ever did some kind of research around this idea of having a sabbath day and everybody holding that sabbath day as Holy set apart. Like I ah would still think that the researcher would define it as well because you um because you get better work out of your employees when they are working and and so it shows you you you make this much more money because they've had the day of rest.

48:49.59
nathanpile
Like that's how we would value it as as as opposed to just simply being that It's a day of it's a day of rest right? It's a day. It's a day to allow us to um, like so so we would we use the dollar to tell us that it's worth it to do and yet.

48:51.86
Kevin Shock
Um, yeah, right right? Yeah, it's the right thing to do? Yeah yeah.

49:05.66
Kevin Shock
Right? right.

49:08.93
nathanpile
For God A dollar is the dollar is not. It's not the measuring stick for god.

49:13.90
Kevin Shock
Well yeah, well and right and and again I know we've talked a little bit about this before too. But that's where we get into false idols in our world too. Um, yeah yeah I Ah there was something you said that made me.

49:20.40
nathanpile
Yeah, yeah.

49:30.00
Kevin Shock
Think of something else and ah thought it would come right back to me but it's not yeah I Just the more we read this I'm I'm hearing in this that this this is this is about recognizing that. Ah God is God and we are not and and letting letting the pieces fall into place according to that value and that worldview rather than whatever our other worldview might be oh the? Ah no, the other thing I was thinking about is you know we.

50:07.46
Kevin Shock
Yeah, like you know we we talk about employers who cut you know quote unquote force their people to work on you know a day when other people have off or something like that. Um, but the reality is we engage in it without even thinking about it. Ah you know it's it's just like. Ah, you know people talk about the dangers of um, engaging in war where you know someone someone who's far away from combat can send a drone in to drop a bomb somewhere and they never actually see the effects of what happens and how damaging that can be to their own psyche. And how dangerous it can be but the reality is you know if if I'm ah if I'm resting on a Sunday afternoon after church and Lisa and I are talking about something and it makes me think of oh yeah, I we should get one of those and I go on my Amazon app.

51:03.00
nathanpile
And yeah, yeah, absolutely right.

51:05.87
Kevin Shock
And I order it. It sets wheels in motion like people there are people who have to respond to that. Um, and I and I was just driving around with somebody on a Sunday recently and we saw a a us postal service van out making deliveries and the.

51:24.10
Kevin Shock
This other person said when did the when did the posts post office start delivering on Sunday and I and someone in the car I don't know if it was me or somebody else said well somebody has to deliver those overnight packages that come from Amazon and it's not always Amazon employees I mean sometimes it's the post office too.

51:37.10
nathanpile
Right? Post office. Absolutely.

51:41.79
Kevin Shock
So yeah, ah you know again, it's like it's all of these things that we almost unconsciously engage in that have consequences that until they get right in our faces We don't even recognize that there are consequences for them. So yeah, all right? We don't.

51:57.97
nathanpile
Right? right? Or do we consider um to be kind like oh it's great. It showed up on a Sunday like we don't even consider it a kind like to us. It's look how look how convenient or how privileged we are that we can get this thing on a Sunday yeah.

51:59.86
Kevin Shock
Right? to engage.

52:05.91
Kevin Shock
No, it's a convenience not a consequence. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, right? but it doesn't just pop up there with without somebody do it's up. Yeah yeah.

52:18.90
nathanpile
Doing something right? Absolutely right? And unfortunately it's probably the people that are on the bottom and um, end of the economic scale. No no, no.

52:26.27
Kevin Shock
It is not the billionaires who are delivering my packages on Sunday no, you're right? It is not yeah it is. It is not the modern day never mind I'm not even going to. It's not the people at the top of the pyramid.

52:42.98
nathanpile
That isn't it isn't no right right? All right? So a dash additional texts if you' want to dive in and and read a little bit more around some of the topics here that we've talked about psalm 81

52:44.74
Kevin Shock
That's what I'll say it's not the it's not the people at the top of the pyramid who are delivering those packages. So yeah, all right? well.

53:02.35
nathanpile
Ah, verses 1 through 10 raise a loud shout to the god of Jacob Second corinthians chapter 4 verses 5 to 12 ah the treasure in Clay jars. Um, and Mark chapter 2

53:21.85
nathanpile
Verses 23 through chapter 6 verse chapter 3 verse 6 so it's Mark the second chapter verse 23 through the third chapter verse 6 um and doing the work of god on the sabbath. Um, is is that piece of passage that you'll encounter there in the gospel of Mark and first samuel chapter 3 verses 1 through 20 the calling of Samuel and psalm one thirty nine 1 through 6 and 13 through 18 um, you have searched me out and known me this is the idea the image again of of god's thoughts are as many as the sand. Um that god has about us. You know that idea that that there's that god thinks. Thinks of us in in again, big ways. So.

54:18.44
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that um I just wanted to comment on that reading from Mark um, you know the the description of it as you said Nathan is ah what doing doing the work of god on the sabbath. And I think it goes right back to what we this is this is where Jesus first of all his jesus' disciples are plucking heads of grain on the sabbath so that they can eat um and the pharisees accuse them of doing what is not lawful on the sabbath. Um, and essentially you know. Then Jesus Jesus's response is the sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the sabbath. Um and then and then they go to a synagogue. He goes to a synagogue and and and heals someone. Well yeah before he heals them. He asks the. He asked the leaders a question is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath to save life or to kill but they were silent and so he gets mad and he's grieved at their hardness of heart and he and he heals the man. Um, so and what did what did the pharisees. Do.

55:27.88
Kevin Shock
They went out and immediately conspired with the herodians against him how to destroy him. So ah yeah, but to me this that whole that description doing the work of god on the sabbath the whole point of what we read from deuteronomy is six days you may work and do all your tasks.

55:44.38
nathanpile
Right.

55:46.73
Kevin Shock
But the sabbath is a sabbath to the Lord your God Yeah, and it's perfectly acceptable and lawful to do the tasks of God on the sabbath to give life. Yeah, okay, thanks for my little for giving me space to.

55:56.60
nathanpile
To give life. Oh.

56:04.55
Kevin Shock
Give my little commentary there.

56:06.90
nathanpile
Yeah, ah well we thank you Kevin for your thoughts and um, those of you listening? Um, we hope that you are able to take time for sabbath this week and next week and the weeks to come helping you to Um. Encounter the god who loves you? We hope to tend our faith with you again soon. Grace to you.

56:33.23
Kevin Shock
And peace.