the desire of ages-第47章

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ir　host　by　number：　He　calleth　them　all　by　names　by　the　greatness　of　His　might；　for　that　He　is　strong　in　power；　not　one　faileth。　Why　sayest　thou；　O　Jacob；　and　speakest；　O　Israel；　My　way　is　hid　from　the　Lord；　and　my　judgment　is　passed　over　from　my　God？　Hast　thou　not　known？　hast　thou　not　heard；　that　the　everlasting　God；　the　Lord；　the　Creator　of　the　ends　of　the　earth；　fainteth　not；　neither　is　weary？　。　。　。　He　giveth　power　to　the　faint；　and　to　them　that　have　no

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might　He　increaseth　strength。〃　〃Fear　thou　not；　for　I　am　with　thee：　be　not　dismayed；　for　I　am　thy　God：　I　will　strengthen　thee；　yea；　I　will　help　thee；　yea；　I　will　uphold　thee　with　the　right　hand　of　My　righteousness。〃　〃Look　unto　Me；　and　be　ye　saved；　all　the　ends　of　the　earth：　for　I　am　God；　and　there　is　none　else。〃　This　is　the　message　written　in　nature；　which　the　Sabbath　is　appointed　to　keep　in　memory。　When　the　Lord　bade　Israel　hallow　His　Sabbaths；　He　said；　〃They　shall　be　a　sign　between　Me　and　you；　that　ye　may　know　that　I　am　Jehovah　your　God。〃　Isa。　40：18…29；　41：10；　45：22；　Ezek。　20：20；　R。　V。

The　Sabbath　was　embodied　in　the　law　given　from　Sinai；　but　it　was　not　then　first　made　known　as　a　day　of　rest。　The　people　of　Israel　had　a　knowledge　of　it　before　they　came　to　Sinai。　On　the　way　thither　the　Sabbath　was　kept。　When　some　profaned　it；　the　Lord　reproved　them；　saying；　〃How　long　refuse　ye　to　keep　My　commandments　and　My　laws？〃　Ex。　16：28。

The　Sabbath　was　not　for　Israel　merely；　but　for　the　world。　It　had　been　made　known　to　man　in　Eden；　and；　like　the　other　precepts　of　the　Decalogue；　it　is　of　imperishable　obligation。　Of　that　law　of　which　the　fourth　commandment　forms　a　part；　Christ　declares；　〃Till　heaven　and　earth　pass；　one　jot　or　one　tittle　shall　in　nowise　pass　from　the　law。〃　So　long　as　the　heavens　and　the　earth　endure；　the　Sabbath　will　continue　as　a　sign　of　the　Creator's　power。　And　when　Eden　shall　bloom　on　earth　again；　God's　holy　rest　day　will　be　honored　by　all　beneath　the　sun。　〃From　one　Sabbath　to　another〃　the　inhabitants　of　the　glorified　new　earth　shall　go　up　〃to　worship　before　Me；　saith　the　Lord。〃　Matt。　5：18；　Isa。　66：23。

No　other　institution　which　was　committed　to　the　Jews　tended　so　fully　to　distinguish　them　from　surrounding　nations　as　did　the　Sabbath。　God　designed　that　its　observance　should　designate　them　as　His　worshipers。　It　was　to　be　a　token　of　their　separation　from　idolatry；　and　their　connection　with　the　true　God。　But　in　order　to　keep　the　Sabbath　holy；　men　must　themselves　be　holy。　Through　faith　they　must　become　partakers　of　the　righteousness　of　Christ。　When　the　command　was　given　to　Israel；　〃Remember　the　Sabbath　day；　to　keep　it　holy；〃　the　Lord　said　also　to　them；　〃Ye　shall　be　holy　men　unto　Me。〃　Ex。　20：8；　22：31。　Only　thus　could　the　Sabbath　distinguish　Israel　as　the　worshipers　of　God。

As　the　Jews　departed　from　God；　and　failed　to　make　the　righteousness　of　Christ　their　own　by　faith；　the　Sabbath　lost　its　significance　to　them。　Satan　was　seeking　to　exalt　himself　and　to　draw　men　away　from　Christ；　and　he　worked　to　pervert　the　Sabbath；　because　it　is　the　sign　of　the

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power　of　Christ。　The　Jewish　leaders　accomplished　the　will　of　Satan　by　surrounding　God's　rest　day　with　burdensome　requirements。　In　the　days　of　Christ　the　Sabbath　had　become　so　perverted　that　its　observance　reflected　the　character　of　selfish　and　arbitrary　men　rather　than　the　character　of　the　loving　heavenly　Father。　The　rabbis　virtually　represented　God　as　giving　laws　which　it　was　impossible　for　men　to　obey。　They　led　the　people　to　look　upon　God　as　a　tyrant；　and　to　think　that　the　observance　of　the　Sabbath；　as　He　required　it；　made　men　hard…hearted　and　cruel。　It　was　the　work　of　Christ　to　clear　away　these　misconceptions。　Although　the　rabbis　followed　Him　with　merciless　hostility；　He　did　not　even　appear　to　conform　to　their　requirements；　but　went　straight　forward；　keeping　the　Sabbath　according　to　the　law　of　God。

Upon　one　Sabbath　day；　as　the　Saviour　and　His　disciples　returned　from　the　place　of　worship；　they　passed　through　a　field　of　ripening　grain。　Jesus　had　continued　His　work　to　a　late　hour；　and　while　passing　through　the　fields；　the　disciples　began　to　gather　the　heads　of　grain；　and　to　eat　the　kernels　after　rubbing　them　in　their　hands。　On　any　other　day　this　act　would　have　excited　no　comment；　for　one　passing　through　a　field　of　grain；　an　orchard；　or　a　vineyard；　was　at　liberty　to　gather　what　he　desired　to　eat。　See　Deut。　23：24；　25。　But　to　do　this　on　the　Sabbath　was　held　to　be　an　act　of　desecration。　Not　only　was　the　gathering　of　the　grain　a　kind　of　reaping；　but　the　rubbing　of　it　in　the　hands　was　a　kind　of　threshing。　Thus；　in　the　opinion　of　the　rabbis；　there　was　a　double　offense。

The　spies　at　once　complained　to　Jesus；　saying；　〃Behold；　Thy　disciples　do　that　which　is　not　lawful　to　do　upon　the　Sabbath　day。〃

When　accused　of　Sabbathbreaking　at　Bethesda；　Jesus　defended　Himself　by　affirming　His　Sonship　to　God；　and　declaring　that　He　worked　in　harmony　with　the　Father。　Now　that　the　disciples　are　attacked；　He　cites

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His　accusers　to　examples　from　the　Old　Testament；　acts　performed　on　the　Sabbath　by　those　who　were　in　the　service　of　God。

The　Jewish　teachers　prided　themselves　on　their　knowledge　of　the　Scriptures；　and　in　the　Saviour's　answer　there　was　an　implied　rebuke　for　their　ignorance　of　the　Sacred　Writings。　〃Have　ye　not　read　so　much　as　this；〃　He　said；　〃what　David　did；　when　himself　was　an　hungered；　and　they　which　were　with　him；　how　he　went　into　the　house　of　God；　and　did　take　and　eat　the　shewbread；　。　。　。　which　it　is　not　lawful　to　eat　but　for　the　priests　alone？〃　〃And　He　said　unto　them；　The　Sabbath　was　made　for　man；　and　not　man　for　the　Sabbath。〃　〃Have　ye　not　read　in　the　law；　how　that　on　the　Sabbath　days　the　priests　in　the　temple　profane　the　Sabbath；　and　are　blameless？　But　I　say　unto　you；　That　in　this　place　is　one　greater　than　the　temple。〃　〃The　Son　of　man　is　Lord　also　of　the　Sabbath。〃　Luke　6：3；　4；　Mark　2：27；　28；　Matt。　12：5；　6。

If　it　was　right　for　David　to　satisfy　his　hunger　by　eating　of　the　bread　that　had　been　set　apart　to　a　holy　use；　then　it　was　right　for　the　disciples　to　supply　their　need　by　plucking　the　grain　upon　the　sacred　hours　of　the　Sabbath。　Again；　the　priests　in　the　temple　performed　greater　labor　on　the　Sabbath　than　upon　other　days。　The　same　labor　in　secular　business　would　be　sinful；　but　the　work　of　the　priests　was　in　the　service　of　God。　They　were　performing　those　rites　that　pointed　to　the　redeeming　power　of　Christ；　and　their　labor　was　in　harmony　with　the　object　of　the　Sabbath。　But　now　Christ　Himself　had　come。　The　disciples；　in　doing　the　work　of　Christ；　were　engaged　in　God's　service；　and　that　which　was　necessary　for　the　accomplishment　of　this　work　it　was　right　to　do　on　the　Sabbath　day。

Christ　would　teach　His　disciples　and　His　enemies　that　the　service　of　God　is　first　of　all。　The　object　of　God's　work　in　this　world　is　the　redemption　of　man；　therefore　that　which　is　necessary　to　be　done　on　the　Sabbath　in　the　accomplishment　of　this　work　is　in　accord　with　the　Sabbath　law。　Jesus　then　crowned　His　argument　by　declaring　Himself　the　〃Lord　of　the　Sabbath；〃One　above　all　question　and　above　all　law。　This　infinite　Judge　acquits　the　disciples　of　blame；　appealing　to　the　very　statutes　they　are　accused　of　violating。

Jesus　did　not　let　the　matter　pass　with　administering　a　rebuke　to　His　enemies。　He　declared　that　in　their　blindness　they　had　mistaken　the　object　of　the　Sabbath。　He　said；　〃If　ye　had　known　what　this　meaneth；　I　will　have　mercy；　and　not　sacrifice；　ye　would　not　have　condemned　the　guiltless。〃　Matt。　12：7。　Their　many　heartless　rites　could　not　supply　the

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lack　of　that　truthful　integrity　and　tender　love　which　will　ever　characterize　the　true　worshiper　of　God。

Again　Christ　reiterated　the　truth　that　the　sacrifices　were　in　themselves　of　no　value。　They　were　a　means；　and　not　an　end。　Their　object　was　to　direct　men　to　the　Saviour；　and　thus　to　bring　them　into　harmony　with　God。　It　is　the　service　of　love　that　God　values。　When　this　is　lacking；　the　mere　round　of　ceremony　is　an　offense　to　Him。　So　with　the　Sabbath。　It　was　designed　to　bring　men　into　communion　with　God；　but　when　the　mind　was　absorbed　with　wearisome　rites；　the　object　of　the　Sabbath　was　thwarted。　Its　mere　outward　observance　was　a　mockery。

Upon　another　Sabbath；　as　Jesus　entered　a　synagogue。　He　saw　there　a　man　who　had　a　withered　hand。　The　Pharisees　watched　Him；　eager　to　see　what　He　would　do。　The　Saviour　well　knew　that　in　healing　on　the　Sabbath　He　would　be　regarded　as　a　transgressor；　but　He　did　not　hesitate　to　break　down　the　wall　of　traditional　requirements　that　barricaded　the　Sabbath。　Jesus　bade　the　afflicted　man　stand　forth；　and　then　asked；　〃It　is　lawful　to　do　good　on　the　Sabbath　days；　or　to　do　evil？　to　save　life；　or　to　kill？〃　It　was　a　maxim　among　the　Jews　that　a　failure　to　do　good；　when　one　had　opportunity；　was　to　do　evil；　to　neglect　to　save　life　was　to　kill。　Thus　Jesus　met　the　rabbis　on　their　own　ground。　〃But　they　held　their　peace。　And　when　He　had　looked　round　about　on　them　with　anger；　being　grieved　for　the　hardness　of　their　hearts；　He　saith　unto　the　man；　Stretch　forth　thine　hand。　And　he　stretched　it　out：　and　his　hand　was　restored　whole　as　the　other。〃　Mark　3：4；　5。

When　questioned；　〃Is　it　lawful　to　heal　on　the　Sabbath　days？〃　Jesus　answered；　〃What　man　shall　there　be　among　you；　that　shall　have　one　sheep；　and　if　it　fall　into　a　pit　on　the　Sabbath　day；　will　he　not　lay　hold　on　it；　and　lift　it　out？　How　much　then　is　a　man　better　than　a　sheep？　Wherefore　it　is　lawful　to　do　well　on　the　Sabbath　days。〃　Matt。　12：10…12。

The　spies　dared　not　answer　Christ　in　the　presence　of　the　multitude；　for　fear　of　involving　themselves　in　difficulty。　They　knew　that　He　had　spoken　the　truth。　Rather　than　violate　their　traditions；　they　would　leave　a　man　to　suffer；　while　they　would　relieve　a　brute　because　of　the　loss　to　the　owner　if　it　were　neglected。　Thus　greater　care　was　shown　for　a　dumb　animal　than　for　man；　who　is　made　in　the　image　of　God。　This　illustrates　the　working　of　all　false　religions。　They　originate　in　man's　desire　to　exalt　himself　above　God；　but　they　result　in　degrading　man

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below　the　brute。　Every　religion　that　wars　against　the　sovereignty　of　God　defrauds　man　of　the　glory　which　was　his　at　the　creation；　and　which　is　to　be　restored　to　him　in　Christ。　Every　false　religion　teaches　its　adherents　to　be　careless　of　human　needs；　sufferings；　and　rights。　The　gospel　places　a　high　value　upon　humanity　as　the　purchase　of　the　blood　of　Christ；　and　it　teaches　a　tender　regard　for　the　wants　and　woes　of　man。　The　Lord　says；　〃I　will　make　a　man　more　precious　than　fine　gold；　even　a　man　than　the　golden　wedge　of　Ophir。〃　Isa。　13：12。

When　Jesus　turned　upon　the　Pharisees　with　the　question　whether　it　was　lawful　on　the　Sabbath　day　to　do　good　or　to　do　evil；　to　save　life　or　to　kill；　He　confronted　them　with　their　own　wicked　purposes。　They　were　hunting　His　life　with　bitter　hatred；　while　He　was　saving　life　and　bringing　happiness　to　multitudes。　Was　it　better　to　slay　upon　the　Sabbath；　as　they　were　planning　to　do；　than　to　heal　the　afflicted；　as　He　had　done？　Was　it　more　righteous　to　have　murder　in　the　heart　upon　God's　ho